The Philips TAR3500 is a portable emergency radio built for the moments when the power goes out. It combines an AM/FM radio with four ways to stay powered: USB-C, a solar panel, a hand crank and AAA batteries. On top of that, it charges your phone, lights the way and can call for help with a single SOS button.
Philips TAR3500: four ways to stay powered
The idea behind an emergency radio is simple: it has to keep working when everything else stops. The Philips TAR3500 charges via USB-C in about three and a half hours, but it does not depend on the grid. A built-in solar panel tops up the battery in daylight, and the hand crank on the back gives you power whenever you need it. As a last resort, the radio also runs on four AAA batteries, which are not included.
Inside sits a replaceable Li-ion battery, rated at 5,200 mAh in Philips’ specifications. That battery also works as a power bank: a USB-A output lets you charge a smartphone or another small device, so you can stay reachable during a long power cut.
Radio with digital tuning
The radio itself covers AM and FM with automatic digital tuning, and you can store 20 FM and 20 AM presets. Sound comes from a single 2.25-inch full-range driver with 3 watts of output, which is enough for news updates and music in a tent, a cellar or a camper. A 3.5 mm headphone output lets you listen quietly, and the built-in clock offers an alarm with radio or buzzer and a snooze function. There is no Bluetooth or DAB+, so this is a radio for broadcast reception first and foremost.
SOS button, flashlight and reading lamp
The orange SOS button on the side is the feature that sets the Philips TAR3500 apart. One press activates an alarm siren, a flashing light and an ultrasonic dog whistle in the 23 to 54 kHz range, so rescuers or a search dog can find you. A flashlight and a separate reading lamp provide light in the dark.
Built for the outdoors
With an IP55 rating, the Philips TAR3500 is protected against dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction, so a rain shower is no problem. It measures 18.6 x 10.3 x 7.7 cm and weighs 670 grams, and a carrying strap is included. The plastic housing contains 70% certified recycled ABS. Philips is no stranger to portable audio; read also our news on the Philips Moving Sound range.
Pricing and availability
The Philips TAR3500 is available in black through the Philips online store and retailers. Philips does not list a price on its product page; Italian retailer Unieuro sells it for €69.99. More information is available on the Philips website.
Key specifications
- Type: portable AM/FM emergency radio
- Tuner: AM/FM, automatic digital tuning, 20 FM + 20 AM presets
- Speaker: 1 x 2.25-inch full-range driver, 3 W, mono
- Power: USB-C, solar panel, hand crank, 4 x AAA (not included)
- Battery: replaceable Li-ion, 5,200 mAh, charging time 3.5 hours
- Power bank: USB-A output
- Safety: SOS siren, flashing light, ultrasonic dog whistle (23-54 kHz), flashlight, reading lamp
- Protection: IP55
- Dimensions and weight: 18.6 x 10.3 x 7.7 cm, 670 g
- Connections: 3.5 mm headphone output
