In a world dominated by smartphones and streaming apps, the dedicated radio is experiencing a remarkable renaissance. There is a distinct, tactile pleasure in using a physical device tuned to the airwaves. However, classic portable radios often leave modern listeners wanting more in terms of audio quality and global access. Enter the CHOYONG LC90 Internet Radio, a hybrid receiver that aims to bridge the gap between old-school terrestrial broadcasting and cutting-edge digital streaming.
Priced at $249, this unit is marketed as a professional, multi-functional smart radio. It does not just tune into local FM or shortwave signals; it connects to the internet via dual-band Wi-Fi and 4G cellular networks, unlocking over 40,000 radio stations from around the globe. But does this ambitious “all-in-one” concept deliver on its promises, or does it try to do too much at once? In this comprehensive, hands-on review, we will dissect the design, features, performance, and everyday usability of the Choyong LC90 to help you decide if it deserves a spot on your desk or nightstand.
Product Overview
At its core, the Choyong LC90 is a hybrid portable receiver. It combines traditional analog and digital terrestrial bands—specifically FM, Longwave (LW), Mediumwave (MW/AM), and Shortwave (SW) with Single Sideband (SSB) support—with a fully integrated internet streaming media player. This means that when atmospheric conditions block your favorite shortwave broadcasts, you can seamlessly switch over to a crystal-clear digital stream of the exact same station via the internet.
The physical unit is surprisingly compact and travel-friendly, measuring 7.9 x 4.8 x 1.6 inches (200 x 122 x 40 mm) and weighing roughly 1.4 pounds (640 grams). It features a premium plastic chassis that feels rugged and well-assembled. Dominating the front face is a gorgeous, 2.5-inch diagonal backlit IPS LCD screen. While it is not a touchscreen, the display boasts excellent viewing angles, rich colors, and highly legible text from almost any direction.
The LC90 is powered by a hefty 5,000mAh rechargeable and replaceable battery pack. Tucked safely behind a secure back panel, this battery consists of two high-capacity 18650 cells. To get you started right out of the box, Choyong includes several free gifts with your purchase: a premium protective storage bag, a dedicated USB charger, a Type-C charging cable, and a specialized metal tool to assist with battery cover removal.
Key Specifications:
- Bands Supported: FM (64–108 MHz), LW (153–279 kHz), MW/AM (522–1710 kHz), SW (2300–26100 kHz) with SSB
- Internet Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, 4G LTE Nano-SIM card slot, and built-in eSIM capabilities
- Audio Output: 15-watt speaker system (mid-bass driver, silk dome tweeter, and a passive low-frequency radiator diaphragm)
- Local Media: Bluetooth (v5.0 with up to 32ft range) and Micro-SD (TF) card slot (supporting up to 32GB)
- Additional Features: Dual alarms, sleep timer, backlit physical keys, custom stream URL entry, and over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates
Pros: The Advantages of the Choyong LC90
There is a lot to love about this unique device. After spending considerable time testing its capabilities, we have highlighted the standout benefits that make the LC90 an incredibly appealing piece of hardware.
Revolutionary Dual-System Concept
The primary selling point of the LC90 is its hybrid nature. It is currently one of the only portable radios on the market that successfully marries traditional over-the-air reception with modern internet streaming in a single, self-contained box. If you are a traditional radio enthusiast, you can spend hours scanning the shortwave bands. If you just want to listen to a foreign station with perfect, static-free fidelity, you can pull up its web stream with a few button presses. It is truly the best of both worlds.
Outstanding, Room-Filling Audio
Most portable radios suffer from thin, tinny sound due to their small, single-driver designs. The Choyong LC90 completely shatters this stereotype. Driven by a robust 15-watt amplifier, its speaker configuration includes a dedicated mid-bass speaker, a high-quality silk dome tweeter, and a passive low-frequency diaphragm. The resulting audio is remarkably deep, rich, and warm. Music tracks have a satisfying low-end punch, while spoken-word broadcasts sound incredibly natural and clear, making it feel as if the speaker is in the room with you.
True Cellular Portability (4G LTE & eSIM)
Unlike standard internet radios that become useless bricks the moment you step out of range of your home Wi-Fi network, the LC90 features genuine mobile portability. It features a physical slot for a standard Nano-SIM card, allowing you to use cheap cellular data plans. Even better, it supports eSIM data packages directly from Choyong. Whether you are grilling in the backyard, camping in the woods, or traveling in an RV, you can stream global radio without draining your smartphone’s battery or hotspot allowance.
Massive, Well-Organized Database of Content
Through its internet connection, the LC90 gives you free, instant access to more than 40,000 radio stations and over 10 million podcast episodes. Navigating this colossal library is surprisingly easy because Choyong categorizes stations by continent, country, region, genre, and overall popularity. Finding local UK stations while sitting in the US, or tuning into an obscure jazz station in Tokyo, takes only seconds.
Innovative Addable Stations and Web Portal
If you find a highly niche web stream or a local public safety feed that is not in the built-in directory, you are not out of luck. The LC90 allows you to add custom stations by directly entering their streaming URLs (supporting popular audio formats like MP3, AAC, and M3U8). Even better, Choyong provides an online web portal. You can search for stations on your computer or phone, and with one click, “push” the stream straight to your radio over the cloud. This is an incredibly convenient feature that bypasses having to type long URLs on the device’s physical buttons.
Proactive, Over-the-Air Firmware Updates
Many modern electronics are abandoned by manufacturers shortly after release. Choyong, however, has proven to be highly proactive with software support. By connecting the radio to Wi-Fi, you can download and install firmware updates directly to the device via a TF card. These updates have consistently improved the user interface, added new features (such as Google/GPT-powered voice search in version 4.8), and resolved minor hardware quirks reported by the user community.
Replaceable Battery and Generous Accessories
Planned obsolescence is a major frustration with modern gadgets, but the LC90 addresses this by utilizing a user-replaceable 5000mAh battery pack. If the battery’s health degrades after years of heavy use, you can easily swap it out for a fresh set. Additionally, the inclusion of a high-quality protective storage bag, a power adapter, and the custom battery tool adds significant out-of-the-box value to the $249 purchase.
Cons: The Disadvantages of the Choyong LC90
No product is perfect, and the LC90 has a few distinct compromises that potential buyers should keep in mind—especially those who are traditional, die-hard radio hobbyists.
Sub-par Mediumwave (AM) and Longwave Reception
If your main goal is to hunt down weak, distant AM (Mediumwave) radio stations at night, this is not the radio for you. While the LC90 performs admirably on FM and Shortwave, its AM and Longwave performance is noticeably weak. Because the radio houses a complex internal computer, an active LCD screen, and Wi-Fi/4G transmitters, these electronic components generate a significant internal electromagnetic noise floor. This “RF noise” masks faint terrestrial AM signals, meaning only strong, highly local AM stations will come through clearly.
Awkwardly Placed External Antenna Jack
The LC90 includes a 3.5mm external antenna jack, which is fantastic for boosting shortwave and FM reception. However, the physical placement of this port is somewhat awkward—it sits right next to the main tuning dial on the right side of the unit. If you plug in a thick 3.5mm cable or a heavy adapter, your cable will likely press against the tuning knob, making it somewhat cumbersome to spin and adjust the radio.
No True Headphone Stereo Output
While the LC90 boasts a superb internal speaker setup and recognizes when you plug in stereo headphones, the actual output routed through the 3.5mm headphone jack is dual-mono rather than true, separated stereo. While this is perfectly fine for talk radio, news, and podcasts, music audiophiles who prefer listening to FM stereo or high-bitrate internet music streams through high-end headphones will miss the spatial stereo separation.
Interface Learning Curve
Because the LC90 packs a massive array of features into a retro-style physical interface, there is a definite learning curve. Navigating deep settings menus, connecting to Wi-Fi networks, and managing mobile data settings using physical buttons and tuning knobs rather than a touch screen can initially feel clunky and non-intuitive. You will absolutely need to spend some quality time with the user manual to master its layout.
Customer Reviews Analysis
With 57 reviews and counting on Amazon, the Choyong LC90 has generated an enthusiastic response from a diverse crowd of radio listeners. Analyzing customer feedback reveals a few common themes regarding real-world performance.
The overwhelming majority of positive feedback centers on the device’s sound quality. Multiple buyers have noted that the 15-watt speaker system sounds incredibly robust and easily fills a medium-to-large room with rich, warm audio, making it a favorite for casual daytime music listening. Users also highly praise the stability of the internet streaming feature. They note that streaming over Wi-Fi or a SIM card provides a static-free, reliable listening experience that traditional shortwave bands simply cannot match during poor atmospheric conditions.
On the critical side, the most common complaint comes from traditional “DXers” (radio hobbyists who specialize in tuning into distant, weak AM/MW and Shortwave stations). These users confirm that the internal computer circuitry creates too much interference for serious AM listening, making the terrestrial AM band comparatively weak. Some users also reported minor pairing issues when attempting to use the unit as a basic Bluetooth speaker, though most found that physical playback via Micro-SD cards or direct Wi-Fi streaming worked flawlessly.
Encouragingly, many customers highlight Choyong’s excellent post-purchase support. Reviewers point out that the company actively listens to user feedback in forums and continuously rolls out firmware updates that directly address software bugs, improve system speed, and introduce new digital features.
Who Should Buy This Product?
The Choyong LC90 is a highly specialized piece of gear, making it a perfect fit for some listeners, while perhaps being overkill (or underpowered) for others.
You should buy the Choyong LC90 if:
- You love global content: If you enjoy listening to international news, foreign music, localized talk shows, or overseas sports broadcasts, the access to 40,000+ global stations is unmatched.
- You want a dedicated, phone-free player: If you love listening to podcasts and radio but hate keeping your smartphone occupied, draining its battery, or dealing with constant screen notifications, this standalone smart device is the perfect solution.
- You travel, camp, or RV frequently: Thanks to the 4G Nano-SIM and eSIM capabilities, you can have high-fidelity, continuous audio entertainment deep in the outdoors or on long road trips without relying on unstable local FM signals.
- You appreciate premium audio: If you are tired of the thin, tinny, scratchy speakers found on most portable radios, the warm, bass-rich 15W speaker on the LC90 will be a breath of fresh air.
You should skip the Choyong LC90 if:
- You are primarily an AM/MW DXer: If your absolute favorite hobby is tuning into distant, weak AM stations off-the-air, the high internal noise floor of this radio will frustrate you. You would be better off with a dedicated analog receiver.
- You want a simple, basic radio for emergencies: If you just want a cheap, lightweight radio to throw in a hurricane prep kit, the advanced internet features and $249 price tag of the LC90 are unnecessary.
Final Verdict
The CHOYONG LC90 is a bold, forward-thinking device that carves out a unique niche in the audio world. By successfully marrying the romance of traditional shortwave dial-tuning with the infinite, crystal-clear universe of global internet streaming, Choyong has created the ultimate “smart radio” for the modern age.
While it is not a perfect receiver—its AM/MW band is hindered by internal digital noise, and the headphone jack lacks true stereo output—its strengths vastly overshadow its weaknesses. The 15-watt speaker delivers breathtaking audio quality, the 4G/eSIM capability offers liberating outdoor portability, and the proactive firmware updates ensure the device will only get better over time.
If you are looking for a highly versatile, premium, and deeply engaging audio companion that connects you to the entire world at the touch of a button, the Choyong LC90 is worth every penny of its $249 price tag. It is a gorgeous piece of technology that breathes exciting new life into the timeless joy of radio.
