diff --git a/include/openthread/platform/radio.h b/include/openthread/platform/radio.h
index f1f3066b3..6f9d337fd 100644
--- a/include/openthread/platform/radio.h
+++ b/include/openthread/platform/radio.h
@@ -82,16 +82,25 @@ enum
 };
 
 /**
- * This enum represents radio capabilities.
+ * This type represents radio capabilities.
+ *
+ * The value is a bit-field indicating the capabilities supported by the radio. See `OT_RADIO_CAPS_*` definitions.
  *
  */
-typedef enum otRadioCaps {
-    OT_RADIO_CAPS_NONE             = 0, ///< None
-    OT_RADIO_CAPS_ACK_TIMEOUT      = 1, ///< Radio supports AckTime event
-    OT_RADIO_CAPS_ENERGY_SCAN      = 2, ///< Radio supports Energy Scans
-    OT_RADIO_CAPS_TRANSMIT_RETRIES = 4, ///< Radio supports transmission retry logic with collision avoidance (CSMA).
-    OT_RADIO_CAPS_CSMA_BACKOFF     = 8, ///< Radio supports CSMA backoff for frame transmission (but no retry).
-} otRadioCaps;
+typedef uint8_t otRadioCaps;
+
+/**
+ * This enumeration defines constants that are used to indicate different radio capabilities. See `otRadioCaps`.
+ *
+ */
+enum
+{
+    OT_RADIO_CAPS_NONE             = 0,      ///< Radio supports no capability.
+    OT_RADIO_CAPS_ACK_TIMEOUT      = 1 << 0, ///< Radio supports AckTime event.
+    OT_RADIO_CAPS_ENERGY_SCAN      = 1 << 1, ///< Radio supports Energy Scans.
+    OT_RADIO_CAPS_TRANSMIT_RETRIES = 1 << 2, ///< Radio supports tx retry logic with collision avoidance (CSMA).
+    OT_RADIO_CAPS_CSMA_BACKOFF     = 1 << 3, ///< Radio supports CSMA backoff for frame transmission (but no retry).
+};
 
 #define OT_PANID_BROADCAST 0xffff ///< IEEE 802.15.4 Broadcast PAN ID