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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ethereal, 16 Dec 2018At my place FM s/ucks big time! 80% of the time on all chan... moreIn my case it's not that bad. I love listening to GLGLTZ and even though the quality of talk shows got lower. It's one of my best radio stations. And 91.5FM. I Guess it's different from person to person.

    FM radios are not extinct. They are in phones but still very present in the standard household, and in cars. These days we stream or download songs of our choice.

      Is Australia I see that most low budget or entry level handsets still have the FM radio feature.
      It's a great option and a positive feature for low end handsets that lack a lot of good qualities.

      I use it myself as often as I can and the bus is my headset is always in so it's a no brainer and it doesn't use a lot of battery when compared to I heart radio and steeaming

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        • Anonymous
        • Uip
        • 16 Dec 2018

        FM radio is still big in Australia, I want a FM receiver I always get bored with my playlists and FM is a good free way to keep up with current news and music. I want a ir blaster and in phone temperature sensor also In the Samsung 10

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          • FREE STUFFFF
          • tDR
          • 16 Dec 2018

          "FM radio has awesome features – it’s free"

          "iPhone maker never included an FM receiver on its phones"

          It would kill if Mr. Crab allow things for free

            At my place FM s/ucks big time! 80% of the time on all channels it's only ads or the irritating chat by bu!!sh!t RJs! My BP rises even if it gets switched on by mistake. I hate FM! FM just die!!

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              • Mikey
              • Tr3
              • 16 Dec 2018

              I say it's a very important feature that should never be ignored until kingdom come because, during national emergencies or catastrophies, FM, AM and shortwave will be the ones which will be able to pass on important information, information even maybe related to survival. Once data is not accessible on such situations, your phone will be just a... telephone.

                Apple didn't have an FM receiver from the beginning. Obviously, because even if 0.5% of their users don't customers don't subscribe to Apple music because of Radio, it's a huge loss for them. Why would they give something that doesn't bring them any extra revenue.

                And for other OEMs as well. As someone mentioned, there literally NO REASON to not have a Radio chip in a device, "EXCEPT" - The revenues of music streaming services are gonna drop because of Radio. Money is behind everything people, remember?

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                  • Drg84
                  • Ibx
                  • 16 Dec 2018

                  The first smartphone I ever got had both FM radio and a oem digital radio service. It was Nokia radio on the E71. Great app that lost service after Microsoft bought Nokia. And it had 2.5mm headphones. Still strange and it was common back then

                    Nowadays, I don't find FM Radio being removed as a dealbreaker, but it sure was a good experience using it. Music streaming is definitely the way to go, though using mobile data, it won't explode your data plan. Still, it's weird to see chipset manufacturers disabling FM Radio for newer smartphones, which may be a dealbreaker for some

                      I have fond memories of radio from the late 90's, I discovered lots of great music and recorded several mix tapes, still have them in a shoe box somewhere. Then I grew up and started downloading pirated music on dial-up connection, it was awful but I got my music playing on my 64mb mp3 player, that was a lot of music in a compact device, more than I could carry on a cassette player. Then I evolved to streaming and here we are.
                      The point is that I actually don't miss radio, it's ads are annoying, the crooners are annoying, and the music is often bad nowadays, when there's music, because in my country the dial is dominated by evangelical pastors shouting all day.

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                        • Anonymous
                        • IW@
                        • 16 Dec 2018

                        I don't use FM radio as often as Facebook but that doesn't mean manufacturers are justified in removing it. It's incredibly useful not only for news and music in your local language but also life saving during calamities when the only thing on is FM radio (data services and cable service is down). And you don't have to experience calamities to realize its worth. It doesn't waste data and drain phone batteries - useful for those long rides and journeys when you just want to enjoy live news and music in your locality. And I do prefer listening to it compared to mp3 music or some other online service like spotify. They get boring fast and make treadmill workouts less enjoyable. Love listening to DJs kidding around with phone interviews and other programs news and phone interviews as well as phone in music requests. Makes the workout a lot more pleasant and enjoyable so yes, FM radio in phones should not be removed until such time FM radio broadcasts ceast to exist which will be a long, long time.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • IVD
                          • 16 Dec 2018

                          In case of nuclear fallout, massive solar flare, zombie apocalypse or godzilla strike, FM/AM is your savior in terms of communication.. Internet/digital information will be dead.. Always, always keep an FM/AM phone/device in your hand or as backup

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                            • Anonymous
                            • 2Au
                            • 16 Dec 2018

                            yeah why they removed this feature on the new devices.?

                              I don't care for it often, but once in a while it is useful to have.
                              And remember it literally doesn't cost the OEM anything in terms of money, space, software to include this useful little feature.

                              So my counter-question is, why would you go around removing it ??

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