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Roberts Vintage Radio vs Roberts Revival RD70

The Roberts Vintage Radio and the Roberts Revival RD70 share the retro look but not the power plan. An 80 hour battery claim on C cells meets Bluetooth and a colour display.

Updated October 2, 2026

Our pick
Roberts Vintage Radio by Roberts

Roberts Vintage Radio

Retro portable DAB and FM radio that Roberts rates for up to 80 hours on four C cells.

Full specs, pros and cons
Roberts Revival RD70 by Roberts

Roberts Revival RD70

Wooden-cabinet Revival DAB+ and FM radio with Bluetooth and a carry handle.

Full specs, pros and cons

The short answer

The Roberts Vintage Radio fits most buyers of a radio for power cuts. Roberts claims up to 80 hours on four C cells and the radio can charge rechargeable cells itself. It weighs 900 g against 1.71 kg. The Roberts Revival RD70 adds Bluetooth and a colour display but has no battery figure and its alarms need mains.

Choose the Roberts Vintage Radio if

  • you want a battery claim from Roberts of up to 80 hours on C cells
  • you want to charge rechargeable C cells inside the radio
  • you want about 800 g less to carry

Choose the Roberts Revival RD70 if

  • you want Bluetooth to play from a phone
  • you want a colour display instead of an amber one

Specs side by side

Roberts Vintage RadioRoberts Revival RD70
Shortlist score8.99.0
BandsDAB, DAB+, FM (per robertsradio.com)DAB, DAB+, FM
Battery type4 x C (LR14) alkaline, or rechargeable C cells charged in the radio4 x AA (LR6)
Battery lifemaker's claim80 hours-
PresetsUnlimited (Roberts)20 (10 DAB + 10 FM)
BluetoothNoYes
Weight900 g (31.7 oz)1710 g (60.3 oz)
DisplayLCD (amber)Colour LCD, dimmable
Size23.4 x 13 x 8.7 cm (W x H x D)25 x 16 x 10.6 cm (W x H x D)

Roberts Vintage Radio

Pros

  • Roberts claims up to 80 hours from four C cells.
  • Rechargeable C cells charge inside the radio with the supplied mains adaptor.
  • Line out and an auxiliary input join the headphone socket.

Cons

  • No Bluetooth so phone audio only comes in through the auxiliary input.
  • The user guide says DAB and FM while the Roberts site also lists DAB+. Check the box for DAB+.

Roberts Revival RD70

Pros

  • TechRadar ranks it number one as best DAB radio for most people.
  • Mains adaptor is in the box and four AA cells cover a power cut.
  • Line-in and headphone sockets add wired options next to Bluetooth.

Cons

  • Weighs 1.71 kg so it is more of a room radio than a travel one.
  • The alarms only run on mains power and no battery-life figure is published.

Frequently asked questions

Which radio runs longer on batteries when the power is off?

The Roberts Vintage Radio has the only figure. Roberts claims up to 80 hours from four C cells. The radio has a built-in charger for rechargeable C cells. The Roberts Revival RD70 runs on four AA cells and Roberts publishes no battery life for it. Both come with a mains adaptor.

Does the Roberts Vintage Radio have Bluetooth and DAB+?

Bluetooth is absent on the Roberts Vintage Radio and present on the Roberts Revival RD70. On DAB+ the sources differ. The Roberts website lists DAB+ for the Roberts Vintage Radio while the available user guide only names DAB and FM. Check the box before buying. The Roberts Revival RD70 lists DAB, DAB+ and FM.

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