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The Blighty
This radio is available in a choice of designs: blue, red, silver and black. Let’s take a closer look…
Features
- FM/DAB/DAB+ radio
- Save up to 10 preset radio stations for easy access
- Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- 6-inch dimmable black LCD screen with white text
- Earphones included
- Micro-USB charging cable
Weight: 82 g
Dimensions: 9 cm high x 5.5 cm wide x 1.6 cm deep
Performance and use
Design
The VQ Blighty comes in a nicely designed retro box which proudly states “Born in Britain”, so it would make a great present. Once you take it out of the box, you’ll find it’s nice and small (9 cm x 5.5 cm) while still feeling sturdy and durable. Unlike many other pocket radios, the Blighty feels like a quality product that’s made to last.
Sound quality
The VQ Blighty comes with some headphones included, and they offer fairly decent sound quality with a good amount of bass and treble. As this radio doesn’t have a speaker, the sound quality depends on the headphones you use it with.
Ease of use
As soon as you turn the Blighty on it will search the available DAB stations in your area and save them. It’s quick and easy to scroll through stations, and you can save presets if you need to.
The LCD screen is clear and easy to read, even if you have poor eyesight.
Reception
The Blighty generally offers very good reception on both FM and DAB, even when using it while commuting or walking. It should pick up a large number of digital stations unless you live in a remote area.
Battery life
VQ state that this radio can be used for up to 10 hours after fully charging the battery, and this seems to be fairly accurate. Radio batteries rarely last as long in practice as the manufacturers claim they will, but this should last 8-10 hours on DAB at least when the battery is new.
Pros
- Feels solid and well made despite being light
- Easy to use
- Stylish vintage British design
- Good value for money (see price on Amazon)
- Good reception compared to other pocket radios
Cons
- No sleep function, which means it’s not a good choice if you use the radio to get to sleep
- No key lock function, so you can accidentally change the station or volume while it’s in your pocket
Verdict
The VQ Blighty
Similar radios
One of the most popular pocket DAB/FM radios in the UK is the Majority Petersfield-Go, which is cheaper than the Blighty (at the time of writing), and offers very similar features. It’s not quite as stylish as the Blighty and doesn’t feel so well made, but if you’re looking to save money it could be a good alternative. For more recommendations, read our roundup of the best pocket and personal DAB radios.