If we already make screens consumers love, why deliver receivers with outdated displays?

Since it isn’t possible to make digital radio receivers as cheap as basic analog models, cutting production costs by adopting simplistic screens is exactly the kind of saving that removes value without truly lowering the price. If a high-quality, attractive screen seems excessive given the limited functionalities of the device, I must say: the equipment will need to be more than just a simple radio receiver to win markets. The reality is that people are not going to shopping malls thinking, “Oh, I need to buy a radio.” This is the truth I speak as a consumer, without concern for sounding like a messenger of harsh realities. Few survive in the radio business precisely because it hurts the industry to hear this, but if they did listen, they would be stronger, wealthier, and more aware that nostalgia cannot drive strategy.

Of course, simply changing the screen won’t magically bring color and advanced functions. Other electronic improvements are also needed, which will increase reception costs. But I must point out: the consumer might still prefer using their phone to stream the same radio in high quality. If the industry wants to compete, it must understand that the battle is no longer against old AM or FM, it’s against smartphones that already deliver 50,000 streaming options and are in the hands of the masses. It is unlikely that people will be motivated to buy cheap receivers with dull gray screens. Instead, it may be easier to attract them with a receiver that feels worth the price—even if it demands more economic effort to acquire. And as I said, it will need to be more than just a radio. Only then will it truly gain traction.

The company that chose better screens for cell phones is not unique in this movement, every single competitor made the same choice, prioritizing the screen experience at its best level. And whenever a new advancement comes, they will all adopt it as the next step forward. Working with something simpler is not an option; even among lower-income consumers, it sells less. If the smartphone market already teaches us that the gateway to services requires excellent resolution and seductive colors, why doesn’t the radio industry think the same way? High-quality screens are something practically the entire population carries in their pocket—and they are indeed the biggest competitor to the home radio.

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