Last Updated: October 24, 2021 (Refresh Now)
Kaito KA500 5 way Powered Solar Power Dynamo Crank Wind Up Emergency AM FM SW NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Flashlight Reading Lamp and Cellphone Charger Yellow
Last Updated: October 24, 2021 (Refresh Now)
8.0
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
1000
Old Reviews
277
Unverified
54
Spam Test
PASS
Yes
FM RADIO
Yes
USB
Yes
GPS
LED
TYPE
Review Analysis - 669 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Connectivity
197emergency, fm, weather, noaa, sw
+78%
-22%
" ... The radio works fantastic though. ... "
" ... Nice emergency radio!! ... "
" ... If you're into no screen time then this radio is for you. ... Amazing radio with so many handy plan B features. ... "
" ... Lovely radio with great features. ... "
" ... - variety of Formats (I prefer FM, haven’t tried others) ... "
" ... I enjoy the quality of the portable radio. ... The AM/FM signal is strong and the functionality of the controls are top notch quality. ... "
" ... It is everything I expected in a weather radio. ... "
" ... This is a great little radio with so many handy functions. ... "
Connectivity / FM
191emergency, fm, weather, noaa, sw
+77%
-23%
" ... It is great to have an emergency radio that connects with NOAA alerts, regular weather, AM/FM with excellent reception and several means of maintaining power. ... "
" ... The radio meets my expectations and I am very happy with it. ... "
" ... I am also pleased at the many other features on this radio. ... "
" ... This radio went way beyond my expectations. ... This thing for a small radio not only sounds good but it pulls in stations great. ... The am/fm comes in fantastic. ... "
" ... Radio/weather alert side works fine. ... "
" ... This little radio sat in the sun on a window sill and kept delivering vital information by radio. ... "
" ... This radio is exactly what we needed for an emergency pack. ... "
" ... All around a great radio. ... "
Battery
146radio, batteries, crank, rechargeable, emergency
+71%
-29%
" ... It’s great to have a plethora of ways to recharge the battery. ... "
" ... The best part is even without a battery still work! ... "
" ... Nice that it has so many power options and can charge devices as well. ... "
" ... Really like the solar charging aspect. ... "
" ... the solar panels! ... "
" ... Perfect for our emergency earthquake pack pack. ... "
" ... It is plugged up, but considering the power may go out I either need to have batteries on hand or put batteries in the radio. ... "
" ... sound is great the charging methods all work well and is still (although bigger than ones I had in the past) easily packed in about any bag you use. ... "
Battery / Charging
104radio, crank, solar panel, cell phone, ways
+70%
-30%
" ... Love that it has a cell phone charger. ... "
" ... I recommend buying the AC Adapter plug but you can charge with batteries or solar or regular AC. ... "
" ... On board charging, shoot, even charged my laptop, granted it took awhile. ... "
" ... I ordered the charging cord for it and the rechargeable batteries are lasting very well. ... "
" ... This a ery good quality radio and is easy to use and charge. ... "
" ... With what is happening in this world, we needed a reliable radio/charger. ... Having three ways to charge it makes it a reliable radio tonuse in a natural disaster. ... "
" ... Solar, AC, DC, Crank, ... Has a rechargeable battery pack (easily replaceable), and only 1 minute of cranking to charge and also takes 3 AA Batteries. ... Forgot to tell you about the cellphone charger, flashlight and reading light as well as as an SOS signal. ... The charging crank seems to be sturdy. ... "
" ... Dials are tight but turn easily with no play, speaker gives plenty of volume, charges quickly with just the solar charger. ... "
Body
101radio, feels, sturdy, compact, fit
+60%
-40%
" ... I have it for my bug-out-bag. ... A small compact radio with multi functions. ... "
" ... I checked it out beforehand and found it to be sturdy, good quality. ... "
" ... Small enough to grab if you need to leave in a hurry. ... "
" ... All in all, seems like a pretty good little radio with compact size. ... "
" ... I have two of them and they are great - good price, compact, wonderful ... "
" ... I keep it in my backpack and have it with me in my van. ... "
" ... Feels highly durable, no doubt will survive a large earthquake! ... "
" ... It fits the nee. ... "
Usage
93camping, easy to use, trip, bought, manual
+81%
-19%
" ... Works a lot better than the radio at home or camping ... "
" ... Instructions are easy to read and understand. ... "
" ... Its great for travel as it picks up surrounding counties. ... "
" ... It gets good reception (recipient lives in metro area). ... "
" ... Sound was good, volume control ok, lights and weather alerts very handy too. ... "
" ... I use it in my house. ... "
" ... It's easy to carry, good reception for my area. ... "
" ... I would recommend this product to a family member. ... "
Sound
83radio, emergency, volume, sound quality, listen
+84%
-16%
" ... Sound is good. ... "
" ... This radio has excellent sound quality and has every thing needed in an emergency radio. ... "
" ... Three power sources and simple to operate with good sound quality. ... "
" ... Sound quality depends on your location, of course, but it seems to have good reception in general. ... "
" ... The radio has good sound quality and an easy to control volume knob. ... "
" ... I especially like the sound quality. ... "
" ... The sound quality is good. ... "
" ... The speaker is also adequate and clear for a small speaker. ... "
Sound / Sound Quality
80radio, emergency, sound quality, listen, stations
+85%
-15%
" ... Just love it when the light is gone I have my music ... "
" ... This is pretty cool, simply wind and listen. ... "
" ... Great sound, built sturdy. ... "
" ... Good sound and quality. ... "
" ... The sound and clarity was unaffected from switching to the different modes. ... "
" ... Sound is good. ... "
" ... In the past I always bought the $15 to $25 dollars emergency radios but seem ls the sound quality on those are poor. ... sound is great the charging methods all work well and is still (although bigger than ones I had in the past) easily packed in about any bag you use. ... "
" ... Sound quality is OK for a small relatively inexpensive radio. ... "
Features
54radio, lots of features, emergency, sos, flashlight
+91%
-9%
" ... The red flashing SOS light is a nice feature in case you get lost and are waiting for rescue. ... "
" ... The Little Guy has been a great Show-Off, with a number of surprising Features! ... "
" ... A lot of features are on this little radio which is why I bought it. ... "
" ... It has all the features one needs in a compact, lightweight communication device for emergency preparedness. ... "
" ... Not the brightest light but I don't need it to be. ... "
" ... First off, this radio has a bunch of great features packed in. ... "
" ... Has lots of features. ... "
" ... The reading light is excellent ... "
Price
41money, radio, worth the money, value, worth the price
+68%
-32%
" ... And it's reasonably priced! ... "
" ... Excellent Value for the Money, Construction is Very Good also ... "
" ... For the price, this is a solid product. ... "
" ... Price could be lower, but it it's what it is. ... "
" ... It is a great value. ... "
" ... The price is quite good. ... "
" ... Good price, too. ... "
" ... Worth the price :) ... "
Body / Build Quality
40feels, sturdy, crank, construction, knobs
+35%
-65%
" ... The rest of the construction seems solid enough, and very functional but the unreliability of that battery is what's dragging this thing down. ... "
" ... awful plastic make ... "
" ... The main reason I gave this radio a one star is because the micro plug hole is defective. ... "
" ... They are mechanical, fragile, and they break. ... "
" ... Poor assembly as it did not seem to have any obvious damage. ... "
" ... The radio is made of all plastic and the solar panel feels weak. ... "
" ... I was disappointed with how small and flimsy it looked. ... "
" ... Haven’t even had a chance to use this in an emergency but the plastic screen with channel markings on it already fell off. ... "
Body / Size
31size, radio, portable, lightweight, sound
+94%
-6%
" ... For it's compact size it preforms every function very well. ... "
" ... Perfect for an emergency bug out bag. ... "
" ... The sound quality is really good for it's size. ... "
" ... I take it everywhere and on vacations with me. ... "
" ... All in all, seems like a pretty good little radio with compact size. ... "
" ... Nice compact Radio! ... "
" ... I go done the shore it charages right up It is easy to carry and the sound is good ... "
" ... Nice little compact radio. ... "
Marketplace
28refund, works, send it back, seller, replacement
+39%
-61%
" ... Now it's too late to send it back. ... "
" ... Honestly, if I had kept the box, I would send it back just because of this issue. ... "
" ... Tried it when I first received it. ... "
" ... I want real,one not the fake one . ... "
" ... Will be returning. ... "
" ... Shipped in a plastic bag damaged packaging. ... I waited until we had a hurricane to try it and now it's too late to return it. ... "
" ... I initiated my return after 2 hours. ... "
" ... Update: I have spoken to the seller "Electronnix". ... However, the seller's response makes me think that this is to be expected. ... "
Reliability
24working, worked, weeks, stopped working, radio
+38%
-63%
" ... I have had this for two years. ... "
" ... The unit sent to me only works when it’s plugged in. ... "
" ... Had it for 10 minutes it was horrible. ... "
" ... I finally unplugged it. ... "
" ... The on/off switch broke after a few hours of use ... "
" ... After 2 years, the Weather Channels stopped working. ... "
" ... I’m waiting to see what functions stop working next. ... "
" ... I have now “used” this device for a few weeks and am correcting my previous 4 star review. ... "
Network
24signal, antenna, area, poor, stations
+54%
-46%
" ... Surprising good signal strength and selectivity. ... "
" ... And I even bought the antenna extension. ... "
" ... Gets great reception. ... "
" ... I was able to pic up good reception. ... "
" ... the reception is clear and continuous. ... "
" ... Pros: great reception! ... "
" ... Reception is just fine. ... "
" ... Reception at least where I am is quite good. ... "
Usage / For Travel
23trip, weather, hiking, would be great, great for camping
+96%
-4%
" ... if you plan to take it on hikes into the wilderness you’ll be pleased that it doesn’t weigh you down. ... "
" ... Bought this product last year and took it with me to an international trip. ... "
" ... Its great for travel as it picks up surrounding counties. ... "
" ... This is specifically for my bug out bag, hiking and emergency weather use. ... "
" ... Perfect for traveling the country in our rv. ... "
" ... Great to have hiking camping. ... "
" ... Bought this for camping and it performed adequately on our last trip. ... "
" ... Bought this for camping and it performed adequately on our last trip. ... "
Usage / Ease
21easy to operate, easy, difficult, find, switches
+76%
-24%
" ... I must admit I have only used it around the house, but it is easy to use and even easier to find. ... "
" ... easy to use, hope we never need it. ... "
" ... First one that is easy to use and find the weather station. ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
" ... Remember those simple times? ... "
" ... Easy to use ... "
" ... Easy to tune would would like some presets!~ ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
Usage / Capacity
19house, family, tornado, reception, good reception
+84%
-16%
" ... It's easy to carry, good reception for my area. ... "
" ... This is an ideal little radio for emergencies or just to use around the house/garage. ... "
" ... I found that reception is very good, even when in my basement where I would go if there is a Tornado alert. ... "
" ... It gets good reception (recipient lives in metro area). ... "
" ... One for my dad and one for my brother and his family! ... "
" ... I use it in my house. ... "
" ... Strong for hurricane or disaster situation, especially when living in Florida. ... "
" ... Surprising good signal strength and selectivity. ... "
Usage / As Gift
16bought, looking, husband, christmas, son
+88%
-13%
" ... Bought it for a Christmas gift. ... "
" ... Was a Christmas gift for my husband. ... "
" ... bought as a gift and believe he will like! ... "
" ... Was a gift for husband. ... "
" ... Bought this for my Dad for Christmas, have been looking for something like this for awhile. ... "
" ... if you're looking for a little gift of appreciation for your husband or other man in your life, or for campers and hikers, this has got to be up there in the top 10 toys-for-guys-to-open. ... "
" ... Great gift for costal dwellers. ... "
" ... Looking forward of picking up a few more as these will make the perfect gift. ... "
Body / Comfort
16hand, radio, feel, wash, usage
+44%
-56%
" ... In order to hear anything on this radio you have to rest the radio pressed to your ear. ... "
" ... Yuk, the goo would stick to your hands and was hard to wash off. ... "
" ... I hand cranked to see if that would work. ... Hand cranking powers up the light but does not make the radio work either. ... "
" ... - Hand crank is not the best. ... "
" ... It is falling a part just sitting on my shelf with gentle normal usage. ... "
" ... It's kind of lightweight and I feel as though if it would fall off a countertop it would probably break the plastic. ... "
" ... Your arm may fall off. ... And, besides, these hand cranks are notoriously unreliable. ... "
" ... Did not try the hand crank. ... "
Power
15outage, goes, electricity, storm, outages
+80%
-20%
" ... This was great to have when the power went out! ... "
" ... It is powered by 4 different ways, which is great, especially if you have a power outage in your area. ... "
" ... Worried about power outages in California and no generator. ... "
" ... It'll be really handy if we lose power. ... "
" ... It is very versatile with several power options. ... "
" ... I live in Florida where hurricane can take out electricity for long periods of time and needed something that would allow me to keep up with weather conditions and news. ... "
" ... Multiple power options. ... "
" ... Works ok 😊 I'm happy to at least to have some thing when power goes out ... "
Marketplace / Marketplace
15seller, received, advertised, thank, product
+60%
-40%
" ... Thank Like it very much ... "
" ... It works as described! ... "
" ... Great product I love it and seller was awesome ... "
" ... So far this product has worked as advertised. ... "
" ... This is perfect works really good I’m very very satisfied and looks just like photo ... "
" ... Thank you very much for sending me a great product! ... "
" ... Exactly as described. ... "
" ... Works as advertised . ... "
Usage / Controls
14dial, volume knob, tuner, control, volume
+21%
-79%
" ... The power button does not align with the correct label. ... "
" ... Can not change frequency dial. ... "
" ... Buttons and knobs just make me feel like I didnt want to turn it to fast. ... "
" ... But, the switch was in off position. ... "
" ... The 2 stars is more for the quality control. ... "
" ... It’s smaller than I expected though, and the switches are a bit difficult to manipulate. ... "
" ... It’s smaller than I expected though, and the switches are a bit difficult to manipulate. ... "
Sound / Volume
13speaker, sound quality, small, radio, volume knob
+100%
" ... Immediately turned on and volume was good as well as reception on various stations ... "
" ... It was a gift to my brother who is hard of hearing - the volume was superior. ... "
" ... The speaker is also adequate and clear for a small speaker. ... "
" ... The radio has good sound quality and an easy to control volume knob. ... "
" ... Sound good, but not as good as I hoped, but knew speaker was small. ... "
" ... The sound quality is decent for a small, single speaker radio and the volume knob has a nice feel and very useful low volume range. ... "
" ... The sound on this radio is halfway decent with the speaker. ... "
" ... I haven't had it long enough to get an alert on it, but the sound quality and volume are really good for a small, portable radio. ... "
Body / Fit
12mechanism, emergency, crank, compartment, usage
+33%
-67%
" ... If there is one thing you want to make sure is in your Emergency Preparedness Kit, or your car’s glove compartment, or the pocket of a trusty backpack, it’s a trusty Emergency Radio . ... "
" ... The rubber used turned sticky and icky after a year. ... "
" ... It is falling a part just sitting on my shelf with gentle normal usage. ... "
" ... It's kind of lightweight and I feel as though if it would fall off a countertop it would probably break the plastic. ... "
" ... The dials and labels are tiny (hope you have a magnifying glass on hand during your emergency) and the entire product is very brittle / cheap plastic. ... "
" ... The latches and knobs don't fit smoothly and it seems flimsy, like it wouldn't hold up to much use. ... "
" ... The only problem I have is that the AA batteries didn't fit. ... The two batteries in the end to end slot didn't fit. ... When you put them in, depressing the spring, they almost drop into the slot. ... "
" ... The Problem: I cranked it for about 5 minutes and the crank mechanism became detached inside. ... Once I got it open I found that the crank arm had become disconnected from the motor and there was a single loose screw rattling around in the case. ... "
Body / Design
12looks, look, old, plastic, feels
+58%
-42%
" ... That’s why my old one looks like new and the new one will look the same in a decade. ... "
" ... Feel safer having it ... "
" ... Take a Look and Consider it! ... "
" ... The radio just feels sturdy and looks great! ... "
" ... It's super cute too, like an old friend at this point. ... "
" ... PLUS THE RADIO LOOK OLD AND WAS A PALE LIKE PURPLE! ... "
Marketplace / Returns
11refund, send it back, replacement, try, returned
-100%
" ... I initiated my return after 2 hours. ... "
" ... I threw away the box so I'm stuck. ... "
" ... I contacted the manufacturer and return it which cost me $12. ... Plus they would not refund me the costs of the first.and second fees I had to pay to send it back to them. ... "
" ... Honestly, if I had kept the box, I would send it back just because of this issue. ... "
" ... I'm probably going to return it . ... but I'm at a loss of what to get as a replacement. ... "
" ... I waited until we had a hurricane to try it and now it's too late to return it. ... "
" ... Now it's too late to send it back. ... "
" ... I returned for a refund and will reconsider whether I reorder. ... "
Color
8yellow, like, favorite, colors, bright
+100%
" ... I even like that it came in my favorite color of blue. ... "
" ... Comes in a variety of colors. ... "
" ... You can Choose I think it was 4 colors to choose from also. ... "
" ... Bought the bright yellow color for visibility. ... "
" ... Of course is my favorite color too. ... "
" ... I like the bright yellow color too, easy to find. ... "
" ... And the color and style. ... "
Usage / Setup
7setup, read, followed, easy, worked
+57%
-43%
" ... Pretty easy to setup, never seem to lose power, kept in the sun during the day (I'm assuming it will charge while playing). ... "
" ... And the free AC adapter I was supposed to receive after leaving a review? ... "
" ... At first, this looked like a nice setup. ... "
" ... Instructions are easy to read and understand. ... "
Display
7reading, led, flashlight, bright, radio
+86%
-14%
" ... It has also a useful flash light and 5 white LEDs at the bottom of the solar panel for reading ... "
" ... - LED lighting is decent ... "
" ... The solar panel . ... "
" ... Flashlight is pretty bright ... "
" ... Solar panel seems like the cheapest part. ... "
" ... If you're into no screen time then this radio is for you. ... "
Calling
7radio, unit, charge, calls, call
+43%
-57%
" ... In order to hear anything on this radio you have to rest the radio pressed to your ear. ... "
" ... Calling this radio a Voyager is misleading. ... "
" ... Since the radio did not work, we eventually had to use our cell phones to see what was happening. ... "
" ... But their customer support responses, both to emails and phone calls, persistently suggested that the poor reception of my unit was probably due to location. ... "
Marketplace / Product As Described
6advertised, exactly as described, described
+83%
-17%
" ... It works as described! ... "
" ... So far this product has worked as advertised. ... "
" ... This is perfect works really good I’m very very satisfied and looks just like photo ... "
" ... Exactly as described. ... "
" ... Works as advertised . ... "
Connectivity / Ports
6usb, micro usb, adapter, port, included
+33%
-67%
" ... It doesn’t matter which of the many micro plugs I tried. ... "
" ... That I should really be using the USB cable function. ... "
" ... Also, don't buy the charger that they try and pair with it - the micro USB cable they included works with any USB charger block. ... "
Cable
6wire, power cord, cord, usb, rechargeable batteries
+50%
-50%
" ... It is so loose that the only way I can manage a charge is to set it down with a small weight on the cord so that it touches the micro tip just right. ... "
" ... In fact it damaged one phone, and 4 charge cables irreparably! ... "
Usage / For Kids
4kids, bought, one, loves, kid
+100%
" ... I liked it so much I bought one for my son and had it sent to him for his birthday in another state ... "
" ... Kids had asked: how do you pause it ?- unlike the i-pod ya have to actually shut it off. ... "
" ... My son love it ... "
" ... I bought this for my 82 year old grandmother and she absolutely loves it. ... "
Marketplace / Delivery
4arrived, kaito, first, box
+75%
-25%
" ... arrived safely in PH ... "
" ... Right out of the box. ... "
Connectivity / Device Compatibility
4connected, world, radio, phones, cell phone
+100%
" ... Excellent device for small scale devices at home. ... "
" ... It's so great to have a lo-fi device in a hi-tech world. ... "
" ... I wish someone can do this for cell phones :o) ... "
Clock
4alert, radio, noaa, emergency, severe
+75%
-25%
" ... I haven't tested the weather alert option yet, but I will. ... "
" ... Buy it for safety and radio/weather alert only. ... "
" ... The NOAA WEATHER ALERT works great. ... "
Body / Water Resistance
4radio, water resistant, water, wanted, seem
+100%
" ... I bought this to use out on my patio and wanted something weather resistant. ... "
" ... Use it every weekend while fishing ... "
" ... I believe it is water resistant, because I have accidentally sprayed it with my hose while watering my plants. ... "
" ... The sound is fine and it does seem weather proof. ... "
Body / Storage
4batteries, short, fit, aa, compartment
+25%
-75%
" ... The top compartment was too short. ... "
" ... Works fine except the AA batteries will not fit in the space allowed. ... Space is too short to hold the batteries. ... "
" ... Burns up AA batteries that don't fit space. ... "
Performance
3+67%
-33%
" ... Does the job. ... "
" ... But as long as it does the job. ... "
Camera
3red, flash, bright, sos, reading light
+33%
-67%
" ... Also the reading light is dim not usable. ... "
" ... I wear glasses that are bi focal but even looking through the reading lens I can't see it. ... "
Body / Weight
3light, small, use
+100%
" ... I admire the looks, useful features, light weight, and frankly price of the KA500 enough that I connected a small external speaker for better audio quality for everyday use, and I still have a great little radio for emergencies and camping. ... "
" ... Light weight and functional in this environment. ... "
" ... Small and light weight. ... "
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Specifications
Connectivity
FM Radio: Yes
USB: Yes
GPS: Yes
Display
Type: LED