ZHIWHIS ZWS-802 Review
A wooden-cabinet FM/AM/SW/Weather Band radio built around audio quality first, shipping with a wireless W3 repeater accessory to extend reception into AIR and VHF/UHF.
Specifications
| Bands | FM / AM / Shortwave / Weather Band standalone. Adds AIR and V.UHF (25–999 MHz) when paired with the included W3 repeater |
| Audio | True stereo — two 5W, 4Ω, 52mm speakers in a wooden enclosure. 6 EQ presets, adjustable bass |
| Antenna | 54cm telescopic rod + internal AM bar antenna, plus an external antenna terminal |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2 (~10m range), TF card playback (MP3/WMA/WAV/APE/FLAC), 3.5mm AUX in, USB-C |
| Display & Control | Digital LCD, large rotary tuning knob, app control (iOS/Android) within 20m |
| Power | 3× 2500mAh lithium cells, USB-C charging |
| Extras | Sleep timer (10–120 min), alarm, timer-on auto power, tilt stand, carry bag |
| Dimensions / Weight | 163 × 140 × 84mm, ~1.16kg (radio alone; ~1.19kg with batteries) |
| W3 Repeater | 2× 18650 batteries, own USB-C charging, wire antenna with window-mount clip, extends coverage to AIR/VHF/UHF |
Pros
- Genuinely solid build — the wooden cabinet isn't a gimmick, it looks and feels like a real piece of furniture, not a toy
- Sensitivity is impressive across every band, and noticeably stronger once the W3 repeater is set up — it's a real engineered fix for indoor reception, not a workaround
- Genuine stereo sound, not simulated — left and right channels stay properly separated, which matters as much for Bluetooth streaming as for radio
- True app control, USB-C throughout, modern connectivity (Bluetooth 5.2)
- Solid hardware details — metal knobs, proper telescopic antenna, external antenna jack for further upgrades
Cons
- The shortwave frequency readout is abbreviated rather than showing the full precise frequency — a real annoyance if you're trying to log or confirm exactly what you're tuned to
- No SSB — not built for serious DXing or single-sideband listening
- Heavier and bulkier than a typical portable (over 2.5 lbs with batteries) — this is a tabletop/home radio, not a pocket one
- Full band coverage (AIR/V.UHF) requires the W3 repeater to be set up and positioned correctly — it's not automatic out of the box
Verdict
Thanks to ZHIWHIS for the review opportunity. In hand, the ZWS-802 earns the parts of its pitch that matter most: it's a genuinely solid, well-built piece — the wood cabinet isn't decoration, it's real construction — and sensitivity across every band is excellent, especially once the W3 repeater is in play solving the indoor-reception problem most radios just ignore. The one real knock is the shortwave frequency display — the abbreviated readout makes it harder to confirm exactly what you're tuned to, which matters if you're the kind of listener who logs frequencies precisely. No SSB either, so this was never going to be a DX-chaser's radio. But that's not the job it's trying to do: as a strong-sounding, strong-receiving multi-band set for a home office, living room, or nightstand, the ZWS-802 delivers. Rating: 4/5.
Specs verified against ZHIWHIS's official manual and independent hands-on testing (Blog or Die); pros, cons, and verdict based on ShortwaveHQ's own hands-on review of the unit.