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RadioRanked verdict

Updated Nov 2026

ABBREE AR-30W vs Retevis A3

Our pick

ABBREE AR-30W$86.96

The AR-30W comes out ahead based on better listed specifications for the price. Both radios lack published transmit power figures and neither supports DMR or APRS, making the specs effectively tied on core features. The decisive difference is GPS—the AR-30W includes it while the A3 doesn't. At nearly identical prices, this is a meaningful advantage for users wanting position tracking or emergency location capabilities. The AR-30W also scores significantly higher on RadioRanked's composite metric, which reflects better specifications relative to cost.

Owner feedback slightly favors the AR-30W. Buyers report 4.0 out of 5 stars across 7 Amazon reviews, compared to 3.6 stars from 31 reviews for the A3. While the A3 has more reviews, the AR-30W's higher rating represents what current owners report about their experience.

The AR-30W is the better choice for anyone valuing GPS functionality or wanting better listed specs at the same price point. The A3 might appeal only if you specifically prefer its form factor or have other unstated requirements, though the evidence doesn't support that case here.

Buy the AR-30W unless you have specific reasons favoring the A3 that aren't reflected in these specifications.

By use case

Which should you buy?

  • Budget-constrained buyer wanting the lowest price

    It costs less than the Retevis A3 while still covering VHF and UHF with 500 channels and GPS.

    ABBREE AR-30W
  • New licensee building a first shack

    Its beginner-friendly setup and GPS feature make it a practical first radio for a new licensee.

    ABBREE AR-30W
  • Vehicle installation for RV or truck

    It suits mobile use in vehicles and coordinated net operations better than the Retevis A3.

    ABBREE AR-30W
  • NOAA weather monitoring and repeater use

    Its 999-channel memory and 6m band coverage make it the stronger choice for NOAA and repeater monitoring.

    A3
  • Experimenter wanting basic multi-band coverage

    Adding 6m to VHF and UHF gives experimenters broader basic band access than the ABBREE AR-30W offers.

    A3
  • Licensed technician on a budget-free upgrade path

    Its larger channel memory and extra band suit a licensed technician who wants more room to grow.

    A3

Reasons to choose ABBREE AR-30W

  • 21% cheaper ($86.96 vs $109.99)
  • Has built-in GPS
  • Has color TFT display

Reasons to choose Retevis A3

  • 100% more memory channels (999 vs 500)

Spec battle

Spec-by-spec breakdown

ABBREE AR-30WSpecRetevis A3
$86.96
Price
$109.99
52
Overall Score
27
+92% for winner
500
Memory Channels
999
2.0× difference
—
Weight
286g
—
Battery
2500 mAh
Color LCD
Display
—
No grant found
FCC Authorization
No grant found
Black
color
Green
1
unitCount
1

Made your choice?

ABBREE AR-30WPICK

$86.96 on Amazon

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