Ridgid has come out with a new 18V jobsite Bluetooth radio charger, model R84085B.
It’s compatible with a new Ridgid radio app, which gives you enhanced functionality. The smartphone app lets you stream music, set jobsite alarms and alerts, control the radio from across the jobsite, and receive local weather updates.
There’s a USB charging port (1A max as per the user manual), auxiliary input, AM/FM radio, and built-in Ridgid 18V charger. Charge time is around 1 hour for 2.0Ah battery packs.
The radio is weather-resistant, and features typical jobsite-durable construction.
The AC power cord is permanently attached to the radio, but a built-in cord wrap can help you tame it.
Price: $179
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
See Also(Bluetooth radio for $129 via Home Depot)
First Thoughts
At first glance, it looks like Ridgid took their R84087 jobsite radio, added in a charger circuit, tweaked the electronics to allow for app-control (and it presumably works with simple Bluetooth connectivity as well), and changed the color scheme ever so slightly.
There’s nothing wrong with that, I’m just trying to drive the point home that this radio charger is built off of an established design, and that if you don’t want the enhanced features, that other model is still available.
I don’t know how I feel about the Ridgid radio app. Can’t you stream your phone through simple Bluetooth connectivity? What kind of radio controls can the app offer that you can’t already control through your streaming app or a phone’s native volume control?
Maybe they’re experimenting a little, or had to offer a little more to justify the $50 bump-up in price.
One thing I like about Ridgid is that they’re not afraid to try new things regularly. This looks to be one such venture into new, but not completely unfamiliar, waters.
Update: To my surprise, Ridgid also has a Bluetooth speaker, R84086B, which also features Radio App compatibility. Price: $70 via Home Depot.
