Upgraded HY-88WB Emergency Dynamo Solar Self Powered AM/FM/WB(NOAA) Radio, Flashlight, Charger for Cell Phones: iPhone, iPad, iTouch, Android, Amazon Kindle, Smartphone, USB Devices

This product and inexpensive, has many features, and is durable. This is the first product everyone should purchase for basic disaster preparedness. I've tested all the functions of this product - the solar panel, the dynamo, recharging port, the radio, and flashlight - all perform as expected (good reception on radio, medium-bright flashlight, dynamo is smooth and easy to rotate, solar panel generates charge well). Charging a phone takes a while (a few hours) from the solar panel and an occasional twist on the dynamo, but faster than I would have thought. This product came in handy while I was in a rural area during a snow storm, I had good radio reception and was able to make it to my destination without worrying about what lay ahead. Overall, I rated this product on a few factors:Durability (5/5) - I dropped it a few times on a hard surface from 5 ft. (on purpose), and it held up. The plastic parts don't have a cheap feel to them, they feel like they will last a long time.Functionality (5/5) - Has all the features that you would expect in this type of product.Operation (4/5) - All features perform reasonably well, the only complaint is that the flashlight could be brighter.Cost (5/5) - One of the most inexpensive products in it's class.Overall (5/5) - This is a great product for a low price, and a necessary part of any prepping tool kit.

This radio is small and lightweight so it's great for a backpack, go-bag, or glove compartment. I haven't tried the solar charging function yet nor have I tried using it to charge my cell phone. However, the crank power works as described and the radio works well. I was impressed with how easily it could pick up the radio stations despite our somewhat remote location. I did not find the handle to be flimsy, as some other reviewers have stated. Some users may think they have to crank it fast in order to charge, but that is not true. You can crank it a reasonable pace, and if done in that manner, there's little risk of breaking the crank handle. Overall I'm quite pleased with the purchase and would definitely buy it again and recommend to others.

THE GOOD:1. It has a very durable and light weight design. It definitely does not take much to carry one of these in a camping/hiking pack and a vehicle or home emergency kit.2. The charging features work great! It holds a charge for a long time and it doesn't take too much too hand crank it. The solar panel and USB charger works great as well. I love how It can be charged off of natural or artificial light which would definitely come in handy during an emergency.3. The radio and flash light work great! The flash light is very bright and lasts a very long time, and the speaker on the radio is loud and clear, and it helps that a collapsible antenna is included for more range and clarity.4. It is water resistant. The fact that I do not have to worry about this device getting wet is always a great thing. Even though it is not water proof I know that I would feel comfortable enough to use this in a damp/wet environment.THE BAD:1. The radio is pretty sensitive. You really have to make sure you sit it on a flat solid surface in order for the frequencies to come in clear, especially if you are using the AM, or Weather Band frequencies.2. The radio uses up quite a bit of power. Before using the radio you have to really make sure you crank it well (for at least a minute or two) or let it sit on the charger or in the light for a decent amount of time. Even though the radio itself works well it uses up a lot of juice. Not exactly a deal breaker but it is something to keep in mind.3. It is a little bulky. Even though it is a light weight radio, it still takes up some space. I have seen similar emergency hand crank radios that are much more flat and ultimately takes up less space. If you are planning on keeping this in a camping/hiking or bugout bag, I would recommend you have a pack that has big enough pockets to where you can carry this radio in it and still have enough room for your other equipment. Again this is not a deal breaker but something to think about.THE UGLY:1. The phone charger does next to nothing when using it to charge my phone. Im not sure how long it actually takes to charge the radio before it can effectively charge my phone but I have tried cranking it nonstop for a couple of minutes (Which is kind of hard to do for that length of time) and I have let it sit in the sun for around thirty minutes for it to only give my phone a minimal charge or only maintain it at is current battery percentage before the radio is completely drained of power.FINAL THOUGHTS:Overall for the price the radio is not bad of a buy. Just about all of the features work very well. My favorite feature is the flashlight because of how surprisingly bright it is and the very little power it uses. This is definitely something to keep in an emergency kit or a camping/bugout bag. However I would research other options for charging cell phones and other hand held devices, because unfortunately it falls short in this department. Im not sure if its my phone or not but even though it might give a small charge to your phone it is not enough of what you would need if you were in a serious bind.Hope This Helps, Good Luck...

Ordered 4 of these for bugout bags. Upon receiving them I plugged three in to charge via USB and left one in the sun for solar charge. The red light signifying “charging” came on with all units yet 8 hours later none took or maintained a charge. All of the units were in new condition and worked fine while plugged in but once power was removed they did not work. Tried the hand crank for each and it worked but only temporarily. I am returning all four units and will shop for another brand.