FosPower A1 review
FosPower A1 Emergency Radio (AM/FM, hand-crank/solar)
By Tom Calder
Still a sensible budget pick because it gets the fundamentals right: AAA cells as a fallback, USB-C charging and a limited lifetime warranty. Be clear-eyed about the rest. The torch is a 20-lumen glow, the 2,000mAh cell gives a phone a top-up rather than a charge, the NOAA band is silent here, and the big review counts quoted for it in some UK blogs come from the US listing, not the UK one.
- Best for
- A cheap AM/FM backup with an AAA fallback and USB-C, for a grab bag or the car.
- Skip it if
- You want useful light or a real power bank
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Four power sources including AAA cells, and it charges by USB-C
- Light (310g) and splash-resistant (IPX-3), with a limited lifetime warranty
- AM/FM covers BBC national and local radio, which is all a UK emergency radio needs
Worth knowing
- The torch is 1W/20 lumens, which is dim, and the 2,000mAh cell is a phone top-up at best
- The NOAA weather band does nothing in the UK; one owner found the aerial short and reception hard to get
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Our review
FosPower's A1 is a 310g AM/FM radio with a 2,000mAh cell, a hand crank, a solar panel, a slot for AAA cells and a small torch. FosPower's manual gives honest crank figures. It is a US radio, though: the weather band receives nothing here, and the warranty is run from America.
What it is
FosPower lists the A1 (model FOSPWB-2376) with a 3.7V, 2,000mAh lithium cell rated at 7,400mWh, plus a compartment for AAA (LR03) cells, not included. It tunes AM from 520 to 1,710kHz and FM from 87 to 108MHz, and also a weather band of 162.400 to 162.550MHz used by the US weather service, which broadcasts nothing in the UK. The torch is 1W and 20 lumens, enough to find the door rather than light a room, and there is a four-LED reading lamp. It weighs 310g. The product page lists a USB-C to USB-A cable, while the manual describes a Micro USB input, so check which version you receive.
The crank, by FosPower's numbers
The manual says one minute of cranking at 130 to 150 turns a minute gives 20 minutes of light, or 10 to 15 minutes of radio at medium volume, and that cranking the cell to full takes about four hours. FosPower suggests a few minutes of winding before first use. A full charge over USB takes 4.5 hours. Those figures make the crank a practical way to get the next bulletin, and the AAA slot means a packet of cells can take over when you have no time or energy to wind. Keep a few fresh AAA cells in their packet beside it, and swap them when you check the rest of your kit.
Limits
The USB-A socket can top up a phone, but FosPower gives no output rating, and 2,000mAh is a small reserve for a radio and a phone together, so keep a power bank. FosPower calls it IPX3, which covers spraying water; the manual is clear that it is water-resistant, not waterproof, and must not be submerged. The warranty page offers a limited lifetime warranty for the original purchaser, with proof of purchase from an authorised dealer, but support is US-based and no UK arrangement is mentioned, and the product page also carries a two-year badge.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Philips TAR1609 has the same formula, a lithium cell with AAA backup, crank and solar, with a UK-relevant band set and up to 32 hours from its cell. The Duronic Hybrid is lighter but has no torch or AAA option. For a brighter torch, add a proper one such as the Ledlenser P6R Core.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a light, cheap crank radio with an AAA fallback for a grab bag or the car. Skip it if you want a useful torch, a rated phone charger, or UK-based warranty support; the Philips does the same job with less to ignore. The government's Be Ready checklist asks for an FM radio and a torch, and this covers the first.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: FosPower: Model A1 emergency radio product page; FosPower: A1 (FOSPWB-2376) user manual (PDF); FosPower: warranty terms; UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want useful light or a real power bank. Add a head torch and a separate power bank, or step up to the Philips TAR1609 for a longer-running radio with published figures.
Key specs
| Power sources | Built-in 2,000mAh (7,400mWh) Li-ion via USB-C, AAA cells (not included), solar panel and hand crank |
| Bands | AM/FM (the listing also claims the US NOAA weather band, which receives nothing in the UK) |
| Phone charging | Emergency top-up only, from the 2,000mAh cell |
| Built-in torch | Yes, but dim - 1W/20lm torch plus a 4-LED reading light |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A rugged home or shed radio: IP55, a user-replaceable battery Philips rates for up to 60 hours, a phone-charging port and four AAA cells as a fallback.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Most UK households: a mainstream-brand FM/AM set with its own rechargeable battery, three AAA cells as a fallback, and a crank and solar panel behind those.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for The plain 'battery radio' answer to the GOV.UK kit list: a pocket FM/AM set from a UK radio brand that runs for days on two AA cells and has little to go wrong.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
Does the FosPower A1 weather band work in the UK?
No. The 162.400 to 162.550MHz weather band carries US weather broadcasts, which do not exist here. Use AM and FM for BBC and local stations.
How much radio does a minute of cranking the FosPower A1 give?
FosPower's manual says 10 to 15 minutes of radio at medium volume, or 20 minutes of light, per minute of cranking at 130 to 150 turns a minute.
Is the FosPower A1 waterproof?
No. FosPower rates it IPX3, and the manual says it is water-resistant only and must not be submerged.
Does the FosPower A1 take batteries?
Yes. As well as its 2,000mAh lithium cell, it has a compartment for AAA cells, not included, as a backup power source.
Can the FosPower A1 charge a phone?
It has a USB-A socket for a top-up, but FosPower gives no output rating and the 2,000mAh cell is small. Use a separate power bank for phones and keep the radio's cell for listening.
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