Roberts Rambler Uno review
Roberts Rambler Uno DAB/DAB+/FM Bluetooth Radio (4 x AA or mains)
By Tom Calder
It does run without mains: four AA cells, alkaline or NiMH, and the radio charges NiMH cells itself in about 7 hours. Roberts' guide says 8 to 10 hours on alkaline, shorter than the other Roberts AA sets here. On paper it's a well-specified radio (DAB, DAB+ and FM with RDS, 20 presets, a 50mm speaker with a passive radiator, Bluetooth), but it's built for the worktop. With no crank, solar panel, torch or phone port, a power cut means spare cells.
- Best for
- A good-looking DAB+ and Bluetooth radio for the kitchen that also runs on four AA cells; an everyday radio first and an emergency set second.
- Skip it if
- You're buying for a power cut
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
- Runs on four AA cells and charges NiMH cells inside the radio; Roberts quotes 8 to 10 hours on alkaline
- DAB, DAB+ and FM with RDS, 20 presets, Bluetooth and a headphone socket, from a UK radio maker
- A travel lock switch and a free 2-year warranty
Worth knowing
- 8 to 10 hours on alkaline is short; the Play 10 and Play 20 quote 20 and 25 hours
- No crank, solar panel, torch or phone port, and no published IP rating
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Our review
The Rambler Uno is Roberts' compact retro-styled DAB+, FM and Bluetooth radio, built for the worktop but able to run on four AA cells when the mains is off. Its best emergency feature is that it charges NiMH rechargeables inside the radio. Its weakness is a short battery life: Roberts puts it at 8 to 10 hours on a set of alkaline cells.
What it is
A small Roberts portable in the Rambler styling, with DAB, DAB+ and FM with RDS station names, 20 presets split ten for DAB and ten for FM, an OLED display and Bluetooth for playing audio from a phone. There is a headphone socket and a travel lock switch, so the radio doesn't switch itself on in a bag. Roberts gives a two-year warranty.
It runs from its mains adaptor (7.5 V, 1.6 A) or from four AA cells, which are not included. Roberts' quick start guide says the radio takes alkaline or NiMH cells, with a switch in the battery compartment to tell it which you have fitted.
In a power cut
The useful trick is the built-in charger. Fit four NiMH AA cells, set the switch to NiMH and the radio charges them from the mains in about seven hours, according to Roberts' guide. Leave it on the worktop plugged in and the cells are full on the evening the power goes, with nothing else to remember.
The trade-off is run time. Roberts gives 8 to 10 hours from alkaline cells, which is two or three evenings of listening rather than a long weekend. If you expect longer cuts, keep a second set of four AAs in a bag taped inside a cupboard door. The government's Be Ready checklist asks for an FM radio, battery or wind-up, for a three-day household kit, and our guide to radios in a power cut covers which stations to tune to.
The limits
It has no crank, solar panel, torch or phone-charging port, and Roberts publishes no water or dust rating, so it is a kitchen radio rather than one for the garden in the rain or a grab bag. Keep the battery switch on Alkaline whenever ordinary cells are fitted: only NiMH cells are made to be recharged.
DAB needs a usable signal. If reception is patchy where you live, FM is the fallback, and it is worth saving your local BBC station on both bands while the power is on.
How it compares
Roberts' own Play 20 does the same NiMH-charging trick and claims as much as 25 hours from four alkaline AAs, which makes it the better buy if a power cut is the main reason you want a radio. The cheaper Play 10 quotes up to 20 hours but has six presets and doesn't charge cells. The larger Revival Mini 2 has 40 presets and the same 8 to 10 hours on alkaline, at around twice the size. All of them are on our emergency radio comparison, and pocket sets for a grab bag are on the battery radio page.
Our verdict
Buy the Rambler Uno if you want an attractive everyday radio for the kitchen and like the idea of rechargeables that are always topped up. Buy something else if it is mainly for emergencies: the short alkaline run time is the one figure that matters most in a long cut, and the Play 20 does better on it.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Roberts Radio: Rambler Uno product page; GOV.UK Be Ready: emergency checklist; Roberts Radio Technical: user guides and downloads.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you're buying for a power cut. The Play 20 quotes up to 25 hours on four AA cells, and the Philips TAR1609 can recharge itself.
Key specs
| Power sources | 4 x AA alkaline or NiMH (charged in radio), or mains |
| Bands | DAB/DAB+/FM with RDS, 20 presets, Bluetooth |
| 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 Roberts Rambler Uno run on batteries?
Roberts' quick start guide gives between 8 and 10 hours using four alkaline AA cells. It gives no separate figure for NiMH rechargeables, and the run time will vary with volume.
Does the Rambler Uno charge rechargeable batteries?
Yes. With four NiMH AA cells fitted and the battery switch set to NiMH, it charges them from the mains adaptor in about seven hours, according to Roberts. Set the switch to Alkaline when using ordinary cells.
Can I charge my phone from the Rambler Uno?
No. Roberts lists no phone-charging output. Keep a charged power bank for the phone, and use the radio for news and updates.
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