Nedis RDDBCR2000GN review
Nedis RDDBCR2000GN DAB+/FM Wind-Up Solar Emergency Radio (2,500mAh)
By Tom Calder
Nedis states 15 hours of play from the 2,500mAh cell and 3 to 5 minutes of radio per minute of cranking, a modest figure, and its manual shows how to swap the 18650 cell. It's DAB+ and FM at 288g, with a torch, reading light and siren. The loose ends are real: no headphone socket, a 1W mono speaker, no published rating for the USB-A output so phone charging is unproven, no IP rating (the manual says to keep it dry), and a manual whose crank line ('around 3 to 5 minutes to fully charge') doesn't match the product page's figure.
- Best for
- A pocket-sized DAB+ radio with crank and solar backup and a swappable 18650 cell, from a European electronics brand that publishes a proper manual.
- Skip it if
- You want a water-resistant set or a rated phone-charging port
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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
- DAB+ and FM in 288g, charged by crank, solar panel or USB-C
- 15 hours of play from the 2,500mAh cell and 3 to 5 minutes of radio per minute of cranking, by Nedis' figures
- The 18650 cell can be replaced (steps in the manual), and a torch, reading light and siren are included
Worth knowing
- No headphone socket, a 1W mono speaker and no rated phone-charging output
- No IP rating, the manual says to keep it away from water and rain, and its crank wording is inconsistent
Out of stock when we checked: our alternatives
Closest in size first, then by our score. None of them was showing out of stock when we last checked.
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.ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
Nedis puts DAB+, FM, a hand crank, a solar panel, a torch and a replaceable 18650 cell into a 288g box, and publishes a full manual to back it. It is the lightest way onto digital radio with a crank on our list. What it lacks is a headphone socket, a water rating and a stated USB output.
What it is
Nedis lists a 2,500mAh, 3.7V 18650 lithium cell (9.25Wh), good for 900 minutes of standard use, which is 15 hours. Charging over USB-C at 5V 1A takes 3.5 hours. The bands are DAB+ and FM with up to 40 presets, and the speaker is a 1W mono unit. The body measures 147 by 74 by 52mm. A torch with three settings sits at one end, a fold-out LED reading light comes on when you open the solar panel, and there is a siren button. The radio drops to standby after 15 minutes without a button press, which saves the cell if it is left on by mistake.
The crank, in Nedis' words
Nedis' product page says one minute of cranking gives three to five minutes of radio, or five to ten minutes of torch. The manual phrases it differently, saying it takes around three to five minutes to fully charge the product by crank, which cannot be right for a 2,500mAh cell and reads as a translation slip. Plan on the product-page figure: a few minutes of news for each minute of winding. The solar panel will help on a bright day but, like all panels this size, it is a trickle.
The manual's section on replacing the battery shows the cover held by two screws, and says to use only a 2,500mAh, 3.7V 18650 lithium-ion cell. That matters for a radio meant to sit in a cupboard for years: a tired cell can be swapped rather than the radio binned.
Limits
There is no headphone output, so night-time listening means the speaker. The manual tells you not to expose it to water, rain, moisture or high humidity, and Nedis publishes no IP rating, so it is an indoor set. Nedis describes a power-bank function for charging a mobile device but gives no output rating for the USB-A socket, so assume a slow top-up at best and keep a separate power bank. No warranty term appeared on the pages we read.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Roberts SolarDAB 99 is the more rugged DAB+ wind-up, with IP55, a headphone socket and up to 20 hours, but it weighs 837g. The Philips TAR1609 has no DAB but adds a slot for three AAA cells and published crank and solar figures. The Sangean MMR-99 has a rated 5V/1A USB socket and IP55, on FM and AM only.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want DAB+ with a crank and solar backup in something light enough for a grab bag, and you like that the cell can be replaced. Skip it if you need a water rating, headphones or a phone charger you can count on. FM is what the government's Be Ready checklist names, and this has FM too, so note your local frequencies either way.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Nedis: RDDBCR2000GN product page and specifications; Nedis: RDDBCR2000GN online manual; Nedis: RDDBCR2000GN quick start guide (PDF); UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a water-resistant set or a rated phone-charging port. The Sangean MMR-99 has both, a dust and water rating and a 5V/1A USB-A port; the Philips TAR3500 is rated for dust and water but gives no USB output rating. Neither has DAB+.
Key specs
| Power sources | 2,500mAh 18650 Li-ion (swappable), solar panel, crank, USB-C |
| Bands | DAB+/FM, up to 40 presets; no headphone socket |
| Phone charging | Yes - USB-A output, no rating stated |
| Built-in torch | Yes - 3-level LED plus foldable 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.
Questions
How long does the Nedis RDDBCR2000GN run on a charge?
Nedis gives 900 minutes, 15 hours, of standard use from its 2,500mAh 18650 cell, and 3.5 hours to recharge it over USB-C at 5V 1A.
How much radio does a minute of cranking give?
Nedis' product page says three to five minutes of radio, or five to ten minutes of torch, per minute of cranking. The manual words it differently, so treat the product-page figure as the guide.
Can you replace the battery in the Nedis emergency radio?
Yes. The manual shows the battery cover held by two screws and says to fit only a 3.7V, 2,500mAh 18650 lithium-ion cell.
Is the Nedis RDDBCR2000GN waterproof?
No. Nedis publishes no IP rating, and the manual says not to expose it to water, rain, moisture or high humidity.
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