Roberts Revival Mini 2 review
Roberts Revival Mini 2 DAB+/FM Bluetooth Portable Radio (4 x AA or mains)
By Tom Calder
Roberts' quick-start guide gives between 8 and 10 hours from four alkaline AA cells, with the mains adaptor in the box. Its useful trick is a built-in charger: fit four NiMH cells, move the switch in the battery compartment, and they fill from the mains in about 7 hours, so they're charged when the power goes. The guide describes the USB socket as for service use only, so don't expect a phone top-up. At about 1.2kg with no crank, solar panel or torch it's a kitchen radio first, and DAB needs a signal like any radio.
- Best for
- A good-looking DAB+ and FM radio for the kitchen that can keep NiMH AA cells topped up from the mains, so they're charged when a cut starts.
- Skip it if
- You want a long run time or a phone top-up from the same set
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
- Roberts' guide quotes 8 to 10 hours from four alkaline AA cells, and the mains adaptor is in the box
- A built-in charger fills NiMH AA cells in about 7 hours from the mains, so the cells in the radio can be kept topped up
- DAB+, DAB and FM with RDS on a telescopic aerial, with 40 presets and Bluetooth
Worth knowing
- About 1.2kg and 18cm tall, with no crank, solar panel or torch
- Roberts' guide lists the USB socket as for service use only, so no phone charging, and 8 to 10 hours is short for a long cut
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Our review
The Revival Mini 2 is the latest version of Roberts' best-known retro radio: DAB+, FM and Bluetooth in a leather-look case, running from the mains or four AA cells. It earns a place on a power-cut list because it keeps NiMH rechargeables charged while it sits on the side, though Roberts' battery life of 8 to 10 hours is modest.
What it is
A mains-or-battery radio in the Revival styling, receiving DAB and DAB+ (174.928 to 239.200 MHz) and FM (87.5 to 108 MHz) with RDS through a telescopic aerial. Roberts lists 40 presets, 20 for DAB and 20 for FM, plus Bluetooth for playing from a phone, a 3.5 mm headphone socket and an aux input. The 7.5 V mains adaptor is in the box.
It stands about 18 cm tall and weighs about 1.2 kg. Roberts' quick start guide marks the rear USB socket as for service use only, although some retailers describe it as a charging port; we follow the maker's guide.
In a power cut
It takes four AA cells, alkaline or NiMH rechargeable, which are not supplied. A switch in the battery compartment tells the radio which type is fitted, and with NiMH selected it charges them from the mains adaptor whether the radio is on or in standby, taking about seven hours from flat according to Roberts' guide. Leave rechargeables in it and they are ready when the lights go out.
Roberts' guide puts alkaline battery life at between 8 and 10 hours. What Hi-Fi's review reports up to 11 hours, but plan on the maker's lower figure, and keep a spare set of four AAs if you expect a cut to last more than a couple of evenings. The government's Be Ready checklist asks for an FM radio, battery or wind-up, for a three-day kit; our guide to radios in a power cut covers what to listen for.
The limits
At about 1.2 kg and 18 cm tall, this is a radio for a kitchen shelf, not a grab bag. It has no crank, no solar panel and no torch, and Roberts publishes no water or dust rating. As with every DAB set, reception depends on your local signal; FM is the fallback if DAB drops out.
Keep the battery switch on Alkaline whenever ordinary cells are fitted, because only NiMH cells are made to be recharged.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison, Roberts' Play 20 charges NiMH cells the same way, quotes up to 25 hours on four AA alkaline cells and weighs a fraction as much, so it is the better choice if emergencies are the main reason to buy. The smaller Rambler Uno shares the 8 to 10 hour figure. If a phone top-up matters, the Philips TAR3500 adds a USB phone port, a crank and a solar panel, at the cost of DAB.
Our verdict
The Mini 2 is a well-made everyday radio that copes with a power cut rather than one built for it. Buy it if you want the Revival look in the kitchen and like having rechargeables that are always full. If you are buying mainly for emergencies, the longer run time of the Play 20 counts for more.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Roberts Radio: Revival Mini 2 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 want a long run time or a phone top-up from the same set. The Roberts Play 20 quotes up to 25 hours and charges NiMH cells in the radio at 390g, and the Philips TAR3500 has a USB-A phone port and an AAA fallback.
Key specs
| Power sources | 4 x AA alkaline or NiMH, or mains; charges NiMH inside |
| Bands | DAB/DAB+/FM RDS, Bluetooth, 40 presets |
| Phone charging | No - USB socket is for service use only |
| 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 Revival Mini 2 last on batteries?
Roberts' quick start guide gives between 8 and 10 hours using four alkaline AA cells. What Hi-Fi reports up to 11 hours. Run time falls at higher volume.
Does the Revival Mini 2 charge rechargeable batteries?
Yes. Fit four NiMH AA cells, set the switch in the battery compartment to NiMH, and the radio charges them from the supplied mains adaptor in about seven hours, in standby or while playing.
Can the USB socket on the Revival Mini 2 charge a phone?
Roberts' guide labels the USB socket for service use only, so don't rely on it to charge a phone. Some retailer listings say otherwise; we follow the maker's guide.
Is the Revival Mini 2 good in a power cut?
It works well for a short one: it runs on AA cells and keeps NiMH rechargeables topped up. For longer cuts, keep spare cells, or choose a set with a longer published battery life.
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