Panasonic RF-P50D review
Panasonic RF-P50D FM/AM Pocket Radio (2 x AA)
By Tom Calder
Panasonic's current pocket radio does one job: FM and AM on two AA cells, which Panasonic says last about 64 hours on FM and 68 on AM with alkaline batteries, in a 111g set. There's nothing to charge, crank or fail, and AA cells are the easiest batteries to keep in stock. It has no DAB, torch, phone port or mains option, so it's for news and updates in a cut rather than a radio that does everything.
- Best for
- The simplest battery radio: a pocket FM and AM set that runs for days on two AA cells, for a grab bag or a coat pocket.
- Skip it if
- You want DAB, a light or a phone top-up from the same radio
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
- About 64 hours on FM and 68 on AM from two alkaline AA cells (Panasonic)
- 111g, small enough for a coat pocket or a grab bag
- Nothing to charge, crank or fail
Worth knowing
- FM and AM only: no DAB, torch, phone port or mains option
- Sold by a third-party seller on Amazon UK
ⓘ 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
Panasonic's RF-P50D is a pocket FM and AM radio that runs on two AA cells and weighs 111g before they go in. Its operating instructions put alkaline battery life at about 64 hours of FM listening, or 68 of AM. Nothing to charge, wind or set up: it is the battery radio at its most basic.
What it is
Panasonic's operating instructions list FM from 87 to 108MHz and AM from 520 to 1,730kHz, a 5.7cm speaker with 150mW maximum output, and an earphone socket for a 3.5mm mono plug, with the earphone not included. It takes two R6 or LR6 (AA) cells. The body measures 69.5 by 117.4 by 29.7mm and weighs 111g without batteries, so it slips into a coat pocket or the side of a grab bag. Panasonic notes that the mass and dimensions are approximate and that specifications can change without notice, so check the details on the box of the set you buy.
Run time
Panasonic gives play time as about 64 hours on FM and about 68 hours on AM, using its own alkaline cells, measured at 25°C on a flat, stable surface, and warns that real play time can be shorter. Cheaper zinc cells, cold weather and a loud volume all cut it. Even so, a pair of alkaline AAs covers several days of regular bulletins, and a four-pack in the same bag doubles that. AA cells are the easiest batteries to buy and to keep, which suits a radio that may sit unused for a year.
Store it with the cells out, in their packet, so an old cell cannot leak into the contacts, and check the use-by date on the packet when you check the rest of your kit. The government's Be Ready campaign suggests a reminder every six months.
Limits
It is FM and AM only, with no DAB, no torch, no phone charging and no mains option. The earphone socket is mono, which is fine for news. A 150mW speaker is meant for one person nearby, not a family round a table. There is no published water rating, so keep it dry. And because the jack is for earphones only, there is no line out for a bigger speaker. FM is the band the government's checklist names, so the lack of DAB matters less in an emergency than it does for everyday listening.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison its twin is the Roberts Sports 925: also two AA cells and FM/AM, rated by Roberts at about 60 hours for four hours a day, with a carry strap. The Roberts Play 10 adds DAB+ in a larger 332g set on four cells. For light and a crank in one device, the Philips TAR1609 is the next step up.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a light, long-running FM radio for a grab bag or a bedside drawer, to meet the government's call for a battery or wind-up FM radio. Skip it if you want DAB, a torch or something the whole room can hear. Write down your local frequencies and keep them with it; our guide to radios in a power cut explains why.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Panasonic: RF-P50D operating instructions (hosted by ManualsLib); UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want DAB, a light or a phone top-up from the same radio; the Roberts Play 10 adds DAB, and the Philips TAR3500 adds a crank, solar panel and torch.
Key specs
| Power sources | 2 x AA; about 64h FM / 68h AM on alkaline (Panasonic) |
| Bands | FM 87-108MHz, AM 520-1730kHz |
| 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 do batteries last in the Panasonic RF-P50D?
Panasonic's operating instructions say about 64 hours on FM and about 68 hours on AM with alkaline AA cells, measured at 25°C. Real use can be shorter.
What batteries does the Panasonic RF-P50D take?
Two AA cells, R6 or LR6. Panasonic's run-time figures are for alkaline cells, so buy alkaline for an emergency kit.
How heavy is the Panasonic RF-P50D?
111g without batteries, by Panasonic's figure, and 69.5 by 117.4 by 29.7mm, small enough for a coat pocket.
Does the Panasonic RF-P50D have a headphone socket?
Yes, an earphone socket for a 3.5mm mono plug. An earphone is not included.
Does the Panasonic RF-P50D have DAB?
No. It receives FM from 87 to 108MHz and AM from 520 to 1,730kHz only. For DAB+ on AA cells, a set such as the Roberts Play 10 is the larger alternative.
Free alerts for your home
Home Alerts emails you when a power cut, a Met Office warning or a flood warning covers your postcode. Free for your own home. Sign up in a minute.
Start free →