Roberts Sports 925 review
Roberts Sports 925 Personal FM/AM Radio (2 x AA)
By Tom Calder
GOV.UK Prepare asks for a battery or wind-up radio, and this is the battery one done simply. Roberts quotes up to 60 hours of playback, it runs on two AA cells, and there's no crank to seize, no solar panel to disappoint and no internal cell to go flat between emergencies. Its limits are plain: no torch, no phone charging, no DAB, and a small speaker that's quiet in a busy room, so keep headphones with it.
- 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.
- Skip it if
- You want one device for light and radio together, or DAB
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 60 hours of playback (Roberts) from two AA cells, so one spare pack covers a long cut
- A headphone socket for listening quietly at night
- Simple scroll tuning from a UK radio brand, and Roberts advertises a free 2-year warranty
Worth knowing
- No torch, no USB port and no DAB; it does one job only
- A tiny speaker that's better through headphones than out loud
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Our review
The Sports 925 is Roberts' pocket FM and medium-wave radio: 140g, dial tuning, a headphone socket, a carry strap and two AA cells. Roberts rates it for about 60 hours of listening at normal volume. There is nothing to charge or wind, which is the whole point. It does one job, the news, and no more.
What it is
Roberts' guide (Issue 5a, 2021) lists MW (AM) from 520 to 1,710kHz and FM from 87.5 to 108MHz, dial tuning, a telescopic aerial for FM, a 3.5mm headphone socket that mutes the speaker, and a carrying strap. It takes two LR6 (AA) cells, not included. Roberts' product page gives 12.2 by 7 by 3cm and 140g, and a two-year warranty. In the box are the radio, a quick start guide and a safety and warranty leaflet. One review site lists long wave as well, but Roberts' own guide shows only MW and FM, so go by that.
Run time, read properly
Roberts' guide gives approximately 60 hours of listening for four hours a day at normal volume on alkaline cells. Spread that way, one pair of cells covers roughly two weeks of morning and evening bulletins. Listening constantly, or loudly, will shorten it, so keep a spare pair. Roberts suggests taking the batteries out if the radio will not be used for an extended period, which is the right habit for a kit radio: store it with the cells beside it, in their packet, so a leak cannot damage it.
On medium wave the guide says to turn the radio itself to find the best reception, while FM uses the telescopic aerial, fully extended. Writing down your local FM and MW frequencies, as the government's Be Ready campaign suggests, saves tuning around by ear in the dark.
Limits
It has no torch, no USB port, no DAB and no rechargeable cell. The guide warns that the radio should not be exposed to dripping or splashing, so a coat pocket in the rain is not ideal. Dial tuning on a set this small takes a steady hand. A small speaker will struggle in a noisy room, which is where the headphone socket earns its place. Roberts publishes no speaker output figure, so judge it as a personal radio rather than one to fill a kitchen.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Panasonic RF-P50D is its direct rival: also two AA cells and FM/AM, with Panasonic quoting about 64 hours on FM. The Roberts Play 10 adds DAB+ for more than twice the weight and four cells. If you want light and power from the same device, the Philips TAR1609 adds a torch, a crank and AAA backup.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want the simplest possible answer to the government's call for a battery or wind-up FM radio, small enough to live in a grab bag or a coat. Skip it if you want DAB, light or phone charging from the same device. Put a head torch and spare AA cells next to it, and see our guide to radios in a power cut.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Roberts: Sports 925 user guide, Issue 5a (PDF); Roberts: Sports 925 product page and specifications; UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want one device for light and radio together, or DAB. Pair it with a head torch, or pick the Philips TAR1609 for a radio that also has a torch and a crank.
Key specs
| Power sources | 2 x AA batteries (not included). No crank, solar panel or rechargeable cell |
| Bands | FM/AM (medium wave), analogue scroll tuning |
| 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 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.
Best for A DAB+ and FM set that charges its own NiMH AA cells from the mains adaptor while it's switched off, so a charged set of cells is waiting when the power goes.
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 the batteries last in a Roberts Sports 925?
Roberts' guide says approximately 60 hours of listening, based on four hours a day at normal volume with alkaline AA cells. Louder or constant listening will shorten that.
Does the Roberts Sports 925 have long wave?
No. Roberts' user guide lists MW (AM) from 520 to 1,710kHz and FM from 87.5 to 108MHz only, whatever some reviews say.
What batteries does the Roberts Sports 925 take?
Two LR6 (AA) cells, not included. Roberts advises removing them if the radio will be stored unused for a long time.
Can you use headphones with the Roberts Sports 925?
Yes. It has a 3.5mm headphone socket, and plugging in mutes the speaker, which helps at night or in a busy room.
Is the Roberts Sports 925 waterproof?
No. Roberts' guide says the radio should not be exposed to liquids, dripping or splashing, so keep it in a pocket or bag that stays dry.
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