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If you’re looking to buy a quality pocket DAB radio, the radios in Pure’s Move range could be a good choice. In this article we’ll explain the differences between them so you can decide which to buy.
All these radios are produced by Pure International Ltd., a British company that specialises in the design and manufacture of DAB and DAB+ radios. The company was originally a division of Imagination Technologies but became a separate company when sold to AVenture AT in 2016.
Around five million Pure radios have been sold worldwide. All are designed and engineered in the UK, enabling the company to control quality standards and offer an unrivalled three-year warranty that promises full replacement if anything goes wrong.
All Pure radios are known for their good build quality, easy use and exceptional sound. However, as many people now use their mobile phones to listen to radio, the popularity of stand-alone portable radios has decreased. Nevertheless, for regular listeners who require FM as well as DAB, a pocket radio is still a good choice.
Pure Move 2500 vs. 2520
The Pure Move 2500 was launched in 2011 and the 2520 followed in 2017 as its successor. There are no major differences, the latter being mainly an updating of components and branding to reflect Pure becoming a separate company. The 2500 no longer features on the company’s website but is still available to buy.
Both offer FM and DAB radio, with ten presets for each, and both are Digital Tick approved to indicate they can receive DAB+ broadcasts. They come complete with in-ear, noise-cancelling headphones that also act as the aerial and therefore need to be connected to get a decent signal. Of course, you can use your own earphones/headphones instead of the ones provided.
Each version is available in either a silver or black brushed aluminium case that looks stylish but is prone to scratching. Measuring 10.2 x 5.6 x 1.5 centimetres and weighing 104 grams, they’re small and light enough to fit a pocket — smaller than most phones but not as thin.
The main control is a rotary dial that navigates the menu, selects stations including presets, adjusts base and treble and sets the volume. Information is provided on an LCD, black on orange backlit screen that’s low resolution and low tech.
Power is supplied by a lithium ion battery that gives an average fifteen hours of use and is recharged via the supplied DC charger and USB connection using the built-in ChargePAK.
Pure Move R3
The R3 was released in 2018 and has remarkably similar features to the 2500/2520, but with a more modern-looking design. The range of radio reception is the same (FM, DAB, DAB+) with supplied in-ear, noise-cancelling headphones acting as the aerial.
Control is through the same style of rotary dial and the same battery life of fifteen hours is available through a similar lithium ion battery that’s recharged in the same way.
There are, however, some minor differences:
- The Move R3 comes in either a black or white plastic case rather than brushed aluminium. The case has a metallic look and is more resistant to scratches.
- The Move R3 is marginally smaller and slightly lighter.
- The Move R3 has two dedicated buttons to access favourite stations and a third to access the twenty pre-sets directly.
- The Move R3 has a 1.6-inch OLED display that’s much clearer than the LCD version used on the Move 2500 and Move 2520.
Choosing the Radio for You
Although there are much cheaper pocket DAB radios than any of the three Pure Move models available, budget models usually can’t match the quality of Pure’s offerings, or the three-year warranty. Serious radio regulars will prefer to pay the extra price for the ease of use and great sound quality of any of these models.
Of the three, the 2500 can probably be discounted because it’s an old model and is no cheaper than the 2520 that supersedes it. The R3 is slightly more expensive (at the time of writing) but has an improved display, easier access to presets and a case that’s less likely to be scratched.
Pay the extra if these are important to you. Otherwise, go for the 2520.
The table below summarises the differences between these radios.
| Model | Year Released | Display Type | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move 2500 | 2011 | LCD | 104 g | 10.2 x 5.6 x 1.5 cm |
| Move 2520 | 2017 | LCD | 104 g | 10.2 x 5.6 x 1.5 cm |
| Move R3 | 2018 | OLED | 87 g | 9.9 x 5.3 x 1.4 cm |