The Best Rechargeable Walkie Talkies
Whether you're managing comms within a team of professionals or venturing into the wild on an action-packed expedition, walkie-talkies are a great tool for staying in touch when cellular communication isn't a feasible option. These handsets are compact and portable, offering familiar handling to any smartphone user. Modern walkie-talkies come packed with features to suit a range of applications from outdoor adventures to professional communication logistics, so we've taken care to point out the strengths of each option so that you can find a set to suit your needs.
What to Look For
To bring you the very best walkie-talkies on the market today, we had three questions in mind during our search: What is the functional range of these walkie-talkies, and how do they perform in both open and densely packed terrain? Do they have a long and stable battery life, and a practical and speedy recharging facility? Is the interface intuitive to operate, so that you can quickly get a team of inexperienced users communicating with ease? Our favorites were the long-range walkie-talkies from Pxton. These handsets boast a large battery life and range at an absolute bargain, and with a wealth of extra hardware in the set you’ll be kitted out for a variety of activities. But if you’re looking for a kid-friendly option for trips with the family, check out the colorful and intuitive design from Topsung. Read on below to discover the rest of our top picks.
Pxton Long Range Walkie Talkies
Loud and clear
Pxton develops its market-leading walkie-talkies from an in-house development department and precision equipment production workshop. The result is a robust and feature-packed handset that will keep you in the loop whether deployed in leisure, during travel, or for professional applications. A maximum range of three miles in unobstructed environments and battery life of up to 96 hours make these handsets ideal for remote expeditions. And with a pack of four, you’ll be equipped and ready for any small-scale reconnaissance mission.
Pros:
- If you’re looking for an option for the outdoors, the waterproof design and in-built flashlight make this a versatile piece of kit for trekking.
- The earpieces included with each handset make these a great option to use on wheels as well as on foot. We found they held sturdily in place allowing you to stay on comms whilst riding a bicycle, quad bike, or motorbike.
- These walkie-talkies are lightweight compared with other similar options, making them comfortable for extended wear on a belt.
Cons:
- The VOX feature offers a hands-free talkback solution, but we found that it struggled when used in noisy environments like a construction site.
Retevis RT22 Walkie Talkies
If you’re looking for a compact walkie-talkie for business use, the RT22 might be what you’re after. A slim geometry and feather-light construction give this handest the ergonomics of a small smartphone, so it can be comfortably attached or tucked away without impairing movement. Minimal interface design is aided by a channel lock function, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally switching between any of the 16 channels despite the small buttons. If you’re tired of keeping track of multiple cables and charging components, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of the 6-way multi-charger dock.
Pros:
- With a capacious 1000mAh battery, these walkie-talkies could last for an exceptional duration before depletion. We found that they could be used intermittently over four days before we needed to recharge.
- The speakers on these handsets are crisp and loud, making it easy to hear an incoming signal even when used in noisy industrial environments.
- With a great range, these handsets are well suited to urban environments. We found that it was possible to get a clear signal from three blocks away in a city center.
Cons:
- With a single button to cycle between channels rather than a standard knob design, we found it was a little more fiddly to select the right channel.
Arcshell Long Range Two-Way Radios
Talk as a team
Industrial environments can present a host of working conditions that might leave standard consumer electronics struggling to cope. If you’re looking for a heavy-duty option to deploy for a small team, this set of six from Arcshell will keep you connected no matter the situation. A large antenna gives an exceptional range of up to five miles, meaning these handsets can cope well with densely packed or obstructed environments. This set comes kitted out with individual belt clips, hand straps, and earpieces for each handset, offering ergonomic solutions for a wide range of working applications. And for the most extreme environments, an operating temperature of -20 to 140 Fahrenheit has you covered.
Pros:
- These radios operate in the 400mHz range, a different frequency space to many consumer radio handsets. We found that this resulted in fewer instances of interference during use.
- We love the options for modularity offered by the detachable antenna. We found we could increase range by using a custom antenna or improve signal whilst driving by attaching this handset to a magnetic rooftop mount.
- The radio announces your current channel once powered on, meaning there’s no room for doubt that you’re ready to receive incoming messages.
Cons:
- These belt clips aren’t as sturdy as some other options.
Topsung Walkie Talkies For Kids
Talkies for tyke
It’s easy to imagine walkie-talkies in the hands of construction workers and live events staff, but sometimes we might simply want a reliable communications solution for a holiday or family outing where phone signal can’t be depended on. These colorful handsets from Topsung offer a fun solution to mobile comms without compromising on performance. They’re also a great first walkie-talkie for kids. Rechargeable AA batteries mean there’s no downtime on these handsets, as you can leave the spares charging while you’re out exploring. A 1-mile range makes these a great tool for a young adventurer. Each handset comes with an attachable lanyard so you don’t have to worry about accidental drops whilst exploring.
Pros:
- Coming in three vivid color designs, these are the perfect gift for a group of youngsters so that each could claim their own.
- Each walkie-talkie comes with a zip-lock fabric pouch for safekeeping, ensuring they stay in tip-top condition when not in use.
- We found that the bold and minimal interface was incredibly easy to set up and use for calling, making these a great option for anyone new to walkie-talkies.
Cons:
- With only one direct charging cable included, it can take a while to replenish the charge of the entire set once all the batteries are depleted.
Ansoko Walkie Talkies 10 Pack
Copy that
If you’re looking to cover communications for a small platoon of adventurers, look no further than this 10-pack from Ansoko. These handsets have an ultra-portable design with dimensions on the face similar to a standard credit card. The 16 preprogrammed channels and intuitive interface mean you can get a team up and running with these handsets in no time, no matter their level of experience. A working range of 0.6 to 3 miles and a battery life of up to 96 hours will have you covered for all but the most extreme applications.
Pros:
- We were impressed by the clarity of communication even at extremities of range. We found there was a crystal clear signal when calling between operations in a boat and helicopter.
- With an individual charging base for each handset, this set is a great option for teams spread across a wide, decentralized workspace.
- Ansoko provides spare batteries sold separately, so you have the option to prepare for longer durations without charge if necessary.
Cons:
- We found that the earpieces included in this set were fragile and could dismantle if not treated with care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do environmental conditions impact the range of my walkie-talkies?
Walkie-talkies transmit their signal via radio waves, which are sent and received via the antenna on each handset. Because radio waves are absorbed by many materials, the range at which a signal can remain intelligible depends on obstructions in the terrain of operation. Handsets will generally operate at their optimal range in clear, open environments, like coastlines and open fields. If you’re using your walkie-talkies in dense urban environments or between floors in a skyscraper, be sure to take into account the fact that the range will diminish as the radio signal passes through absorbent materials.
What is VOX talkback?
When using your walkie-talkie you’ll quickly become familiar with the PTT (press to talk) function, where you send voice communications by pressing and holding the talk button. Many handsets also come equipped with a VOX talkback feature for hands-free communication. VOX sets the speaker to listen for an incoming sound to transmit a message whenever you speak. This is a useful feature for keeping in the loop whilst carrying out a manual task, but be sure to set the walkie-talkie back to PTT mode if you want some privacy off comms.
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.