Best Shortwave Radios in 2026

The PL-520 is the radio I would now recommend to somebody who wants to buy one capable shortwave portable and stop researching.

Its advantage is not an enormous frequency list. What matters is the control it gives you once you actually start listening.

You get single sideband, synchronous detection, selectable bandwidths, direct keypad frequency entry and Tecsun’s ETM+ tuning system. ETM+ is especially useful for a new listener because it can scan and temporarily organize stations that are active at the time you are listening rather than forcing you to build a permanent memory list before you understand the bands.

Tecsun also moved the new model to USB-C and added the kickstand and usability improvements that were conspicuously missing from the PL-330.

But the comparison with the PL-330 needs to be honest. I would not replace a working PL-330 with a PL-520 expecting dramatically better shortwave reception. The PL-520 is the nicer radio to buy fresh today: improved case, better ergonomics, USB-C, additional bandwidth choices and a kickstand.

The external FM/shortwave antenna input also matters. If weak reception is frustrating you, try the radio outdoors or use an appropriate external antenna before deciding that the receiver is inadequate. Our shortwave antenna guide shows when a simple reel, magnetic loop or permanent outdoor wire makes sense.

Its limitations are straightforward. The speaker is still small, it runs from a BL-5C rechargeable pack rather than ordinary AA cells, and it does not receive NOAA Weather Radio.

The D-219 is for genuine curiosity.

You are not buying a small enthusiast receiver on a discount. You are buying an inexpensive AM/FM/shortwave radio with manual tuning that lets you sit outside at night, turn the dial and see whether receiving distant broadcasts is fun enough to justify more equipment.

XHDATA currently specifies shortwave coverage from 4.75 to 22 MHz, two AA batteries, 5 V external input and a compact 125 × 75 × 28 mm body.

For U.S. buyers, the version matters. XHDATA explicitly states that the 10 kHz medium-wave version is available from its U.S. warehouse. The 9 kHz version is intended for regions using that channel spacing.

There is no SSB, no direct frequency keypad and no memory database. That is exactly why I would not recommend it to somebody already telling me they want amateur-radio voice, utility signals or careful logging.

If you want a somewhat better learning radio while still staying simple, see the Wholly Outdoor budget shortwave guide. But once your budget approaches a PL-520/PL-330 and you think SSB might matter, I would rather buy the SSB-capable radio once.

The ATS-909X2 is not the serious recommendation because it merely has SSB—the PL-520 already gives you SSB.

You step up for everything surrounding the listening experience.

Sangean gives you AM, FM, shortwave, longwave and the 118–137 MHz aviation band, extensive preset storage, direct frequency tuning, manual and automatic bandwidth control, external shortwave antenna support and a full-size control layout that is much easier to live with during long sessions.

It also uses four AA batteries. That can feel old-fashioned beside USB-C portables, but replaceable cells are actually useful for travel and long sessions where you do not want to depend on one proprietary pack.

The buying mistake is assuming that its price automatically means dramatically more international broadcasts will appear. A PL-520 with a quieter listening location and good external wire can embarrass a much more expensive radio trapped beside a noisy laptop charger.

The arrival of the PL-520 did not suddenly make the PL-330 bad.

Tecsun still sells the PL-330, and it remains a compact SSB-capable receiver with direct tuning, ETM+, multiple bandwidths and synchronous detection.

The reason it moved down this article is simple: when prices are close, I would rather buy the newer PL-520 for USB-C, the kickstand, additional bandwidth choices and the more comfortable case/control treatment.

But that recommendation should flip with price.

If the PL-330 is meaningfully cheaper from the seller you trust, buy it. The PL-520’s improvements are mostly about making the same general class of compact receiver nicer to own—not making the PL-330 obsolete.

That is also why existing PL-330 owners should not interpret this ranking as an upgrade order. Spend the money first on getting the antenna away from household noise.

The KA500 is not the shortwave receiver I would choose for sitting down at midnight to dig weak stations out of fading and interference.

It wins a completely different job.

Kaito currently gives it AM, FM, two shortwave ranges and all seven NOAA Weather Radio channels with alert, plus a hand crank, adjustable solar panel, replaceable rechargeable battery pack, three-AA backup, flashlight, reading light and USB power output.

That combination makes sense in a storm kit, cabin, vehicle emergency box or go-bag because the device still has things to do when you are not listening to shortwave.

NOAA Weather Radio deserves special emphasis here. The National Weather Service operates the network 24/7 to distribute official warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information. If the purchase is primarily about U.S. emergency information, NOAA is usually a more immediate layer than hoping an international shortwave broadcast happens to cover your local hazard.

The crank and solar panel should also be treated as backup power sources, not a magical replacement for keeping batteries ready.

For a broader comparison of preparedness-focused radios, see our best emergency radio guide.

The Skywave SSB 2 is the emergency alternative for somebody who looks at the KA500 and says, “I care more about the radio than the flashlight.”

C.Crane currently gives it AM, FM, NOAA Weather Radio with alert, shortwave from 1.711 to 29.999 MHz, SSB with 10 Hz fine tuning, and the VHF civilian aviation band.

There are 400 memory presets, direct frequency entry and selectable tuning rates. It also runs for roughly 60 hours through the built-in speaker or around 70 hours with earbuds from two ordinary alkaline AA cells according to C.Crane.

The included 23-foot reel antenna is particularly useful because it gives you an immediate external-shortwave option without buying another accessory first.

What it deliberately does not have is the KA500’s hand crank, solar panel, phone-charging output or flashlight.

That makes the distinction clean:

If weather alerts are your dominant requirement rather than shortwave, compare dedicated options in our weather radio guide.

The PL-880 was the old article’s overall winner. It should stay in the guide, but it should no longer sit above every other radio.

Tecsun still sells it today, and the core feature set remains serious: AM/FM/LW/SW, separate USB and LSB reception, 10 Hz minimum SSB tuning, an external shortwave antenna jack, selectable high/mid/low sensitivity and up to 3,050 stored frequencies.

Its larger chassis and fuller speaker make it pleasant when you listen for long periods. The dedicated main and fine tuning controls also feel more natural for band scanning than relying entirely on buttons.

The problem is context. Somebody buying their first compact receiver in 2026 can get SSB, sync, direct entry and modern USB-C convenience from the PL-520 without carrying the larger PL-880.

I would therefore buy the PL-880 when you specifically prefer its larger speaker, larger controls and traditional listening feel—or when its current price makes it substantially cheaper than the Sangean.