Qodosen DX-286 vs Tecsun PL-330
These two are near-twins on price: the Qodosen DX-286 is $84.89 at Amazon as of November 3, 2026, and the Tecsun PL-330 is $84.99 at Amazon the same day. The DX-286 wins on paper with the TEF6686 tuner chip, RDS, 1000+ presets, a rechargeable 18650 and a 3 W speaker. The PL-330 is the safer pick if you want a proven shortwave name with more stores stocking it and a recent low of $79.08 on October 29, 2026.
Today the Qodosen DX-286 costs $0.10 less at its best price.
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Qodosen DX-286
$84.89at AmazonObserved at 10:03 PM
Choose the Qodosen DX-286 if you want the better-equipped radio for the same money: TEF6686 tuner, RDS on FM, 1000+ presets, a rechargeable 18650 and a 3 W speaker.
Pros
- TEF6686 tuner chip is a known good DSP for FM and shortwave
- RDS/RBDS shows station and song text on FM
- 1000+ memory presets across bands
- Rechargeable 18650 with USB charging, no disposable cells
- Dual alarms and a 3 W speaker for bedside use
Cons
- Only 2 stores price it new, so fewer fallback sellers
- 200 g and 13.4 x 7.6 x 3 cm is small but not pocket-thin
What separates them
| Qodosen DX-286 | Tecsun PL-330 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price as of November 3, 2026 | $84.89 at Amazon | $84.99 at Amazon |
| Tuner chip | TEF6686 (documented DSP chip) | Not specified in the listing |
| Bands | LW, AM, FM, SW | Shortwave and FM stated; full band list not specified |
| Presets | 1000+ | 100 FM presets |
| Power | Rechargeable 18650 cell, USB charging | Battery powered, type not specified |
| FM extras | RDS/RBDS | Not stated |
| Speaker | 3 W | Not stated |
| Stores stocking it new | 2 stores |
Price history
$84.99$79.08
- Qodosen DX-286: lowest $84.89 on Nov 3 at Amazon.
- Tecsun PL-330: lowest $79.08 on Oct 29 at Walmart; $84.99 on Nov 3.
Prices at every store
Qodosen DX-286
- eBayNew
In stockSold by hamradioss
$114.00+ $35.00 shippingObserved at 10:03 PM - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
$84.89Free shippingObserved at 10:03 PM
Tecsun PL-330
- kaito.usNew
In stock
$84.99Free shippingObserved at 10:03 PM - eBayNew
In stockSold by qingdaijie-2
$93.49Free shippingObserved at 12:02 AM - AmazonNew
Availability unknown
$84.99Free shippingObserved at 10:03 PM - banggood.comNew
Out of stock
$109.99Observed at 10:03 PM
Also available at
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
Specs compared
| Spec | Qodosen DX-286 | Tecsun PL-330 |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Type | Shortwave | Shortwave |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Radio bands | LW Am FM SW | — |
| Tuner chip | TEF6686 | — |
| Battery type | 18650 rechargeable | — |
| Item weight | 200 Grams | — |
| Dimensions | 13.4L x 7.6W x 3H centimetres | — |
| Display type | LCD | — |
| Speaker output power | 3 Watts | — |
| Connectivity | USB | — |
| Memory presets | 1000+ presets |
Questions and answers
- Which is better for shortwave listening?
- Both are shortwave portables at the same price. The DX-286 documents a TEF6686 tuner chip, which is a known DSP for shortwave and FM reception. The PL-330 leans on Tecsun's reputation but the listing does not name its chip.
- Is the DX-286 worth $0.10 less than the PL-330?
- The gap is trivial, so buy on features, not price. The DX-286 adds RDS, 1000+ presets, a rechargeable 18650 and a 3 W speaker. The PL-330 gives you a familiar brand and more stores to buy from.
- Which has more presets?
- The DX-286, by a wide margin: 1000+ memory presets versus 100 FM presets on the PL-330. If you store many stations across LW, AM, FM and SW, that matters.
- Do either need disposable batteries?
- The DX-286 runs on a rechargeable 18650 charged over USB, so no disposables. The PL-330 is battery powered but the listing does not state the cell type, so check before buying.
- Which is easier to find in stock?
- The PL-330, with 4 stores pricing it new as of November 3, 2026, against 2 for the DX-286. More sellers also means more chances of a sale price.
- Has either been cheaper recently?
- The PL-330 hit $79.08 on October 29, 2026, its lowest tracked daily price, before returning to $84.99 on November 3. No lower price is recorded for the DX-286 in that window.
