XHDATA D-608WB review
XHDATA D-608WB Wind-Up and Solar FM/AM/SW Radio (3,000mAh, Bluetooth)
By Tom Calder
XHDATA is an established radio maker, and this is its wind-up model: a 3,000mAh battery that charges over USB-C, a hand crank and solar panel as backups, a torch and reading lamp, an SOS alarm and a USB port for a phone. AM tunes in 9kHz steps for UK medium wave. It has no DAB, and the listing gives no battery life, charging output, weight or dust and water rating. The weather band in its name is a US service, so ignore it here.
- Best for
- A cheap all-rounder for a power-cut box: crank, solar and USB-C charging, a torch and a phone port in one pocket-sized set.
- Skip it if
- You listen on DAB
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
- Charges three ways: USB-C, hand crank and solar
- AM in 9kHz steps for UK stations, plus FM and shortwave, with up to 500 stored stations
- Torch, reading lamp, SOS alarm and a USB port for topping up a phone
Worth knowing
- No DAB, and no published battery life, charging output or IP rating
- The weather band (WB) is a US service with nothing to receive in the UK
Out of stock when we checked: our alternatives
Closest in size first, then by our score. None of them was showing out of stock when we last checked.
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, 16:07 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, 16:07 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, 16:07 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.ⓘ 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
XHDATA's D-608WB is a 320g FM, AM and shortwave radio with a replaceable 3,000mAh 18650 cell, Bluetooth, a card slot, a torch and a USB-C socket, with a crank and solar panel as backups. XHDATA publishes its band plan, which is more than most crank radios offer. It has no DAB and no IP rating.
What it is
XHDATA's product page lists FM in four selectable ranges including 87.5 to 108MHz, medium wave in 9kHz or 10kHz steps, and shortwave from 1,711 to 29,999kHz, with hundreds of memory slots. Power is an 18650 lithium cell of 3.7V and 3,000mAh, charged at 5V 1A over USB-C, by the hand crank or by the solar panel. There is Bluetooth with a 10m range, a slot for a memory card up to 32GB, a 40mm 5W speaker, a three-level torch and a USB output for a phone. XHDATA gives 165 by 90 by 55mm and 320g in its specification, though its product text says 0.4kg. The weather channels in the name are a North American service, as XHDATA's own page notes, and receive nothing here.
What independent reviewers found
The SWLing Post, a long-running radio enthusiasts' site, confirmed the 18650 cell is user-replaceable, weighed its sample at about 326g and found the shortwave and medium wave sides capable for the money. A second review on Blog or Die measured the cell at a nominal 2,700mAh rather than the 3,000mAh stated, found the panel could not run the radio in winter sun, and noted the set is not weatherproof. XHDATA publishes no crank-to-play figure, so count the handle as a way to get a bulletin, not an evening's listening.
Living with it
Set the medium wave step to 9kHz for UK stations. Because the cell is a standard 18650, you can keep a charged spare, which no sealed crank radio allows; charge spares in a proper 18650 charger and follow our lithium battery safety guide. The USB output has no stated rating, so use a power bank for phones. With no IP rating, keep it under cover outdoors. XHDATA lists no warranty length on the page, so check the seller's terms.
Charge it fully from USB-C before a storm warning rather than counting on the panel, which the second reviewer found could not keep up in winter sun, and store it with the cell around half full if it will sit for months. The card slot and Bluetooth are everyday extras rather than emergency ones.
How it compares
On our emergency radio comparison the Philips TAR1609 is the simpler buy for a household that only needs FM, with an AAA fallback and a published run time. The Sangean MMR-99 has an IP55 rating and Bluetooth from a bigger name. The XHDATA earns its place with shortwave, a swappable cell and USB-C, which suit someone who listens to overseas broadcasters as well as the BBC.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want a crank radio with shortwave and a cell you can swap, and you will charge it over USB-C like any other gadget. Skip it if you want DAB, a weatherproof set or a published crank figure; the government's Be Ready checklist asks only for an FM radio, and a plain AA set does that with less to go wrong.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: XHDATA: D-608WB product page and specifications; The SWLing Post: XHDATA D-608WB review; Blog or Die: XHDATA D-608WB review with battery measurement; UK Government Be Ready: emergency kit checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you listen on DAB. The Acta Berg DAB+ crank radio adds digital stations, and the Philips TAR3500 publishes its run time and an IP55 rating.
Key specs
| Power sources | Built-in 3,000mAh battery (USB-C charging), hand crank and solar panel |
| Bands | FM, AM (9kHz or 10kHz steps) and shortwave; stores up to 500 stations; no DAB |
| Phone charging | Yes - USB output (no output rating stated) |
| Built-in torch | Yes - torch, reading lamp and SOS alarm |
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.
Questions
Does the XHDATA D-608WB work with UK stations?
Yes for FM, medium wave and shortwave. Set the AM step to 9kHz. The weather channels are a North American service and receive nothing in the UK.
Is the D-608WB battery replaceable?
Yes. It uses a standard 18650 lithium cell, which the SWLing Post confirmed is user-replaceable. Spares are sold separately.
Is the XHDATA D-608WB waterproof?
No. XHDATA gives no IP rating and the Blog or Die review found it is not weatherproof, so keep it dry.
Does the D-608WB have DAB?
No. It covers FM, AM and shortwave only, so digital-only stations are out of reach.
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 →