Majority Little Shelford review
Majority Little Shelford Portable DAB+/FM Bluetooth Radio (4 x AA or mains)
By Tom Calder
Majority quotes up to 15 hours on four AA cells, and ordinary cells are the right fallback for an emergency set. It's DAB+, FM and Bluetooth with a headphone socket and a USB-C mains adapter in the box. The caveats are practical: Majority's manual says to switch it off at the rear switch on cells, because standby drains them; the 15-hour figure doesn't say which cells it assumes; and there's no crank, solar panel, torch or phone port. Majority's page and manual also disagree on the preset count and Bluetooth version, so treat those details as approximate.
- Best for
- An affordable DAB+ and FM set for a kitchen or a power-cut drawer that runs on four ordinary AA cells, with Bluetooth as a bonus.
- Skip it if
- You want a longer-running battery set or one that charges its own cells
as of 2 Nov 2026, 12:07 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
- Takes four AA cells for up to 15 hours (Majority), with a USB-C mains adapter in the box
- DAB, DAB+, FM and Bluetooth, with dual alarms, a sleep timer and a headphone socket, in about 760g
- A 12-month warranty, extendable to three years by registering within 30 days (Majority's manual)
Worth knowing
- On cells it must be switched off at the rear switch, as standby drains them (Majority's manual), and the 15 hours isn't tied to a cell type
- No crank, solar panel, torch or phone port, and no published IP rating
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Our review
Majority's Little Shelford is a DAB+, FM and Bluetooth portable with a carry handle, running on four AA cells or a USB-C mains cable. Majority quotes up to 15 hours on batteries and a three-year warranty if you register it. One habit matters on cells: switch it off at the back, because standby drains them.
What it is
Majority, a Cambridge company founded in 2012, lists DAB/DAB+ (174 to 240MHz) and FM (87.5 to 108MHz), Bluetooth 5.0, a mono speaker, a mono LCD, a headphone socket, dual alarms and a sleep timer. Its product page gives 13 by 10 by 17cm and 0.76kg, and the December 2025 manual gives a net weight of 762g. In the box are the radio, a USB-C to mains cable and the manual; the four AA cells are not included. The page lists 20 presets, while the current manual describes 40 preset slots in each of DAB and FM, so expect at least 20. The carry handle makes it easy to move from kitchen to bedroom when the lights are out.
On batteries
Majority quotes up to 15 hours of battery life but does not say which cells or what volume, so plan on less with cheap cells or loud listening. The manual is clear about one thing: on battery power, switch the radio off completely with the power switch on the back, because leaving it in standby will drain the batteries. A radio left in standby in a drawer could be flat when you need it, so make the rear switch part of the routine, or store the cells beside it rather than in it.
In normal use it runs from the mains through the USB-C cable, and the page gives the power input as 5V 1A. It does not charge rechargeable cells, and the USB-C socket is a power input, not an output for phones.
Warranty
The manual gives a standard 12-month warranty, extended to three years in total if you register the radio on Majority's website within 30 days of purchase. That is worth doing on the day it arrives, since an emergency radio may sit unused for months before a fault shows.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Roberts Play 20 quotes up to 25 hours on alkaline cells, weighs 390g and charges NiMH cells inside the radio. The Roberts Play 10 is lighter still at 332g with six presets. The Roberts Revival Uno BT is the dearer kitchen set with the same 25-hour figure.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want an affordable everyday DAB+ radio that can run on AA cells in a power cut, and you will remember the rear switch. Skip it if you want long battery life, a crank or a torch. Keep a spare set of cells with it and note your local FM frequencies, as the government's Be Ready checklist suggests.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Majority: Little Shelford product page and specifications; Majority: Little Shelford user manual (December 2025, PDF); UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a longer-running battery set or one that charges its own cells. The Roberts Play 20 quotes up to 25 hours and charges NiMH cells in the radio, and the Roberts Play 10 quotes up to 20 hours at 332g.
Key specs
| Power sources | 4 x AA (not included) or mains via USB-C adapter |
| Bands | DAB/DAB+/FM, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone socket |
| Phone charging | No |
| Built-in torch | No |
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, 12:07 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, 12:07 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 A tough household radio that can top up a phone from its own cell and keep going from the crank or the sun, if FM and AM are enough.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 12:07 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
How long does the Majority Little Shelford run on batteries?
Up to 15 hours from a set of AA cells, by Majority's figure, which does not name the cell type or volume. Switch it off at the rear switch when not in use, as standby drains the batteries.
Does the Majority Little Shelford come with a mains plug?
Majority's product page lists a USB-C to mains cable in the box along with the radio and manual. AA batteries are not included.
How long is the Majority Little Shelford warranty?
Twelve months as standard, extended to three years in total if you register the radio with Majority within 30 days of purchase.
How many presets does the Majority Little Shelford have?
Majority's product page says 20, while its December 2025 manual describes 40 preset slots each for DAB and FM. Either way there is room for national and local stations.
Can the Majority Little Shelford charge a phone?
No. Its USB-C socket is the power input for the supplied mains cable. Keep a separate charged power bank for phones, which the government's Be Ready checklist lists as its own item.
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