Sangean MMR-99 review
Sangean MMR-99 AM/FM Multi-Powered Emergency Radio (IP55, Bluetooth)
By Tom Calder
Sangean's manual states the figures that matter: about 24 hours of play from a full 2,600mAh cell, about 3 hours to recharge by USB-C, and about 10 minutes of listening per minute of winding at 100 turns a minute. IP55 against dust and splashes is on the datasheet, and a 5V/1A USB-A port is a usable phone top-up. Against it: 900g, FM and AM only with no DAB+, and a built-in cell with no AA or AAA fallback, so when the cell is flat you depend on the crank or the sun.
- 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.
- Skip it if
- You want DAB+ or something light for a grab bag
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 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
- About 24 hours of play per charge and about 10 minutes of listening per minute of winding (Sangean manual)
- IP55 dust and splash rating on Sangean's datasheet, plus a 5V/1A USB-A port for phones
- Five-mode LED torch with a red night-vision setting, SOS and Morse, plus Bluetooth and an AUX input
Worth knowing
- FM and AM only, with no DAB+ band
- 900g with a built-in cell and no AA or AAA fallback; Sangean gives no solar charging time
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Our review
Sangean's MMR-99 is a 900g, IP55-rated FM/AM emergency radio with an 18650 cell, a hand crank, a solar panel, Bluetooth and a rated 5V/1A USB socket. Its manual gives the useful numbers: about 24 hours a charge and about ten minutes of radio per minute of winding. It is a home radio, not a pocket one.
What it is
The UK version is AM and FM with RDS; a separate MMR-99 DAB model exists, so check which you are buying. Sangean's page lists up to 40 presets, Bluetooth 5.0, a five-mode LED torch with SOS, a siren, a 2.25-inch, 1.5W speaker and an earphone socket. Power is a 3.7V, 2,600mAh 18650 lithium cell charged by USB-C, the crank or the solar panel. It measures 200 by 113.8 by 88.5mm and weighs 900g, and comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable and a hand strap. The siren and the torch's SOS mode are there to attract attention if you need help, and Bluetooth lets it double as a speaker for a phone.
The numbers that matter
Sangean's manual gives approximately 24 hours of play from a full cell and approximately three hours to recharge it over USB-C. Winding the handle at about 100 turns a minute for one minute gives approximately ten minutes of radio, one of the better crank figures we have seen published. Radio World's review cites a Swedish tester who got over an hour of listening from ten minutes of cranking, which squares with Sangean's figure. The manual is frank about the sun: the solar panel is a supplementary source and should not be relied on as the main one.
Phone charging and water
The USB-A socket is rated 5V 1A, a genuine if slow phone charge. One setting to know: the manual has a DC OUT menu option, and with it off the socket will not charge anything when the radio is off and running on battery. Switch it on before you need it. The housing is marked IP55, meaning protection against harmful dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction under IEC 60529, though the manual describes it as conditionally water resistant. Rain on a garden table is fine; a puddle is not.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Philips TAR3500 is the nearest match: also IP55 with a 1A socket, lighter at 670g, rated for up to 60 hours and able to run on four AAA cells, but with no published crank figure. The MMR-99 has no disposable-cell fallback at all. For DAB+ from Sangean, the MMR-88 DAB+ is the smaller option; the Nedis RDDBCR2000GN is the lightest DAB+ wind-up here.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a sturdy radio that genuinely keeps going on the handle, with a usable phone top-up and Bluetooth for everyday music. Skip it if you want DAB, something for a grab bag, or a set that runs on shop-bought batteries. Keep it charged, set DC OUT to on, and note your local stations; our guide to radios in a power cut explains why.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Sangean: MMR-99 product page and specifications; Sangean: MMR-99 user manual (EU, PDF); Radio World: Sangean MMR-99 review; SWLing Post: the Sangean MMR-99 series and its variants; Electrical Classroom: IP ratings under IEC 60529 explained.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want DAB+ or something light for a grab bag. The Sangean MMR-88 DAB+ is 377g with DAB+, and the Philips TAR1609 weighs 390g.
Key specs
| Power sources | Built-in 2,600mAh Li-ion, solar panel, crank, USB-C |
| Bands | AM/FM with RDS, 40 presets, Bluetooth; no DAB |
| Phone charging | Yes - 5V/1A USB-A, with the radio off |
| Built-in torch | Yes - 5 modes incl. SOS, Morse and red night light |
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, 13:07 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 Most UK households: a mainstream-brand FM/AM set with its own rechargeable battery, three AAA cells as a fallback, and a crank and solar panel behind those.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 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, 13:07 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 Sangean MMR-99 run on a charge?
Sangean's manual says approximately 24 hours from a full 2,600mAh cell, and approximately three hours to recharge it by USB-C.
How much radio do you get from winding the Sangean MMR-99?
About ten minutes of listening for one minute of winding at roughly 100 turns a minute, by Sangean's manual. The solar panel is described as a supplementary source only.
Why won't my Sangean MMR-99 charge my phone?
Check the DC OUT setting in the menu. With DC OUT off, the 5V 1A USB-A socket does not charge devices while the radio is off and on battery power.
Does the Sangean MMR-99 have DAB?
The UK MMR-99 is AM and FM with RDS. Sangean sells a separate MMR-99 DAB version with DAB+ and FM but no AM, so check the model name before buying.
Is the Sangean MMR-99 waterproof?
It is rated IP55: protected against harmful dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction. Sangean's manual calls it conditionally water resistant, so it copes with rain but should not be submerged.
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