The Best SiriusXM Portable Satellite Radios of 2024

Listen to your radio whenever, wherever

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The best SiriusXM Portable Satellite Radios are relatively inexpensive, with models offering remarkably affordable access points for satellite radio.

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Best Overall

SiriusXM Satellite Radio SXPL1V1 Onyx Plus

Siriusxm-satellite-radio-sxpl1v1-onyx-plus

Amazon

Pros
  • Includes TuneStart and TuneMix

  • Sports Ticker feature

Cons
  • Small screen can be hard to read

The big brother to the Onyx EZ, SiriusXM SXPL1V1 is a feature-rich, vehicle-ready player. Its many features in a package that's 3.4 ounces and 4.5 by 2.4 by .7 inches (WHD) keep even the pickiest SiriusXM listener happy. The addition of both TuneStart and TuneMix are two features that make the price tag worth it.

The former allows subscribers to start from the beginning of a song on a new station, while the latter enables listeners to create a music station based on their favorite channels. Additionally, the Onyx EZ offers pause, rewind, and replay functionality on your favorite channels for up to 30 minutes.

Installation in the vehicle is super easy with the included vehicle kit (adapter, antenna, etc.) that allows you to transfer between cars, all on a single subscription. The full-color display will showcase album art, channel logos, and graphics to add some visual appeal. The Onyx Plus offers SiriusXM Xtra, which includes more music and entertainment channels, plus SiriusXM Latino.

And catching up on the big game is no problem with Sports Ticker. Some standard features include one-touch access to traffic and weather and a one-touch jump back to a previous channel.

Runner Up

SiriusXM XEZ1H1 Onyx EZ

SiriusXM XEZ1H1 Onyx EZ

Amazon

Pros
  • Includes a remote

  • Easy installation

Cons
  • Basic hardware

Convenient for both your home and your vehicle, the SiriusXM XEZ1H1 Onyx EZ is a low-price option with a remote control. Some nifty features included browsing what's playing on other channels while listening to your current one and storing up to 10 favorite channels for one-touch access. Installation is easy for both home and vehicle kits.

Connect the car's antenna, powered cord, and auxiliary cord to your stereo system. The backlit blue LCD shows essential information, including artist, channel, title, etc. Although the hardware is bare bones, the Onyx EZ is an easy entry point into the XM/Sirius world, and it's hard to argue with the price.

What to Look For in a SiriusXM Portable Satellite Radio

Installation

As with all electronics, consider the ease of installation before purchasing a satellite radio. While most have a simple setup, some can be more complex. Many radios will come with a vehicle kit (including an adapter, antenna, and more) that lets you transfer between cars, all on a single subscription. You can also check YouTube for installation tutorials if you get stuck.

Display

Not all displays are created equal. Some radios have full-color, touch-screen displays, while others have more basic, black-and-white displays with physical buttons. Some show information like the station, song title, and even album art, while others are much more bare-bones.

Size

Of course, portable satellite radios must be small enough in dimension and weight to be conveniently portable. Options range in weight from 4 ounces on up and in size from as small as a checkbook to a large clock radio. Choose a suitable size given the amount of toting around you’ll do.

Mobile App

True portability with satellite radio can be found via the mobile app. Streaming channels include all the traditional subscriber options (and even some online-only channels).

The smartphone app includes on-demand access to the SiriusXM content catalog, allowing you to listen when convenient, not necessarily live. Storing talk radio and entertainment shows offline allows the additional capability to listen offline or away from a cellular signal.

If you’re already a subscriber, listening virtually anywhere offers just one more important reason to be a SiriusXM subscriber.

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