If you have been following the portable radio market, you are probably used to a strict dividing line. On one side, you have traditional radio receivers—the ones with long telescoping antennas, clicking tuning knobs, and the static-filled charm of shortwave, AM, and FM bands. On the other side, you have modern internet streamers, smart speakers, and podcast players that rely entirely on a stable home Wi-Fi network. For years, radio enthusiasts have asked: Why can’t we have both in a single, high-quality, portable package?
The CHOYONG LC90 Multi-Band Smart Internet Radio is a groundbreaking answer to that question. Designed to bridge the gap between traditional radio frequency (RF) reception and modern internet streaming, the LC90 is the first true “full-service” hybrid portable radio. Priced at $249, it positions itself as a premium, all-in-one audio companion. In this comprehensive review, we will dive deep into its specifications, design, performance, pros, cons, and overall value to help you decide if it deserves a spot on your nightstand or in your travel bag.
Product Overview
At first glance, the Choyong LC90 looks like a beautiful, modern reimagining of classic portable radios from the late 1990s or early 2000s, such as the famous Grundig YB-400. It is roughly the size of a thick paperback book, making it highly portable but with enough physical presence to house a substantial speaker system. It comes shipped in a highly premium, gold-and-black gift box with custom foam padding, immediately signaling that this is not a cheap toy.
Under the hood, the LC90 is packed with an astonishing array of hardware. It features a bright, backlit 2.5-inch IPS display on the front, surrounded by a physical keypad and intuitive knobs for volume and tuning on the side. What sets it apart is its dual-nature connectivity. It functions as a standard RF radio, capable of receiving FM (with RDS data), Mediumwave (AM), Longwave (LW), and Shortwave (SW) bands, complete with Single Sideband (SSB) capabilities for utility and amateur radio monitoring.
Simultaneously, it is a fully capable smart device. It connects to the internet via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or through mobile networks using a physical 4G nano-SIM or built-in eSIM (available for US markets). This cellular connection allows you to stream over 40,000 internet radio stations and search through roughly 10 million podcast episodes from around the globe without needing to be tied to your home router.
The audio setup is equally impressive. Instead of the flat, tinny speaker commonly found in portable shortwave receivers, the LC90 features a 15-watt sound unit composed of a mid-bass speaker, a silk dome tweeter, and a low-frequency passive radiator. It is powered by a hefty, rechargeable 5000mAh battery pack, ensuring you have hours of cord-free listening.
Key Specifications:
- Price: $249
- Internet Radio Stations: 40,000+ via Wi-Fi or 4G (nano-SIM/eSIM)
- Podcast Library: 10+ million episodes (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts databases)
- Radio Bands: FM (with RDS), MW (AM), LW, SW (with LSB/USB SSB modes)
- Speaker System: 15W dual-way (mid-bass woofer + silk dome tweeter + passive radiator)
- Additional Inputs: Bluetooth, TF (Micro-SD) card slot up to 32GB
- Battery: 5000mAh lithium-ion (rechargeable via USB-C)
- Smart Features: GPT & Google-powered voice search, web-to-device station pushing, dual alarms, sleep timer, backlit keypad, lock key
The Pros: Why the Choyong LC90 Shines
Unmatched Hybrid Freedom
The standout feature of the Choyong LC90 is its ability to seamlessly switch between local over-the-air frequencies and global digital streams. If you live in an area with poor shortwave propagation at night, or if local interference ruins your AM listening, you do not have to turn off the radio. You can simply toggle over to the internet radio mode and stream your favorite station in crystal-clear digital quality, completely free of static and background noise. It provides a backup for your listening habits that no traditional radio can match.
Room-Filling, Rich Acoustics
Most portable receivers sound like, well, portable receivers. They emphasize high-pitched speech so you can hear weak signals through the static, but this makes music sound awful. The Choyong LC90 completely flips this script. Thanks to its dedicated mid-bass woofer, silk dome tweeter, and passive low-frequency diaphragm, the audio profile is incredibly warm, rich, and full-bodied. Listening to FM music stations or high-bitrate internet streams on this device is an absolute joy. The bass is punchy without being muddy, and the vocals are remarkably crisp.
True Portability via 4G and eSIM
While many internet radios exist on the market, almost all of them are designed to sit on a tabletop, plugged into an wall outlet, relying on home Wi-Fi. The LC90 is built for travel. By supporting both physical nano-SIM cards and US eSIM activation, you can take this radio to a park, a campsite, or on a road trip, and still have instant access to 40,000 global stations. It is a game-changer for expats or travelers who want to listen to their home country’s local broadcast from anywhere in the world.
Active Updates and GPT-Powered Voice Search
Unlike traditional radios that are static products from the day they leave the factory, the LC90 is actively supported by Choyong with over-the-air and TF card firmware updates. A recent major update introduced a ChatGPT-powered voice engine, allowing you to search for obscure radio stations, podcasts, or global music simply by speaking into the device. If you have ever tried typing the name of a foreign radio station on a small numeric keypad, you will quickly appreciate how much easier the voice search makes finding new content.
Dedicated SSB Support for Shortwave Enthusiasts
For radio hobbyists, the inclusion of Single Sideband (SSB) support with Upper Sideband (USB) and Lower Sideband (LSB) modes is a major win. It allows you to tune in to amateur radio operators (hams), emergency services, aviation weather reports (VOLMET), and marine broadcasts. Coupled with adjustable reception bandwidth filters (which help you narrow down the signal to block out adjacent channel interference), the shortwave receiver is highly capable and fun to use.
Generous Battery Life
The internal 5000mAh battery pack is composed of high-capacity rechargeable cells, giving you plenty of continuous runtime. Because internet streaming is surprisingly gentle on data and power usage compared to running heavy screen apps, you can easily get a full day’s worth of listening out of a single charge. When it is time to charge, the USB-C port makes it simple to power up using standard phone chargers or power banks.
The Cons: Areas for Improvement
Sub-Par Mediumwave (AM) Performance
If your primary goal is to DX (distance-listen) traditional AM talk radio during the day, the LC90 may disappoint you. The internal AM reception is notably weak compared to dedicated, high-quality AM portables. Even with Wi-Fi turned off to minimize internal RF noise, the daytime AM reception remains pedestrian. While nighttime reception improves due to natural atmospheric changes, this is definitely not a class-leading AM radio.
Clunky Interface and Learning Curve
The screen is beautiful and utilizes an IPS panel for wide viewing angles, but it is not a touchscreen. Navigating through thousands of stations, typing in Wi-Fi passwords, and configuring custom settings using only physical arrow keys and dials can feel tedious and clunky, especially in the beginning. While the website-to-device “station push” feature helps mitigate this, the on-device user interface still requires a bit of patience to master.
No True Stereo Output via the Headphone Jack
Despite the high-end speaker setup and the radio’s ability to decode stereo signals on FM and internet streams, the physical 3.5mm headphone jack does not provide true stereo separation. It bridges the mono signal to both ears. While it sounds fine and is perfectly usable for casual listening, audiophiles hoping to plug in a high-end pair of headphones for an immersive stereo soundscape will be disappointed.
Setup and Updates Require a TF Card
For several essential tasks—such as applying firmware updates or, in some user instances, properly initiating certain Wi-Fi settings—having a TF (Micro-SD) card inserted into the radio is practically mandatory. If you do not have a spare Micro-SD card lying around, you will need to purchase one separately to get the most out of this radio, which adds a minor inconvenience to the initial setup.
Customer Reviews Analysis
With an average rating spanning over 220 customer reviews, the Choyong LC90 has carved out a dedicated following among both casual listeners and radio hobbyists. The overall consensus highlights a clear division in how the radio is perceived, depending on what the buyer expects to get out of it.
The Praise: The overwhelming majority of positive reviews focus heavily on two aspects: sound quality and internet radio integration. Users consistently state they are “blown away” by the deep, rich sound coming from such a relatively compact cabinet. Many note that it has quickly become their primary bedroom or kitchen radio, replacing smart speakers because it is so easy to bookmark and jump directly into specialized global stations or podcasts. Reviewers also highly praise Choyong’s development team for pushing out regular firmware updates that actively fix software bugs, refine search features, and even add major hardware capabilities like SSB after release.
The Criticisms: On the flip side, critical reviews mostly originate from traditional AM/Shortwave purists. These users point out that the over-the-air AM (MW) reception is weak compared to older analog radios. Some also mention that while shortwave reception is “good” and comparable to other portables, the radio can sometimes pick up slight internal electronic humming or “ticking” noises, which is a common challenge when packing high-power digital Wi-Fi/4G transmitters into the same small chassis as sensitive analog radio antennas.
Who Should Buy This Product?
The Choyong LC90 is a highly specialized piece of technology, and it is best suited for specific types of audio lovers:
- The Global Listener: If you love tuning into news, music, and culture from other countries—or if you are an expat wanting to stay connected to your home city’s broadcasts—the 40,000+ internet station library combined with 4G portability makes this an absolute must-have.
- The Bedside Radio Enthusiast: Its outstanding, warm sound quality, physical sleep timer, dual alarm clocks, and backlit keys make it perhaps the ultimate nightstand radio. If shortwave reception is bad in your bedroom, you can instantly stream the exact same broadcast over Wi-Fi.
- The Tech-Savvy Hobbyist: If you enjoy exploring new technology, playing with continuous firmware updates, using voice assistant searches, and utilizing cellular eSIM data on the go, you will find endless hours of fun with this device.
- The Podcast Devotee: With native integration of millions of podcast episodes (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts), this is a wonderful standalone device for someone who wants to listen to their favorite shows without draining their smartphone’s battery.
Who should pass? If you are a strict analog purist who only cares about squeezing weak, long-distance AM signals out of the static, or if you want a simple “turn-on-and-play” radio without dealing with Wi-Fi menus, software updates, or micro-SD cards, the LC90 might be overly complex and not worth the premium price tag.
Final Verdict
The CHOYONG LC90 is a bold, innovative leap forward in the portable radio space. It successfully answers the call for a hybrid receiver that does not force you to choose between the unpredictability of shortwave bands and the perfect clarity of digital streaming. It is beautifully constructed, feels incredibly robust, and delivers some of the best acoustic performances we have ever heard from a portable cabinet of this size.
While it is not a perfect analog DXing machine—primarily due to its sub-par daytime AM reception—it more than makes up for it through its stellar FM receiver, comprehensive shortwave SSB support, and seamless internet streaming integration. The addition of 4G eSIM cellular capabilities and regular, feature-rich firmware updates ensures that this is a forward-looking device built to last.
If you are willing to spend $249 on a highly versatile, rich-sounding, and deeply engaging audio player that connects you to the entire world, the Choyong LC90 is an exceptional investment that you will enjoy using every single day.
