RadioRanked verdict
Updated Oct 2026ABBREE AR-30W vs Retevis RA79
Our pick
Retevis RA79$31.49
The Retevis RA79 is the clear winner for most users.
The single most important differentiator is price paired with owner feedback. The RA79 costs $35 versus $100 for the AR-30W, and owners report significantly higher satisfaction with the RA79: 4.5 out of 5 stars from 278 reviews compared to 4.0 out of 5 from just 7 reviews. The AR-30W includes GPS and lacks CHIRP support, while the RA79 offers CHIRP programmability and omits GPS. We don't have transmit power figures for either radio, so we cannot evaluate them on that basis. Both radios lack listed IP ratings. The AR-30W's weight is unknown, while the RA79 weighs 225g.
The RA79 should appeal to budget-conscious operators who value CHIRP compatibility and want feedback from a large owner base. The AR-30W makes sense only if GPS functionality is essential to your use case and you're willing to pay a premium with limited owner data to reference.
For most amateur radio operators, the Retevis RA79 delivers better value and stronger owner confidence at a fraction of the cost.
By use case
Which should you buy?
First-time licensee on a strict budget
Its extremely low price and simplicity make it ideal for beginners exploring the hobby.
RA79New operator needing GPS and vehicle support
The built-in GPS and higher feature set support coordinated field and vehicle operations.
ABBREE AR-30WPortable field use and general communication
Its lightweight design and multi-band receive capability make it excellent for general portability.
RA79Operator building a first shack setup
The higher channel count and advanced features are better suited for initial shack operations.
ABBREE AR-30WCost-conscious ham exploring multiple bands
The low cost and multi-band receive functionality provide great value for exploring bands.
RA79
Reasons to choose ABBREE AR-30W
- 3x more memory channels (500 vs 200)
- Has built-in GPS
- Has color TFT display
Reasons to choose Retevis RA79
- 68% cheaper ($31.49 vs $99.96)
- Has CHIRP compatibility
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
ABBREE AR-30W
$99.96 on AmazonRetevis RA79PICK
$31.49 on AmazonMore head-to-heads