Top 9 Best shortwave radio receivers 2026

A pocket sized DSP receiver that covers FM, AM, longwave and shortwave, with SSB and synchronous detection on board. That combination used to cost three times as much. Memory capacity runs to 850 slots, and the ETM+ scan fills them by band in a couple of minutes without any button work. Power comes from a single BL-5C lithium cell that charges over the USB socket, so no pile of AA batteries in the drawer.

Suited to travellers and to anyone who wants real single sideband reception in a shirt pocket. Firmware versions differ between production batches, and the newer ones tune SSB in finer steps, so it pays to check the version number before buying. The tiny speaker is fine for speech but thin on music, and the whip antenna needs a clip on wire for weak shortwave signals.

The PL-880 is the big brother of the pocket models: dual conversion on shortwave, SSB with fine tuning down to 10 Hz, and a set of selectable filters that let a listener squeeze a weak station away from a loud neighbour. The cabinet is roughly the size of a hardback book, and the speaker behind it actually has some bass. It runs from an 18650 lithium cell that charges in the radio.

This one rewards patience. There is a whole list of hidden settings opened by holding number keys, from muting thresholds to calibration, and none of it is in the printed manual. Good choice for a desk or bedside listening post at home. Less convenient for hikers, since it is heavier than a Skywave or a PL-330 and the case has no protective cover.

A multiband portable built on a Silicon Labs DSP chip, covering FM with RDS, medium wave, longwave, the full shortwave range, the VHF air band and single sideband. Very few radios in this price bracket add aviation coverage. The display is a wide LCD with signal strength and signal to noise readouts, which helps when comparing antennas. Power comes from an 18650 cell charged through the micro USB socket.

A sensible pick for someone stepping up from a cheap analogue set who wants SSB without spending PL-880 money. Build is plastic and light, the tuning knob has a little play, and soft muting between steps annoys anyone used to older analogue receivers. There is a socket for an external shortwave wire, which is worth using indoors.

A travel radio the size of a paperback that covers AM, FM, shortwave, single sideband, the NOAA weather channels with alert, and the VHF aviation band. It runs on two AA cells, which matters when a trip goes long and there is no charger to hand. The second version improved SSB tuning steps and audio compared with the original Skywave SSB, and the package includes earbuds, a carry case and a wire antenna adapter.

Made for people who fly, sail or keep a go bag ready, less for those who want room filling sound. The speaker is small and voices dominate. Controls are packed tightly onto a narrow front panel, so gloved hands struggle. Backing from a California based company with a real service line is part of what buyers pay for here.

A large portable world receiver with 406 memory presets, dual conversion on shortwave, longwave and air band, plus SSB with a fine tuning control. The display is one of the clearest on any portable, with a proper backlight and station names stored alongside frequencies. A rotary tuning knob, separate keypad and real bass and treble controls make it feel like a desk receiver that happens to have a handle.

Best suited to a listener who sits down with the radio rather than carries it around, since it is heavy and takes four AA cells. Sensitivity on the whip is respectable but the set really opens up with an external wire or loop on the antenna socket. It costs several times what a Chinese DSP portable does, and the difference shows in ergonomics more than in raw reception.

A compact world band set covering AM, FM, longwave, the whole shortwave spectrum, single sideband and the aircraft band, with 700 memory positions. It ships in a leather style zip case with a keypad guard, and the layout follows the old Grundig G3 pattern that many listeners already know. Charging is over the USB socket with four AA cells inside.

The attraction is the mix of aircraft band and SSB in a case that still fits a briefcase pocket. It is not the most sensitive receiver on shortwave, and the DSP soft mute can chop weak signals when tuning slowly, so an external wire antenna is a sensible companion. Anyone who liked the older Grundig ergonomics will feel at home within an evening.

A tabletop styled receiver in the shape of the old Grundig Satellit sets, covering AM, FM with RDS and shortwave, with 50 presets and a Bluetooth input for playing music from a phone. Separate bass and treble knobs feed a wide cabinet speaker, and there is a jack for an external shortwave antenna. It takes four D cells, which last a very long time, or the supplied mains adapter.

This is a kitchen shelf or workshop radio rather than a travelling companion. Sound quality is the strong suit, and shortwave broadcasts in AM come through comfortably for casual listening. There is no single sideband mode, so utility, ham and pirate chasing is off the table. Owners of the earlier Field models will notice the same slight tuning lag when spinning the knob quickly.

An emergency set that receives AM, FM, two shortwave bands and seven NOAA weather channels with alert. Five power routes keep it alive: hand crank, solar panel, USB, three AA cells or the built in NiMH pack. On top of that there is an LED flashlight, a five LED reading lamp and a USB output for topping up a phone in a blackout.

Handy in a storm cupboard, a cabin or a truck, and cheap enough to keep more than one. Reception is analogue with a slide rule dial, so precise shortwave tuning takes a steady hand and there is no digital readout of frequency. Cranking gives only a few minutes of listening per minute of work, and the phone charging output is a trickle rather than a fast charge.

A palm sized rechargeable set covering AM, FM, shortwave and the weather band, with a digital display, presets and a sleep timer. It also plays MP3 files from a microSD card and can record radio straight onto the card, which is unusual at this money. The internal lithium cell charges over USB, and the whole thing weighs less than a mug of tea.

Worth considering as a knockabout radio for a shed, a tent or a bedside table, or as a spare that costs little to replace. Do not expect deep shortwave work: there is no SSB, the whip is short and strong local stations can bleed across the band. For casual listening to major international broadcasters it does the job, and the recording function suits anyone who misses a programme at an awkward hour.