Kaito KA500 vs Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank
Buy the Voyager V2 if you want a pocket-size, water-resistant radio with a phone-charging USB port for about $24.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026. Buy the KA500 if you need real shortwave coverage, a bigger speaker, longer runtime or a reading lamp, at $49.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026. The V2 costs half as much and weighs 10.2 oz against 1.7 lbs. The KA500 is the better radio; the V2 is the better emergency gadget for the money.
Today the Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank costs $25.00 less at its best price.
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Kaito KA500
5Choose the Kaito KA500 if you want two shortwave bands, a 30-hour battery, a 5-LED reading lamp and a 180-degree solar panel, and will pay about $25 more for them.
- Two shortwave bands cover 3.20–22.00 MHz for international broadcasts.
- 30-hour battery life and a 200 mW speaker that is louder than a pocket radio.
- Five power sources, and the crank and solar panel work with no battery installed.
- Reading lamp and flashlight built in, useful in a blackout.
What separates them
| Kaito KA500 | Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026 | $24.99 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026 |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs | 10.2 oz |
| Shortwave | Two bands, SW1 3.20–8.00 MHz and SW2 9.00–22.00 MHz | Shortwave listed, no band ranges given |
| Battery life | 30 hours rated | 600 mAh NiMH pack, no runtime given |
| Phone charging | USB input for power only, no USB output | 5V DC USB output charges iOS and Android phones |
| Weather resistance | Not rated water-resistant | Water-resistant ABS body |
| Lighting | 5-LED reading lamp under the solar panel plus flashlight |
Price history
- Kaito KA500: lowest $49.99 on Nov 3 at Amazon.
- Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank: lowest $24.99 on Nov 3 at Walmart; $24.99 on Nov 4.
Prices at every store
Kaito KA500
- WalmartNew
In stockSold by Hisonic / KaitoReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.
$49.99Free shippingVerified - kaito.usNew
In stock
$54.99Free shippingObserved Nov 2, 2026, 9:55 PM - Sporty's Tool ShopNew
In stock
$69.95+ $14.50 shippingObserved Nov 2, 2026, 9:55 PM - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
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$49.99Free shippingObserved Nov 2, 2026, 9:55 PM
Also available at
- HomesteadCheck price at Homestead
Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank
Specs compared
| Spec | Kaito KA500 | Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Emergency | Emergency |
| Signal Type | AM / FM, Weather Band, Shortwave | AM / FM, Weather Band, Shortwave |
| Hand Crank | Yes | Yes |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| color | Green | Yellow |
| FM range | 88–108 MHz | — |
| AM range | 530–1710 KHz | — |
| NOAA channels | 1–7 | — |
| Shortwave SW1 | 3.20–8.00 MHz | — |
| Shortwave SW2 | 9.00–22.00 MHz | — |
What reviewers say
Kaito KA500
Reception is generally reported as solid for AM, FM and weather, and owners value the multiple power options for power outages. The most common complaints are the small, tinny speaker and fiddly analog tuning.
- Reliable weather-band reception
- Crank and solar charging work when power is out
- Lightweight enough for a go-bag
- Useful built-in light
- Speaker sounds small and tinny
- Analog tuning takes patience on shortwave
- AC adapter not included
Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank
Rated 4.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings. Owners treat it as a cheap, dependable backup radio rather than a serious shortwave receiver.
Questions and answers
- Which is better for backpacking?
- The Voyager V2. At 10.2 oz it weighs about a third of the 1.7 lb KA500, and its water-resistant body handles rain better. The KA500 is the better choice if you want shortwave on the trail.
- Does either one charge my phone?
- Only the Voyager V2. It has a 5V DC USB output for iOS and Android phones. The KA500's USB port is an input for powering the radio, not an output.
- Which has better shortwave reception?
- The KA500 on paper. It lists two bands, 3.20–8.00 MHz and 9.00–22.00 MHz. The V2 lists shortwave but gives no frequency ranges, so its coverage is unclear.
- Is the KA500 worth $25 more?
- Yes if you will use shortwave, the 30-hour battery, the reading lamp or the adjustable solar panel. If you mainly want weather alerts and a phone charger, the V2 covers that for less.
- How long does each run on a charge?
- Kaito rates the KA500 at 30 hours. Kaito gives no runtime for the V2's 600 mAh NiMH pack, so expect less from it.
- Do both get NOAA weather channels?
- Yes. Both tune the 7 NOAA channels, and the KA500 adds an alert mode that switches the radio on when a warning is broadcast.
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- Kaito KA500 vs Kaito V1R Voyager Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/SW Emergency Radio with Cell Phone Charger and 3-LED Flashlight
- Kaito Voyager V2 AM/FM Shortwave Emergency Radio with Solar & Crank vs Kaito V1R Voyager Solar/Dynamo AM/FM/SW Emergency Radio with Cell Phone Charger and 3-LED Flashlight
