Best DAB Radios Under £30 2024

It used to be impossible to get a new DAB radio for less than £30, but today there are lots of good products on the market for between £20 and £30.

Most of these radios are from less established brands, but there are a few products from well-known brands such as Roberts in this price range too.

If you’re still using an analogue FM radio, you’re missing out on digital-only stations. The UK has the biggest digital radio network in the world, with over 280 digital stations in total (though most people can only pick up around 50 in their local area).

All of the radios reviewed below feature an FM tuner as well as DAB tuner, so you can still use FM if you have any issues with the signal on DAB.

The radios reviewed below are what we consider to be the best DAB radios available in the UK for under £30.

Please note, prices fluctuate so we can’t guarantee that you will be able to buy all of these radios for less than £30 when you read this article.

 

Best DAB Radios Under £30

1. Roberts Play M3

The Play M3 is one of the cheapest radios from Roberts, a prestigious British radio brand whose products are usually more expensive. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense portable DAB radio with just the most essential features.

Features

Dimensions: 14 cm wide x 9.5 cm high x 4.5 cm deep

Verdict

The Play M3 is a good basic DAB radio that is very compact, light and portable. It’s one of the cheapest radios from a well-known brand, and has the reliability you’d expect from Roberts, even if the sound quality isn’t amazing. Read our full review of the Play M3 here.

 

2. Goodmans Canvas

This is another inexpensive radio from a well-known brand. The Goodmans Canvas is a sleek and stylish DAB radio that comes in a choice of either a steel or copper finish.

Features

Dimensions: 18.5 cm wide x 11 cm high x 5.7 cm deep
Weight: 349 g

Verdict

This smart-looking radio would look good in a kitchen and is compact and light, making it easy to carry around the house. Despite being cheap, it feels well-made and sturdy.

While most people find that this radio works well, a few buyers have had issues with it stopping working properly after a few months of use. Read our full review of the Goodmans Canvas here.

 

3. Majority Barton II

The Barton II is one of several very affordable digital radios from British brand Majority. Unlike the Roberts and Goodmans products reviewed above, it has an alarm clock, so it could work well as a bedside radio. This radio is mains only, so it can’t be powered by batteries.

Features

Dimensions: 19 cm high x 12 cm wide x 12 cm deep

Verdict

If you want a basic DAB clock radio for a low price, the Barton II is a good choice. It has an attractive design and doesn’t take up much space. It’s important to note that this isn’t a portable radio, so it needs to kept plugged in. Read our full review of the Majority Barton II here.

 

4. AZATOM Sonance T1

The Sonance T1 is another good DAB radio from a budget brand. It features an alarm clock and has a large snooze button, so it could be a good choice if you’re looking for a clock radio.

This radio doesn’t have a particularly stylish design, but you get a choice of colour: black, red, green or purple.

Features

Dimensions: 14 cm wide x 14 cm high x 4.4 cm deep
Weight: 360 g

Verdict

The Sonance T1 is one of the best clock radios in this price range.

It isn’t the most stylish radio on the market, but it has some useful features such as the USB charging port and the built-in rechargeable battery, which makes it easy to use the radio around the house without worrying about plugging it in or replacing AA batteries. Read our full review of the AZATOM Sonance T1 here.

 

5. LOGIK LHDR15 Portable DAB/FM Radio

The LOGIK LHDR15 is a portable FM/DAB clock radio that can be powered by the mains or batteries. It’s a compact and affordable radio that has a nice wood-style finish. LOGIK is Currys’ own brand of budget electronics products.

Features

Dimensions: 19 cm wide x 12 cm high x 12.5 cm deep
Weight: 830 g

Verdict

The LOGIK LHDR15 isn’t perfect, but it offers good overall performance for the price. The radio has a nice wood-effect finish and has decent sound quality. Read our full review of the LOGIK LHDR15 here.

 

Tips for Buying a DAB Radio Under £30

Here are some tips for getting a good digital radio for less than:

1. Decide which features you need – Do you want an alarm clock? Do you want your radio to be portable? Once you have a list of the features you need, choosing a radio will be much easier.
   Bear in mind that advanced features such as Bluetooth are rarely available in models costing less than £30, so your list of requirements will need to be quite short unless you’re willing to increase your budget (see these recommended DAB radios under £50 if you’re willing to spend a bit more).
2. Don’t worry about brand names – Brands such as Roberts may be better known than newer brands such as Majority, but the quality of their products in this price range isn’t necessarily higher.
   Often you can get more features for your money by opting for a less established brand, rather than paying a premium for a brand name.
3. Look for discounted products – Sometimes radios with an RRP over £50 will be discounted to under £30.

 

Conclusion

If we had to pick just one DAB radio under £30 to recommend, it would be the Roberts Play M3. It’s a straightforward and reliable portable radio with the essential features most people are looking for. It’s light and easy to carry around, and feels well made for something in this price range.

For some more radios to consider, see our roundup of the best DAB radios on the market in the UK.