Roberts Play 10 review
Roberts Play 10 DAB/DAB+/FM Portable Radio (4 x AA or mains)
By Tom Calder
Roberts' current guide (Issue 4, September 2024) gives up to 20 hours from four AA alkaline cells, down from 30 hours in an earlier edition, so check which figure a retailer repeats. It's the honest low-tech answer: DAB, DAB+ and FM with RDS, six presets with a mains adaptor in the box. It isn't self-sufficient: no crank, solar panel, torch or phone port, and it doesn't recharge cells, so what you keep in the drawer decides how long it lasts.
- Best for
- A plain battery DAB+ and FM radio from a UK radio maker for a kitchen shelf or a power-cut drawer, with spare AA cells as the whole power plan.
- Skip it if
- You want a radio that charges itself or lights a room
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
- Up to 20 hours from four AA cells by Roberts' current guide, and AA cells are easy to stock
- DAB, DAB+ and FM with RDS, six presets and a headphone socket
- From a UK radio brand, and Roberts advertises a free 2-year warranty
Worth knowing
- No crank, solar panel, torch or phone port; once the cells run out you need more cells or the mains
- An earlier guide edition quoted 30 hours, so expect the current 20 hours rather than older listings' figure
ⓘ 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
Roberts' Play 10 is about as simple as a DAB+ radio gets: DAB, DAB+ and FM with station names, six presets, a carry strap and a headphone socket, running from four AA cells or the mains adaptor in the box. In a power cut it is exactly as good as the spare batteries in your drawer.
What it is
Roberts' product page gives 18 by 10 by 5.5cm and 332g, a blue LCD with a dimmer, a headphone socket and six presets; the guide splits those into three for DAB and three for FM, each on its own button. FM shows RDS station names. The speaker is a 76mm unit with 700mW of output, so it is a radio for one room rather than a party. Roberts currently advertises a two-year warranty on the model; the original 2015 guide gave twelve months.
Batteries and run time
Power is four LR6 (AA) cells or the adaptor. Roberts' first-edition guide gives up to 30 hours on alkaline cells, depending on volume and operating mode. That is an upper figure for one set of cells at modest volume; a louder radio, a bright display or cheaper zinc cells will cut it, so budget for at least two spare sets in a long cut. Roberts recommends running it on the adaptor whenever possible and keeping batteries for occasional use. Unlike the Play 20, it has no charging circuit and no switch for NiMH cells, so rechargeables must be charged elsewhere.
A practical approach is to keep it on the mains day to day with a sealed pack of alkaline AA cells taped to the back or in the same drawer. Take the cells out if it will sit unused for months, as Roberts advises, so a leak does not damage the contacts.
Limits
It does nothing but play the radio. No crank, no solar panel, no torch, no USB output and no published water rating, so keep it indoors and dry. Six presets are few if you also want local stations, though you can tune any station manually. DAB reception depends on where you live, and FM is the fallback the government names: the Be Ready checklist asks for an FM radio and a written note of the frequencies you use. If your area has weak DAB coverage, check the FM frequencies of your local BBC station now rather than during a cut.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Roberts Play 20 adds Bluetooth, 20 presets and a built-in charger for NiMH cells for 58g more. The Roberts Sports 925 gives up DAB for a 140g pocket body that runs on two AA cells. The Panasonic RF-P50D is the other pocket choice, with Panasonic quoting about 64 hours on FM.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a plain, light DAB+ and FM radio from a long-standing UK radio brand, and you are happy for spare AA cells to be the whole power plan. Skip it if you want it to charge its own cells, light a room or keep going once the batteries run out. Our radio guide for power cuts covers which stations carry local updates.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Roberts: Play 10 product page and specifications; Roberts: Play 10 user guide, Issue 1 (PDF); Digital Radio Choice: Roberts Play 10 review; UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a radio that charges itself or lights a room. The Philips TAR1609 has a crank, solar panel and torch; the Roberts Sports 925 quotes 60 hours on two AA cells, though without DAB.
Key specs
| Power sources | 4 x AA (not included) or mains adaptor. No crank or solar |
| Bands | DAB/DAB+/FM with RDS, 6 presets |
| 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 Roberts Play 10?
Roberts' first-edition guide gives up to 30 hours on four alkaline AA cells, depending on volume and operating mode. Treat that as the best case and keep at least one spare set.
Can the Roberts Play 10 charge rechargeable batteries?
No. It has no charging circuit, so NiMH cells need an external charger. The Roberts Play 20 is the version that charges NiMH cells inside the radio.
Does the Roberts Play 10 come with a mains adaptor?
Yes. It runs from the supplied adaptor or four AA cells, and Roberts recommends the adaptor whenever possible, with batteries for occasional use.
How many presets does the Roberts Play 10 have?
Six: three for DAB and three for FM, each on a dedicated button. Other stations can be tuned manually.
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 →