How we rank emergency radios

How a radio gets on a shortlist

We start from the models people actually buy and research: the radios recommended by independent testers, the top sellers named by retailers and testers, and the models people search for by name on Google. Each candidate then has to pass two checks. It has to be the current model of its series, and it has to be on sale.

When a maker releases a successor, we flag the old model. When a radio is no longer sold, it leaves the site.

Where the specs come from

Every spec comes from the maker: the product page, the manual or the spec sheet. We list the sources on each product page. Figures that only hold under ideal conditions, like the range of a walkie talkie or the battery life of a radio, are labeled as the maker's claim.

We do not run lab tests and we never write that we did.

The Shortlist score

The score runs from 6.0 to 9.8 and is calculated from three parts:

• Emergency features (35%). A fixed checklist per category, filled in from the maker's specs. For emergency radios: NOAA alerts, crank and solar charging, phone charging, a battery of 2,000 mAh or more, a flashlight and a water resistance rating.
• Tester picks (30%). How many independent testing outlets recommend the model. One pick counts for a lot, three or more count in full.
• Search demand (35%). How often people search Google for the model by name, on a logarithmic scale within the category. This measures what buyers consider, not what is better, which is why it never outweighs the features.

A radio that scores nothing on all three parts still starts at 6.0, because being on the shortlist already means it was selected. Commission is not part of the score.

Prices

We show a price only when the maker sells the radio in its own US store, and we name the date we checked it. Amazon prices change often, so Amazon links carry no price. We do not track price history and we do not send price alerts.

Stores for your country

Each store button goes to a store that delivers to the country you shop from. Midland's own store ships within the US only, so visitors from other countries see other options. Amazon buttons go to the Amazon store of your country. You can change your country at the top of every page.

Rules that differ by country

NOAA Weather Radio is a US service, and Weatheradio Canada shut down in March 2026. GMRS radios need an FCC license in the US and are not legal in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand. Where that matters, the page says so for your country.