Shop
  • Deals
  • Deal checker
  • Black Friday
  • Buying guides
  • Brands
  • Stores
Travel
  • Flight deals
  • Hotel deals
Company
  • Research
  • Press
  • deal.ai apps
Black Friday 2026
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • TVs
  • Laptops
  • Headphones
  • Apple
  • Gaming
  • Vacuums
  • Kitchen
  • Toys
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
© Deal.ai Inc.
TermsPrivacy
Deal.ai › Compare

Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio vs Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio

The Eton FRX3+ is the better pick for most people who want a simple, light emergency radio with a digital display, automatic scanning and a phone charger. The Kaito KA500 is the better pick if you want shortwave listening, a longer rated battery life and a bigger set of power options including AA batteries. Owners of both praise the crank and solar charging; the Kaito is heavier and more fiddly to tune, while the Eton is easier to use but has no shortwave and a shorter rated runtime.

  • Choose the Kaito KA500 if you want shortwave reception, AA battery backup and a radio that doubles as a serious multi-band receiver.
  • Choose the Eton FRX3+ if you want a light, easy-to-use weather radio with a digital display and a built-in phone charger.

Prices

  • Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio: $49.99 at Amazon (checked today)
  • Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio: $69.95 at mobileiGo.com (checked today)
  • Difference: the Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio is $19.96 cheaper than the Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio today
Kaito
Kaito KA500

Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio

Kaito KA500

5(4 ratings)
$49.99at AmazonChecked 6 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

Pros
  • Shortwave SW1 and SW2 for international and hobby listening
  • Five power sources, including standard AA batteries
  • About 30 hours of rated battery life
  • Flip-up 180-degree solar panel and reading lamp
  • NOAA alert mode turns the radio on automatically
Cons
  • Heavy at 1.7 lbs
  • Analog tuning with no digital display or scan
  • No stated phone-charging output
  • AC adapter sold separately
Eton
Eton FRX3+

Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio

Eton FRX3+

$69.95at mobileiGo.comChecked 6 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit mobileiGo.com
Pros
  • Light at 0.93 lbs
  • Digital display with automatic scanning
  • Built-in charger gives most phones about 1.5 charges
  • Glow-in-the-dark locator helps find it in the dark
  • Officially licensed by the American Red Cross
Cons
  • No shortwave bands
  • About 12 hours of rated battery life
  • Battery is not user-replaceable
  • No water resistance or IP rating

What separates them

Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency RadioEton FRX3+ Emergency Radio
BandsAM, FM, NOAA 1-7 and two shortwave bandsAM, FM and NOAA/Environment Canada weather channels
TuningAnalog knob tuning, no digital displayDigital display with automatic scan
Power optionsRechargeable Ni-MH, hand crank, solar, three AA batteries, AC/DC or USBSolar, hand crank and 18650 Li-Ion battery
Rated battery lifeAbout 30 hoursAbout 12 hours
Phone chargingUSB power input; no stated phone charging output2,600 mAh battery gives about 1.5x charge to most phones
Weight1.7 lbs0.93 lbs
Lighting5-LED reading lamp plus flashlightBright LED flashlight with glow-in-the-dark locator
Weather alertAlert mode switches the radio on when a NOAA alert arrivesWeather band with alert function

Price history

$64.99$49.99
Nov 3Nov 10
  • Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio: lowest $49.99 on Nov 3 at Amazon; $49.99 on Nov 10.
  • Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio: lowest $49.99 on Nov 3 at Chatt Radio Online Store; $49.99 on Nov 10.

Prices at every store

Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio

  • eBayNew

    In stock

    $66.55+ $9.80 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit eBay
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $49.99Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Amazon
  • kaito.usNew

    Availability unknown

    $64.99Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit kaito.us
  • HomesteadNew

    Availability unknown

    $64.99Checked Nov 2
    Visit Homestead

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 11 stores and price history →

Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio

  • mobileiGo.comNew

    In stock

    $69.95Checked 6 h ago
    Visit mobileiGo.com
  • Williston Village HardwareNew

    In stockSold by True Value

    $80.99Checked 6 h ago
    Visit Williston Village Hardware
  • HD SupplyNew

    In stock

    $86.99Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit HD Supply
  • eSafetySupplies.comNew

    In stock

    $113.22+ $38.80 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit eSafetySupplies.com

Also available at

  • eBayCheck price at eBay

Store links may earn us a commission.

All 16 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecKaito KA500 Voyager Emergency RadioEton FRX3+ Emergency Radio
Headphone jack3.5 mmYes
Battery typeNi-MH rechargeable batteries.18650
Weight1.7 lbs0.93 lbs
TypeEmergencyEmergency
Signal TypeAM / FM, Weather Band, ShortwaveAM / FM, Weather Band
Hand CrankYesYes
PortableYesYes
Battery Life30h battery life12h battery life
colorGreenRed
FM range88–108 MHz—
AM range530–1710 KHz—
NOAA channels1–7—
Show all 33 specsShow fewer specs
SpecKaito KA500 Voyager Emergency RadioEton FRX3+ Emergency Radio
Shortwave SW13.20–8.00 MHz—
Shortwave SW29.00–22.00 MHz—
Output power200 mW peak via built-in speaker—
DC input6 mm (center positive)—
Power Source—Solar, Hand crank
Weather Band—Yes
Number Of Channels—7 (NOAA/Environment Canada weather bands)
Water Resistance—No waterproofing, No IP rating
Solar Powered—Yes

What reviewers say

Kaito KA500 Voyager Emergency Radio

Owners treat the KA500 as a dependable backup radio for outages and camping. They like the multiple power options and the preset weather channels. Complaints center on small speaker sound and the separate AC adapter.

What people mention
  • Power optionsPraisedOwners value the crank, solar panel and AA backup for outages.
  • SoundCriticisedThe 200 mW speaker is quiet and thin for indoor listening.
  • Weather bandPraisedPreset NOAA channels and alerts are easy to reach in a storm.
  • TuningMixedAnalog knobs are simple but make shortwave stations hard to lock in.

Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio

Owners treat the FRX3+ as a dependable emergency backup rather than a daily radio. They like the crank, weather band and built-in light, and accept modest sound and slow phone charging as trade-offs.

What people mention
  • Crank chargingPraisedOwners value having a power source that works without batteries or an outlet.
  • Weather bandPraisedReviewers say NOAA weather channels and alerts are the main reason they keep it.
  • Sound qualityCriticisedThe speaker is described as thin and fine for voice but poor for music.
  • Phone chargingMixedIt can top up a phone in a pinch, but owners call the charging slow.

Questions and answers

Which is better for shortwave listening?
The Kaito KA500. It covers two shortwave bands, SW1 and SW2, while the Eton FRX3+ has no shortwave at all.
Which is easier to use in an emergency?
The Eton FRX3+. Its digital display and automatic scan make finding a station faster, and its glow-in-the-dark locator helps you find it at night.
Which lasts longer on a charge?
The Kaito KA500, rated at about 30 hours against about 12 hours for the Eton FRX3+. The Kaito can also run on three AA batteries.
Can either one charge my phone?
The Eton FRX3+ can. Its 2,600 mAh battery gives most smartphones about 1.5 charges. The Kaito lists a USB power input but no phone-charging output.
Is the Eton worth stepping up to over the Kaito?
If you mainly want a weather radio for the house or car, yes. The Eton is lighter and simpler. Step to the Kaito instead if you want shortwave and AA backup.
Which is more rugged?
Neither is rated waterproof. The Kaito is heavier and has a flip-up solar panel that can be knocked; the Eton is lighter but has no IP rating either.

Ask our shopping agent

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

More comparisons

  • Midland ER310 Emergency Radio vs Eton FRX3+
  • Sangean MMR-88 vs Eton FRX3+
  • Eton FRX3+ vs Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 radio
  • Kaito KA500 vs KAITO KA600L-BLACK Voyager Pro' Digital Solar & Crank Power Rechargeable Radio
  • Kaito KA500 vs Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank
  • Kaito KA500 vs Raynic Emergency Weather Radio with Hand Crank and Solar Charging
  • Kaito KA500 vs Kaito V1R Voyager Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/SW Emergency Radio with Cell Phone Charger and 3-LED Flashlight
  • Kaito KA500 vs ER310PRO Portable Emergency Crank Radio with Power Bank

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best emergency weather radios
  • Best solar powered emergency radios
Cellular Connectivity
—
No
Tuner Type—AM/FM
Automatic Scanning—Yes (press and hold UP / DOWN buttons)
Digital Display—Yes
Dimensions—Square in shape
Subtype—Emergency radio, Weather radio
Audio Output—Headphone jack
Display Type—Digital
Usage Context—Emergency
Battery Capacity—2600 mAh
Rechargeable Battery—Yes
Removable Battery—No (wrapped battery with pos/neg leads and a co…