Counterclockwise: FM radio is past its peak

16 December 2018
Do you feel like fewer and fewer phones have a radio receiver? Our data shows while there's a definite decline, many models still have it.

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  • E
  • Eric
  • J8B
  • 11 Jun 2023

Fm radio is actually very important not just listen to music .. Listen latest news or traffic news and important ergent news..

For example if earth quake or hurricane or act of terrorism happens lots of time first internet and gsm networks gone you dont connect any one for internet or gsm ..
That time fm radio Shows how emergency…. Radio hotline channels save lifes..

They Said you where you go , what you do and calling help Numbers etc..

So fm radio not just for listen music and little add on for phones… that radio in the right place at the right time saves lives… so i always look if fm radio not avaible on phone i dont buy …

    • y
    • you have to suffer
    • k%n
    • 26 Mar 2023

    YUKI93, 08 Feb 2023You're not alone. Contrary to popular belief, FM Radio... moreYeah I listen to FM radio on my Tecno 5G android phone when I go on my morning walks to listen to news about weather and sports

      AnonD-1046991, 15 Jun 2022I brought my Nokia E63, I start Visual Radio for the first ... moreYou're not alone. Contrary to popular belief, FM Radio is still a relevant tool for mass media broadcasts, especially for people who live in rural areas with little to no internet coverage. That's the reason I deeply value offline FM Radio support on smartphones, especially the flagship models.

        • D
        • AnonD-1046991
        • G}T
        • 15 Jun 2022

        I brought my Nokia E63, I start Visual Radio for the first time but except RDS not supported because E63's specification, I plugged headphone jack and tested since late May 2022, so that's alright and podcast will never fool, no need to wait and listen just to hear and serve communities' feeling. I'm very serious to see decline of radio in every phone models and streaming services is nowhere reach simplicity of FM radio.

          Coming to the end of 2020, FM Radio is still one of my top priorities in a smartphone. I still listen to FM Radio, especially the regional channels where they would always broadcast various informational segments and news. Some phones like Samsung and Lenovo also has a built-in radio recorder, which is super useful when there is no podcast of that particular segment or news.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • P%m
            • 05 May 2020

            The reason FM radio is not included on most phones anymore is because if people listen to radio for free they will be less likely to spend money in the stores to purchace music/podcasts. Also they will consume less data, it is all about corporate greed

              In my opinion, yes I would very much want to have a FM radio. It's the only radio which serves the community and also which gives a community feeling while listening to it. The talk shows, the chats etc. have always been an integral part of my life, which I miss very much with the Pixels. Other than Corporate greed, what else could be the motivation to remove it? At times of crisis especially in developing countries, its a life-saving thread. Streaming services could never reach the simplicity of FM radio. Its battery and budget-friendly. If I've one request for google, it would be to include them in the future pixels.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • vas
                • 27 Dec 2018

                As much as the author tried to tip toe around it... I-TUNES
                Thats the only answer

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • v3J
                  • 25 Dec 2018

                  When it comes to talk about FM Radio, I urge all phone manufacturers please do come in and listen to ppl wishes.

                    • B
                    • Billiken_27
                    • 8Ex
                    • 23 Dec 2018

                    Radio FM hardware was always buggy. I had a lot of cellphones with FM radio and in all of them the FM Radio application or the FM hardware had issues. I used to do a lot of zapping and sooner or later the radio stop working and had to reboot phone.

                      Dawman, 19 Dec 2018Much to the contrary to this article, FM Radio consumption ... moreNice to hear :)

                      It should also be mentioned that far from everyone got data plans with a high or no limit. And just say two hours of streaming a day in reasonable quality, can easily burn 4GB/Month.
                      So this alone keeps FM/AM/DAB an interesting alternative for the consumer.

                        Much to the contrary to this article, FM Radio consumption is showing solid increasing trends in economies like India, Middle East. LATAM and Africa. These are geographies where there is relatively lesser penetration of internet, but huge availability of low end Android Smartphones. Seems to be a direct correlation of these factors. Also, despite of the huge influx of streaming applications in such territories, the interactivity of Radio FM with RJs and their social handles, there is a distinct utility of this medium. Advertising rates in terms of CPM are still manageable on Radio as a format and the hyperlocal nature of marketing seems to be a solid factor in favour of Radio. Whilst I do believe that the 'Format' of Radio may change from AM/FM to Digital, Radio will not just vanish !!.. Much to Freddie Mercury's Radio Gaga... was visionary I feel !!...

                          • T
                          • TPAA
                          • 0p}
                          • 18 Dec 2018

                          For me a phone without FM radio is a deal breaker. With Samsung both the J and A series generally have FM Radio, but the S series does n't. I love listening to FM radio. It does not head up the phone. Yes, it would be great if phones have DAB radio.

                          Poeple might say there are radio apps, but they make the phone very hot and also you never know if you are listening to a live broadcast or some pre-corded programme. Plus, you get connection issues.

                          Well done to LG for trying to bring in DAB radio.

                          There are 7 billion of us, so each of us want something different.

                            Vegetaholic, 18 Dec 2018Mp3 simply killed of FM. You no need to wait and listen rad... moreFor random fashion consumer music sure, but for news and background talk radio - nah...

                            But of course if you only want to hear your two favourites songs, well then broadcast is not for you.

                            And even for consumer music, FM can broaden your horizon ever so slightly, luring us to hear stuff we would never dream of trying out, without it at the least be recommended by a friend...

                              Mp3 simply killed of FM. You no need to wait and listen radio just to jear your favorite song. Mp3 its just more conveneint, puts user in control of music. Streaming though sucks. You dont own music, you cant listen once you out of signal zone, so many problems with it, it is strange it is so popular.

                                EskeRahn, 17 Dec 2018And funny that in between the two you got little Denmark wi... moreThere are DAB/DAB+ in the big cities in Sweden too, but between steaming and analog FM it's just not relevant.

                                BTW, DAB(B) is Swedish slang for making a mistake... "Dabba sig"

                                  • K
                                  • Kate
                                  • 847
                                  • 17 Dec 2018

                                  For me it doesn't matter if it's AM, FM or DAB, in any case my phones will always have a radio chip inside without waste data and money in streaming.

                                    DaXiong, 17 Dec 2018Forgot to say that the mentioned channels in Sweden and the... moreAnd funny that in between the two you got little Denmark with full DAB+ rollout. With quite a number of ad-free public stations. It was even seriously considered to kill the FM in 2021.
                                    https://ing.dk/artikel/regeringen-vil-slukke-fm-signalet-2021-211538
                                    But I think they postponed that, when they found out how few car radios that can do DAB+, where 'all' can do FM.

                                      lg g7 thinq, best flagship out there, with fm radio. i would never buy a flagship without fm radio app!

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • m5N
                                        • 17 Dec 2018

                                        Dab radio should be more common in mobile phones. Even if its not a flagship thing it should be more common in mid and low range of phones. especially now that mobiles have more robust batteries as i do believe DAB uses a little more power than FM.
                                        It is good to have a radio of some sort inbuilt incase of no credit or no mobile signal.
                                        Maybe they could leave a camera lens off or 2 and put a dab radio in instead because thats getting silly now, two is enough surely.
                                        Would be a great idea to start putting DAB radio in the cheap "classic" mobile phones. These tend to have decent battery life.