Philips TAR1509 review
Philips TAR1509 Pocket FM/AM Radio (2 x AAA)
By Tom Calder
Philips publishes a short but clear data sheet for this one: FM and AM, two AAA cells, a headphone socket and a wrist lanyard in a 96g body. That meets the government's Be Ready checklist, which asks for a battery or wind-up radio, at the simplest level. Philips gives no battery life, no frequency ranges and no AM step, so there is no run time to plan around, and the 100mW output means a small speaker. Keep a spare pair of AAA cells with it.
- Best for
- A very small, plain FM/AM set from a mainstream brand for a grab bag or a drawer, running on two ordinary AAA cells.
- Skip it if
- You want a published run time
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 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
- Runs on two AAA cells, which are easy to store as spares
- Philips publishes the power source, 96g weight and a headphone output
- Two thumbwheels and an FM/AM switch, with no menus or crank to learn
Worth knowing
- Philips states no battery life and no AM tuning step
- No torch, no USB port, no DAB and no water or dust rating; 100mW output is a small speaker
ⓘ 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
The Philips TAR1509 is a pocket FM and AM radio that runs on two AAA cells and nothing else: no crank, no solar panel, no torch. It is the simplest way to meet the government's Be Ready checklist item for a battery radio, from a brand that still prints a data sheet. Its weak point is that Philips gives no battery life.
What it is
Philips' UK product page describes an FM and AM radio with analogue tuning, powered by two AAA cells, with a headphone socket and a wrist lanyard. The accompanying leaflet adds the figures: no RDS, 100 mW output through a single 1.5 inch driver, a 3.5 mm headphone output, 11.8 by 5.6 by 2.2 cm and 96 g without cells. Tuning and volume are thumbwheels, with a slide switch for the band.
That is the whole feature list. There is no USB port, no DAB, no torch and no water or dust rating, and Philips does not say whether cells are in the box. The 100 mW output means the speaker is for one person at the kitchen table, not a room; the headphone socket is the better way to use it.
Why a plain battery radio belongs in the kit
The government's Be Ready checklist lists an FM radio, battery or wind-up, and adds: "For updates during outages, write down frequencies of any national or local radio stations you use for news." A set like this is the cheapest way to tick that box, and AAA cells are the easiest spare to keep. Our emergency radio guide explains which stations carry local news in a power cut and why FM still matters when mobile data drops.
The missing figure is run time. Philips publishes none, so you cannot plan how many sets of cells a week-long outage needs. Keep two spare pairs with the radio, and favour lithium or low self-discharge cells, which hold their charge in a drawer. A pair of eneloop AAA cells is a sensible match if you own a charger.
How it compares
On the battery radios page the Roberts Sports 925 and the Panasonic RF-P50D do the same job on two AA cells, and both makers quote a run time: Roberts up to 60 hours, Panasonic around 64 hours on FM. AA cells also hold more energy than AAA. If you want a radio that can make its own power, the Philips TAR1609 adds a rechargeable cell, crank, solar panel and torch for not much more bulk. The TAR1509's only advantages are its size and weight, and the Philips name on a very basic set.
Our verdict
A fair choice for a grab bag or glovebox where every gram counts and you already keep AAA cells, and a reasonable second set for a bedroom so that nobody has to come downstairs for the news. Skip it for the main household radio: a two-AA set with a published run time, or a crank model, gives you a number to plan around and more hours per set of cells. Whichever you pick, write the local BBC frequency on the back.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Philips UK: TAR1509/00 portable FM/AM radio; Philips: TAR1509 product leaflet (PDF); GOV.UK Be Ready: household emergency checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a published run time. The Roberts Sports 925 quotes up to 60 hours from two AA cells, and the Philips TAR1609 adds a rechargeable cell, torch and crank.
Key specs
| Power sources | 2 x AAA (not included); no crank or solar |
| Bands | FM and AM, analogue tuning; no RDS, no DAB |
| 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, 16:07 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, 16:07 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, 16:07 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 the batteries last in the Philips TAR1509?
Philips does not say. Neither the UK product page nor the leaflet gives a run time, so keep spare AAA cells with it and treat run time as unknown until you have used it.
Does the TAR1509 have DAB?
No. It receives FM and AM with analogue tuning only. There is no RDS, so station names do not appear and you tune by ear.
Does it come with batteries?
Philips' page does not say, so assume not and buy a pack of AAA cells with it.
Is it loud enough for a room?
The leaflet gives 100 mW output through a 1.5 inch driver, which is enough for one listener close by. Use the 3.5 mm headphone socket for clearer listening.
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 →