Retekess V-112 Pocket AM/FM Radio

Summary: Straightforward, functional and inexpensive, the Retekess V-112 is an excellent pocket AM/FM radio.

Buy it online: See on Amazon.co.uk

The Retekess V-112 is an inexpensive pocket AM/FM radio that could be a good alternative to more expensive pocket DAB radios. Since DAB radio reception is still less reliable AM/FM reception in lots of places, a pocket AM/FM radio such as the Retekess V-112 could be a good choice. Let’s see what this radio can do…

Features

Dimensions: 8.4 cm high x 4.6 cm wide x 1.3 cm deep
Weight: 40 g

Performance and use

The Retekess V-112 scans and stores stations and displays the tuning on a digital display. The radio lets you save 20 presets on AM and 20 on FM, which should be more than enough. This is very handy as it saves you fiddling with the tuning every time you want to change the station.

The radio has a built-in 450mAh lithium battery which can be charged via USB. The battery should last for around 6 hours on a full charge, which is acceptable for a pocket radio. The battery is difficult to remove and might be tricky to replace. Given how cheap this radio is, it would make more sense to simply replace the radio when the battery deteriorates.

The Retekess V-112 Pocket AM FM Radio doesn’t look very stylish, but it’s functional and easy to use. The key lock feature is a nice addition as it prevents buttons from being accidentally pressed while the radio is in your pocket. The design could be improved by incorporating a clip for attaching the radio onto your clothing, but if you’re planning to keep it in your pocket this isn’t an issue. This radio is very small (8.4 cm x 4.6 cm), so it should fit easily in your trouser or shirt pocket.

One issue with this radio is that the earphones provided are quite poor quality, so you will probably want to replace them with something better. However, you can’t really complain about the earphones at this price point.

Reception on this radio is relatively good, and it usually holds the signal well while you’re moving around. However, expect to experience a few drops in reception from time to time.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a simple, reliable and cheap pocket AM/FM radio, the Retekess V-112 is an excellent choice. It’s not exactly stylish or flashy, but it performs very well for the price. Just make sure you have some decent earphones as the earphones provided are quite poor.

Similar radios

One of the most main rivals to the Retekess V-112 is the Aeterna AM FM Pocket Radio. This radio is more expensive than the Retekess V-112 (at the time of writing), but it features a built-in speaker so you don’t need to rely on earphones all the time.

The Aeterna Pocket Radio is slightly bigger than the Retekess V-112, but still small enough to fit in your pocket. It takes two AAA batteries, which you might prefer to the Retekess’s built-in USB-rechargeable battery.

For some more options see our roundup of the best pocket AM/FM radios, or if you’re ready to go digital see these recommended pocket DAB radios.