Baofeng UV-5R
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| Frequency | 136-174 MHz, 400-520 MHz |
| TX power | 1 / 4 W (Marketed 5W (some variants claim 8W). Independently measured ~4.7W VHF / ~4.2W UHF at high; ~1W low. The 8W claims are not supported by independent measurement.) |
| Modes | FM, NFM |
| Battery | Li-ion 1800mAh / 7.4V |
| Weight | 250 g (8.8 oz) |
| Connector | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas |
| Year | 2012 |
| antenna | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas |
| speaker mic | Kenwood 2-pin compatible (2.5mm + 3.5mm) |
| charging | proprietary cradle or USB cable |
| power req | rechargeable battery pack (model specific) |
Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR (ham) radio - FCC Technician-class license required to transmit (2m/70cm); NOT GMRS, NOT license-free, NO FRS/GMRS certification. Dual-band analog FM. Marketed 5W (8W variants); MEASURED ~4.7W VHF / 4.2W UHF. 128 channels; dual display; FM broadcast RX; flashlight; SMA (male pin on radio); 1800 mAh; CHIRP. Huge aftermarket. Regulatory history: 2018 FCC Citation (out-of-band TX capability) + spurious-emission import bans (DE/CH/PL/ZA); newer units test cleaner. Introduced 2012. Current.
Incredibly cheap. Gets people on the air. Huge aftermarket for batteries, antennas, cables. Every ham has owned at least one.
Poor front-end filtering; strong nearby signals cause intermod. Spurious emissions are borderline. Stock rubber duck is terrible. Menu system needs a cheat sheet.
The radio that launched a million ham careers. Buy it to see if you like the hobby, then upgrade. Program with CHIRP, not the front panel.
The Baofeng UV-5R is, by sheer numbers, one of the most important amateur radios ever made, the sub-$30 dual-bander that put a handheld in the hands of millions and reshaped the hobby's entry point. It is an amateur radio for the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands and requires an FCC Technician-class license or higher to transmit; despite frequent confusion, it is not a GMRS or license-free radio, and it has no FRS or GMRS certification.
It is analog FM only, with a dual display, 128 channels, FM broadcast receive, a flashlight, and a huge aftermarket of antennas and accessories. Its power is marketed at 5 watts (some variants claim 8); independent testing puts real output around 4.7 watts on VHF and 4.2 on UHF. The radio carries a genuine regulatory history: a 2018 FCC citation over its ability to transmit outside the amateur bands, and import restrictions in several countries over spurious emissions, though recent production tests cleaner than its old reputation suggests.
For the price it remains the default first radio for new hams, warts and all. Its dual-PTT sibling is the UV-82; the even cheaper single-band option is the BF-888S.