Yaesu FT-4XR
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| Frequency | TX: 144-148 MHz (VHF), 430-450 MHz (UHF), RX: 65-108 MHz FM broadcast, 136-174 MHz, 400-480 MHz |
| TX power | 0.5 / 2.5 / 5 W (5W / 2.5W / 0.5W — three selectable levels. BTL (Bridged Transless) amplifier.) |
| Modes | FM |
| Battery | Li-ion 1750mAh / 7.4V |
| Weight | 250 g (8.8 oz) - 250g (8.82 oz) with SBR-28LI battery and antenna. Dimensions: 53×89×30 mm (2.1×3.5×1.2 in) — ULTRA-COMPACT. |
| Connector | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas (Yaesu reversed its usual convention on the FT-x5R line) |
| Year | 2018 |
| antenna | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas (Yaesu reversed its usual convention on the FT-x5R line) |
| speaker mic | Yaesu proprietary (3.5mm + 2.5mm) |
| charging | 3.5-hour rapid charger (SBH-22, included) |
| power req | SBR-28LI 1750mAh 7.4V Li-ion (included). 3.5hr rapid charger included. 15hr operating. |
Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR (ham) radio - FCC Technician-class license required to transmit (2m/70cm); NOT GMRS, NOT license-free. ANALOG FM ONLY - NO digital voice (NOT C4FM, NOT DMR, NOT D-STAR). The FCC 'F2D' emission is just DCS (digital coded squelch) within analog FM, not a digital voice mode. Dual-band 5W / 2.5W / 0.5W. 200 channels + 3 home + 10 PMS; 10 NOAA + alert; FM broadcast RX; cradle charging (SBH-22); 1750 mAh; NO IP rating. Yaesu's budget HT. Introduced 2018. Current.
The smallest Yaesu handheld at the lowest Yaesu price (53x89x30 mm). It has a 1 W speaker, 15 hours on a 1750 mAh battery, and a 3.5-hour rapid charger. WX with Severe Weather alert, 200 channels, keypad entry, FM broadcast, and ARTS, with Yaesu build quality.
No IP54 (the FT-65R adds it for modestly more). No flashlight. A segmented LCD (not dot-matrix). Programming needs a separate cable (CHIRP or RT Systems). No digital modes. No wideband or airband receive. No USB-C. No Bluetooth, GPS, or APRS. A direct-conversion receiver (not superheterodyne). The programming cable is separate.
The smallest, cheapest Yaesu HT. The FT-4XR is Yaesu's answer to the bargain Chinese radio: it costs more but delivers Yaesu audio quality, 15-hour battery life, and WX weather in the smallest Yaesu form factor. The FT-65R's IP54 rating and bigger display make it the better value for modestly more.
The Yaesu FT-4XR is Yaesu's most affordable dual-band handheld, a compact, no-frills analog radio aimed squarely at the budget market that Baofeng dominates, but with Yaesu's build quality. An important clarification: despite Yaesu's reputation for digital radios, the FT-4XR is analog FM only. It has no C4FM and no digital voice of any kind. It requires an FCC Technician-class license or higher to transmit on 2 meters and 70 centimeters; it is not a GMRS or license-free radio.
It covers both bands at 5 watts in three power steps, holds 200 channels, includes NOAA weather with alerting, and charges in the supplied SBH-22 cradle. Reviewers consistently rate it as a solid, loud little radio that feels better made than similarly priced imports, though the small six-character display and menu-driven interface make manual programming tedious, a programming cable and software help a lot. It has no waterproof rating.
As an inexpensive but well-built first radio it is a frequent recommendation over the very cheapest imports. For Yaesu's rugged (and slightly pricier) analog handheld, the FT-65R; to step into Yaesu's digital mode, the FT-70DR.