Sony AM/FM ICF-620R Card Radio

So I’ve finally gotten some time to unbox some of the trinkets and stuff I’ve gotten from Japan. Most of them are Apple accessories but this AM/FM pocket radio from Sony looked nifty.

There were actually 2 variants when I first saw this — one is just an AM Tuner and this other one which is an AM/FM Tuner.

The AM Radio Card costs about 3,000 yen while the AM/FM Radio Card like this one is 5,500 yen. I got the latter with a painting of Mt. Fuji on the cover. Other designs cost a bit more (6,000 yen).

The radio card is sized similar to a credit card and is just a couple of millimeters thin. The controls are placed on the side and the back. Tuning is done manually via a serrated dial, much like your regular analog radio.

It also comes with a pull-out earphone that’s tucked on the side. I was actually expecting a 3.5mm audio jack but there’s none so you’re stuck with the built-in earphone.

Another shortcoming (depending on how your look at it) is that the battery used by the unit is the disposable type. It would have been nice if they included a rechargeable Li-Ion instead but I guess that would take up more space again.

Bets thing about this card radio is the thin and light form factor and the very long battery life — 55 hours on FM and 120 hours on AM. Best for when you’re on long trips or traveling to places with limited or no electricity. IMO, it’s also a nice item for gifting this Christmas.