It may seem old to many, but FM radio has always been one of the major additions to mobile devices. In the past, believe it or not, small radios were sold to be carried in your pocket, with the sole purpose of being able to tune in to all those FM stations around us. For years we have been able to do this using a mobile phone.
Interestingly, with the development of technology and the passage of time, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a radio application on our smartphones. In many models this tool is available, in others it is invisible because it has a “stub”, and in others it is not directly accessible.
How can we know whether the phone has a radio or not?
Contents [show]
- Which mobile phones usually have FM radio? Bad news for this year
- Use a mobile search engine
- How to unlock FM tuner
Is there offline radio on Android?
To listen to radio stations without access to the World Wide Web, you must have a built-in FM module. Not all modern devices have it, and in some gadgets manufacturers deliberately disable it in order to reduce Internet traffic costs or to avoid user complaints about poor reception quality.
Radio for Android without Network
Most gadgets running the Android operating system have a built-in chip. For its normal functioning, you need to find applications that will work offline.
Important! For the programs to work, you must have headphones or a specialized antenna.
TuneIn Radio
Contains a more diverse selection of radio stations, including music of all types, sports, comedy, talk radio, news and many other types of media. The free version includes over 100,000 stations and several million podcasts. If you opt for the premium version, you'll also get live NFL, MLB and Barclays Premiere League games, audiobooks, and ad removal. The price varies depending on what region you live in, but overall this is a fantastic radio service. The app is not very good for music, but it is one of the great radio apps.
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TuneIn Radio: news, sports, music, radio stations
Developer: TuneIn Inc
Price: Free
Where to find the standard Radio application on an Android device
The operating system is equipped with the standard Radio application by default. It operates using an internal FM tuner, which helps you listen to news without connecting to the Internet.
Is there a radio on iPhone 5, 6 and 7 - where is it located?
The standard utility is one of the simplest and simulates an analog receiver. On its main screen you can see the power key and a scale with frequencies. When you click on the arrows, you move from one station to the second. You can add your favorite radio stations to the quick access panel. The application also allows you to record live broadcasts for later use offline.
Note! Experts believe that a standard radio is the best solution for Android. The only condition is the presence of an appropriate receiver. Its absence is regulated by the legislation of individual countries, which have adopted their own radio broadcasting rules.
SiriusXM
SiriusXM satellite radio was one of the first really big moves away from standard AM and FM radio services. It includes more than 150 channels, including music, sports and the famous Howard Stern Show. There are also three subscription models to choose from depending on what content you want to listen to. The app is gradually improving and now seems quite stable. It still has issues, so don't expect the app to be perfect just yet. It's also cross-platform with many cars that have SiriusXM built-in. This means you don't need Bluetooth or any other connection to use it in many modern cars.
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SiriusXM: Music, Podcasts, Radio, News & More
Developer: Sirius XM Radio Inc
Price: To be announced
SiriusXM: Music, Podcasts, Radio, News & More
How to use a standard radio without an Internet connection
Where are files downloaded to Android from the Internet?
Offline radio for an Android device is used using an additional headset. In any case, it will have to be purchased separately.
Connecting to a phone
Using the radio through headphones
The device serves as a kind of antenna, without which signal reception is impossible. To enable the functionality you must:
- Go to the main menu and click on the “Radio” shortcut.
- Select the “FM stations” block and click on the search icon.
- After scanning the air by the system, all available frequencies will be displayed. Just click on any of them for the radio to work.
For your information! On the top right side there is a subsection “Options”, which contains settings. There you can choose to play music through external speakers or add channels to your favorites list.
Using an antenna for radio on Android (without headphones)
For this method to work properly, it is necessary to purchase a miniature telescopic device. The market offers a variety of options at an affordable price. After purchasing it, just connect the Android radio to the connector and activate the radio receiver.
Radio antenna for smartphone
Pandora
The venerable app is probably the most popular of all the radio apps. It brought casual music streaming into the mainstream and has enjoyed considerable success for years. Instead of focusing on specific stations, Pandora allows users to create their own stations. You can create them based on your favorite artist, music genre, or even a song. Pandora does offer playlists for streaming, but most people just create their own. You can also get a premium subscription to remove ads for $4.99 per month. You can pay $9.99 per month for Pandora Premium and get on-demand song playback along with other features.
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Pandora - Streaming Music, Radio & Podcasts
Developer: Pandora
Price: To be announced
How to find offline radio in the Play Store: list of popular applications
Radio applications for Android without the Internet are not as widespread as their counterparts with online broadcasting. The most common ones are described below.
Spirit1 Real Radio
The authors have developed two versions of the utility: Spirit1 and Spirit2. Installation is only possible on a limited number of smartphones (those with Qualcomm, Broadcom, Texas Instruments and Samsung Silicon Labs chipsets).
Note! For the application to function normally, you must have superuser rights, and the primary version of the utility does not work with the Android 5.0 operating system. The peculiarity is due to the lack of regular updates; the last time it happened was in 2016.
The radio application has a broadcast recording function, equalizer support and RDS data. It allows you to search for music and educational channels (talk format).
The main problem for users arises from the lack of a Russian-language version, but the intuitive interface is easy to master even for beginners. To move to the next radio wave, just click on the arrows or slider. There you can change the volume level, configure the tuner, etc.
Despite the simplicity of the interface, the application has its negative and positive qualities. The list of advantages includes the following indicators:
- if you have a radio module, you can listen to any radio stations without a constant connection to the Network;
- there is functionality for recording broadcasts;
- a large number of subsettings that replace an alternative application (except for the standard Radio Android);
- small size of both the installation file and the utility itself.
Negative sides:
- paid use. When downloading through the Play Market, you will have to pay about 350 rubles*;
- for normal operation the user must have root rights;
- The first version is not compatible with the Android operating system 5.0 and higher versions;
- the second option has fewer options compared to the previous one.
In addition to the specified application, you can download competing software for radio on your Android phone. All of them require the use of a special UTV device to receive the signal.
Spirit1 Real Radio
Note! Modern devices do not have a UTV antenna; it was only included in older smartphones. If it is not available, you can use special headphones.
Audials Radio
The service broadcasts in two modes:
- when connected to a 2,3, 4G network;
- without the Internet via the built-in radio antenna, but subject to a tuned signal.
The utility provides more features than its competitors. The collection of stations includes more than 65 thousand points and is constantly updated. It is impossible to find radio stations that ceased to exist several years ago. The developers are constantly selecting workable and interesting stations that are known both on Russian territory and in the CIS countries, as well as in Europe or the USA.
Audials Radio
Important! The available library and high-quality sound characteristics will appeal to even the most demanding user.
Pcradio
The platform, designed to work with domestic and foreign stations, has a built-in improved equalizer. It allows you to make changes to multiple actions through scrolling sliders and parallel testing. The utility has an alarm clock and a sleep timer.
Among the advantageous characteristics are visual style with an intuitive interface, choice of quality and modes. The user can get acquainted with new and unexplored stations via the Internet or without access to it. Pcradio is active without a SIM card in your tablet or phone.
Pcradio
Note! The serious disadvantages of the utility include its technical implementation. Many errors and spontaneous reset of already installed settings during subsequent startup seriously irritate music lovers.
Hello World Radio
The simplest design of the program does not affect its quality characteristics. Using the application, you can gain free access to 252 stations from different regions of the Russian Federation, 52 of which are in the Moscow range.
The functionality includes a special voice recorder that records the broadcast, small requirements for the amount of physical and RAM memory, and background playback without secondary settings. The disadvantages include a confusing interface; the utility lacks clarity.
Radio Russia
The first impression of the platform is negative. The problem is related to the half-empty menu; in competing applications it is 2-3 times larger. The application does not have an alarm clock, timer, additional buttons or drop-down menu, and you cannot watch TV on it.
The presence of 250 options, colorful design, a search bar with tags and secondary parameters, plus a tab with recommendations smooth out the initial rejection. But after starting the player, all the shortcomings fade into the background, since there are no problems with broadcasting, the utility works without failures and surprises in the form of interruption of broadcasting or failure of settings.
Radio Russia
iHeartRadio
One of the most popular radio applications. It has a large selection of stations to listen to, including FM stations and iHeartRadio's own stations. You can find playlists for almost any mood, almost any genre, as well as seasonal playlists like Christmas or Halloween. It's completely free to use (supported by built-in advertising), which is another good bonus. For those who use it, iHeartRadio has support for Chromecast and Android Wear. You can get a little more features for $5.99 per month. You can buy full access for $12.99 per month and get even more advanced features, including on-demand song playback.
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iHeartRadio - Free Music, Radio & Podcasts
Developer: iHeartMedia, Inc.
Price: To be announced
iHeartRadio - Free Music, Radio & Podcasts
Is it possible to enable the radio module on Android devices without the Radio application?
By radio module we mean a software module that is responsible for the wireless Internet, Bluetooth and telephone parts in the system. Changes to its operation are made in the engineering menu, intended for experienced users. They will have to take responsibility for the consequences of interfering with the operating system.
Important! Incorrect actions can cause file system dysfunction and damage the phone. Service center specialists do not recommend interfering with the system or trying to connect the radio module on devices. If you cannot do without this, then it is better to turn to professionals.
Offline radio is a reality, not a myth. After purchasing one of the devices and installing the program, you can listen to music and programs even off the Internet. The user can choose a paid or free application and enjoy their favorite tracks.
*Prices in the article are indicated as of March 2022.
myTuner Radio
myTuner Radio is another attractive option for those who enjoy traditional radio content. It boasts an impressive collection of over 50,000 radio stations in 200 countries. In addition, it supports podcasts, categories for different types of conversations and music radio, and some small additions such as a sleep timer and alarm function. You also get support for things like Android Auto, Sonos, and most streaming sticks. Some user reviews complain about occasional streaming drops, but otherwise it's a solid app for traditional hams. It's also free if you use Google Play Pass.
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myTuner Radio: Radio Russia FM
Developer: Appgeneration - Radio, Podcasts, Games
Price: To be announced
XiiaLive
XiiaLive Internet Radio is not as popular as other radio listening apps. However, it has great functionality. There are more than 50 thousand radio stations, which is enough for most people. You can save your favorite stations, select different themes, and manage connection settings. For advanced users, it is possible to add your own URLs, configure the equalizer and Bluetooth.
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XiiaLive™ – Internet Radio
Developer: Visual Blasters LLC
Price: Free
