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Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio vs Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio

Both are hand-crank emergency radios with NOAA weather, a flashlight and phone charging. The Sangean MMR-88 is the better radio: Public Alert certified, RDS, 19 presets, bass and treble control, a USB port and a lithium pack you can recharge from the wall. The Eton FRX3+ is lighter and simpler, with a glow-in-the-dark locator and a bigger 2,600 mAh battery, but no RDS, no tone controls and no water rating. Buy the Sangean for serious listening and alerts; buy the Eton if you want the lightest, simplest unit.

  • Choose the Sangean MMR-88 if you want the stronger radio: Public Alert certification, RDS, 19 presets, tone controls and USB charging.
  • Choose the Eton FRX3+ if you want a lighter, simpler crank radio with a glow-in-the-dark locator and a larger battery for topping up a phone.

Prices

  • Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio: $64.95 at Ham Radio Outlet (checked today)
  • Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio: $69.95 at mobileiGo.com (checked today)
  • Difference: the Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio is $5.00 cheaper than the Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio today
Sangean
Sangean MMR-88

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

Sangean MMR-88

4.8(16 ratings)
$64.95at Ham Radio OutletChecked 6 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Ham Radio Outlet
Pros
  • Public Alert certified with all 7 NOAA weather channels
  • RDS, 19 presets and treble/bass control
  • Three charging paths including USB
  • Adjustable flashlight with SOS Morse code
  • Clock, sleep timer and backup battery
Cons
  • Heavier at 1.3 lb
  • No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
  • Battery is not user-replaceable
  • No water resistance rating
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 lb
  • 2,600 mAh battery gives about 1.5 phone charges
  • Glow-in-the-dark locator is easy to find in the dark
  • Simple automatic scan tuning
  • American Red Cross licensed
Cons
  • No RDS or presets
  • No tone controls
  • Battery is wrapped and not removable
  • No water resistance rating
  • No USB charging input stated

What separates them

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency RadioEton FRX3+ Emergency Radio
Weather alertsPublic Alert certified, receives all 7 NOAA channels7 NOAA/Environment Canada channels, no Public Alert certification stated
Tuning and presetsDigital tuner with RDS and 19 mixed AM/FM presetsDigital tuner with automatic scan, no RDS, no preset count given
Sound controlTreble and bass adjustmentNo tone controls
Charging the radioHand crank, solar or Micro USBHand crank or solar only
BatteryLithium pack, 5V, not user-replaceable2,600 mAh 18650, wrapped and not removable, about 12 hours claimed
Weight1.3 lb (13.2 oz)0.93 lb
Water resistanceNo IP rating statedNo waterproofing, no IP rating
ExtrasClock, sleep timer, backup battery, adjustable flashlight with SOS Morse codeFlashlight, glow-in-the-dark locator, phone charger

Price history

$77.09$49.99
Nov 3Nov 10
  • Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio: lowest $64.95 on Nov 10 at Ham Radio Outlet.
  • Eton FRX3+ Emergency Radio: lowest $49.99 on Nov 3 at Chatt Radio Online Store; $49.99 on Nov 10.

Prices at every store

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

  • Ham Radio OutletNew

    In stock

    $64.95Checked 6 h ago
    Visit Ham Radio Outlet
  • eDisastersystemsNew

    In stock

    $74.99+ $39.00 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit eDisastersystems
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

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

    $77.09Free shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Amazon
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknown

    $80.00Checked Nov 6
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart

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All 18 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

SpecSangean MMR-88 Emergency RadioEton FRX3+ Emergency Radio
TypeEmergencyEmergency
Signal TypeAM / FM, Weather BandAM / FM, Weather Band
Hand CrankYesYes
PortableYesYes
Weight1.3 lb heavy0.93 lbs
Power SourceSolar, Rechargeable BatterySolar, Hand crank
ColorYellowRed
Voltage5V—
Signal TypesRDS, AM, FM—
Battery TechnologyLithium—
Manual Audio ChangesTreble, Bass—
BluetoothNo—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecSangean MMR-88 Emergency RadioEton FRX3+ Emergency Radio
Wi-FiNo—
NFCNo—
Depth (")2.7—
Input & OutputsUSB, Headphones 3.5 mm—
Spotify ConnectNo—
Width (")5.984—
Weight (oz)13.2—
Number of Presets (max)19—
Height (")3.3—
FeaturesSleep Timer, Backup Battery, Clock, Flashlight,…

What reviewers say

Sangean MMR-88 Emergency Radio

  • 4.8 / 516 ratings

Owners rate it highly, 4.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, and treat it as a dependable emergency and camping radio. Praise centers on the charging options and weather alerts; the main gripes are weight and slow solar charging.

What people mention
  • Charging optionsPraisedOwners like having hand crank, USB and solar as backups for each other.
  • Weather alertsPraisedThe Public Alert certification and weather band are cited as the reason to buy.
  • WeightCriticisedAt 1.3 lb it is heavier than many expect for a portable radio.
  • Solar chargingMixedSolar works but is slow, so owners treat it as a last resort.

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 weather alerts?
The Sangean MMR-88. It is Public Alert certified and tunes all 7 NOAA channels with RDS. The Eton FRX3+ receives the same 7 channels but does not state Public Alert certification.
Which is better for sound quality?
The Sangean. It has treble and bass controls, RDS and 19 presets. The Eton has a plain digital tuner with automatic scan and no tone adjustment.
Which lasts longer off the grid?
The Eton carries a larger 2,600 mAh battery and claims about 12 hours of play. The Sangean's lithium pack is smaller but can also be recharged over USB, which the Eton does not state.
Is the Sangean worth stepping up to?
Yes if you listen regularly or rely on alerts. The certification, RDS, presets and tone controls are real gains. The Eton is enough if you only need a crank radio and a flashlight.
Can either charge a phone?
Both can. The Eton claims about 1.5 charges for most smartphones from its 2,600 mAh battery. The Sangean charges over its USB port from its lithium pack.
Are either waterproof?
No. Neither lists an IP rating, so keep both out of rain and standing water.

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—
AntennaTelescopic—
Battery Life—12h battery life
Weather Band—Yes
Number Of Channels—7 (NOAA/Environment Canada weather bands)
Water Resistance—No waterproofing, No IP rating
Solar Powered—Yes
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
Headphone Jack—Yes
Display Type—Digital
Usage Context—Emergency
Battery Type—18650
Battery Capacity—2600 mAh