Pure Bloom review

If radios could talk, we are fairly sure they would make great use of the phrase “back in my day”. Indeed, times used to be simpler for the humble wireless radio. In the not too distant past, it only had to cope with two wireless bands, FM and AM. Talk about having it easy.

Since those days of yore, of course, the radio landscape has shifted, with DAB, Bluetooth and wi-fi streaming expanding the traditionally expected feature set of modern portable radios.

Founded in 2002, Pure entered the picture at a time when the wheels of change were beginning to roll into motion. Nonetheless, as the pace has picked up, the company has kept up, producing a variety of internet radios in recent years.

But sometimes it is good to go back to basics. Indeed, many brands, such as Roberts and Ruark Audio have recently produced great portable radios that stick to their guns with DAB+, FM and Bluetooth listening options. Pure’s latest radio, the Bloom, does just that, but comes up against steep competition from the current What Hi-Fi? Award-winner for the best radio under £100, the Roberts Revival Petite 2.

Facing an Award winner is no small challenge for a new product, so we look forward to seeing what this radio has in store.

Price

At a price of £120 / $140 / AU$190, the Bloom lands towards the middle of Pure’s Bluetooth-equipped radio offering. The radio’s main rival at this price is the five-star Roberts Revival Petite 2, which currently costs £100 / $120 / AU$196. The two radios are similarly equipped and while they have a clear size difference, we can’t help but wonder what that small additional expense is going to provide.

Build

The Bloom is a modestly sized radio, just a little bit smaller than a compact two-slice toaster, at 12.8 x 19 x 7.8cm (hwd). Weighing just 1kg and featuring a synthetic leather strap, it is eminently portable, but it is just as well-suited for home use, and will fit seamlessly into living spaces, thanks to its understated, classy design.

The radio’s plastic casing feels robust and has an IPX5 rating for water resistance, which will come as good news to anyone hoping to get out of the house and make the most of its portability. Its matte finish also avoids collecting fingerprints remarkably well.

The Bloom is available in three colourways of Sage, Sand and Black. We have test samples of both the Sage and Sand finishes, which are pleasingly subtle and look good wherever we place the radio. A woven plastic grating protects the radio’s frontal 63mm full-range driver and looks convincingly cloth-like.

Looking at the radio face on, you’ll see a 37mm colour display, which despite its petite dimensions, keeps text at a decent size and looks crisp and clear. During radio playback, the screen displays the selected station, time, signal strength and battery level. While streaming from Bluetooth, the source device and track title are shown.

The screen’s brightness can be adjusted, but in its default setting it is bright enough to be clearly readable in a well-lit room.

To the screen’s right, there are five assignable preset buttons (for both DAB+ and FM) and a ‘+’ button, which accesses the full list of 40 preset slots. Notably, 40 presets are available for both FM and DAB+, which is more than we can ever imagine ourselves using.

The front of the radio also houses buttons for Bluetooth, Home menu access, and skipping tracks/cycling radio stations. There is also a nicely sized volume dial, which doubles as a control for the menu screen once it is selected.

When streaming via Bluetooth, clicking the dial will pause the song that is playing and skipping forwards / backwards on the radio will also control the source device. We enjoy this feature because, paired with the on-screen display, it allows us to spend time away from our mobile devices.

On the back of the radio, a passive bass radiator, etched with a floral emblem, dominates most of the rear panel. The remaining space houses a small bracket for the telescopic antenna and a thick silicone flap, which protects the USB-C charging port and a recessed factory-reset button.

Features

The Bloom supports DAB, DAB+, FM and Bluetooth playback, which offers plenty of listening options from thousands of radio stations as well as any streaming services from your smartphone or laptop.

It doesn’t include any options for wired listening. The lack of a headphone output is a little disappointing, given that cheaper rivals such as the Roberts Revival Petite 2 include a 3.5mm stereo headphone output.

The Pure pairs easily with our iPhone via Bluetooth 5.3, and, once connected, keeps up a stable connection throughout testing. Only the standard SBC Bluetooth codec is supported here, but we wouldn’t usually expect high-res codecs at this price.

Clicking the radio’s ‘Home’ button opens the main menu, where users can select their sound source. Settings are also accessible via the main menu, and include an equaliser, sleep timer, time/date settings, screen brightness, automatic safety alert set-up, factory reset and details about the software version. There’s a fairly wide array of languages available, too, which is a nice, inclusive touch.

The built-in equaliser includes three default settings: ‘Dynamic’ is intended for outdoor and cross-room listening and seems to add an extra kick to bass and high frequencies, ‘Comfort’ rolls off high frequencies and processes sound for a more relaxed, close-range-listening-friendly presentation, while ‘Neutral’ aims to deliver music as faithfully as possible to the source material. For everyday listening, we opt for the ‘Neutral’ setting as it provides the most balanced sound.

A ‘Custom’ equalisation option can also be configured using a three-band EQ. It isn’t uncommon for radios of this sort to include treble and bass controls, but a midrange control is a nice touch, adding that extra portion of tonal adaptability.

When it comes to battery life, the Bloom falls slightly behind cheaper competitors, with just 16 hours available on a full charge. The rival Roberts lasts for a claimed 20 hours.

During testing, when we play the radio for long periods, we find ourselves needing to recharge the radio every two days. Given that users will often leave radios playing in the background, we would have liked a slightly longer battery life.

When the battery runs out completely, the Bloom recharges in approximately five-and-a-half hours via a USB-C port on the back panel.

Sound

Sonically, the Pure Bloom radio has plenty of virtues, with a balanced sound that is also capable of shining a light on musical subtleties. Of course, sound quality depends on the strength of your signal, but once a strong signal is secured, the radio maintains a solid performance across DAB+ and FM stations. Streaming via Bluetooth adds an extra touch of clarity, letting the Bloom’s dinky driver shine to the best of its ability.

Relative to its size, the unit delivers a decently weighty low-end but, crucially, it manages to keep bass well under control. The radio’s midrange is a particular highlight, rendering voices with a natural, even-handed sound that occupies centre-stage without becoming overly dominant. Song vocals sound detailed and expressive, while radio presenters come across with ample clarity and personality.

In terms of absolute clarity, however, we feel that this radio could do a little more. Listening to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E Minor via Bluetooth, the orchestral arrangement is warm and fairly expressive, but we find that rivals such as the Roberts Revival Petite 2 offer a more impactful performance with an enhanced sense of drama and air. While listening to music with dense high-mid frequencies, the Bloom also sometimes struggles to keep up, and can start to sound a touch coarse.

Dynamically, this radio tracks subtle shifts in volume with a reasonable degree of precision. Across genres, from jangling pop songs to ambient electronic soundtracks, the Bloom lets dynamics flow with ease. Rhythms, too, are clear and compelling. Listening to New Muscles by Mary In The Junkyard, the strong central beat remains powerful, and we find ourselves carried along by the music.

When we crank the volume up, the Bloom does well to hang on to a sense of composure up to all but its very highest volumes, where the sound becomes a little too boisterous. At low volumes, the radio retains its sonic character, delivering a full-bodied and rich sound.

Verdict

The Pure Bloom is a reasonably priced and well-equipped portable radio. With an entertaining sound and a healthy set of features, this handsome little unit will be just as at home on a picnic blanket as on a bedside table.

While it misses out on a class-leading sonic performance, we think that anyone looking for an affordable and capable portable radio should pay close attention to the Bloom.

Review published: 27th October 2026

SCORES

• Sound 4
• Build 5
• Features 4

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