APX-8000 vs Retevis A3

The Retevis A3 is the better choice here, but the margin is narrow. Both radios share identical feature sets: no DMR, APRS, GPS, Bluetooth, D-STAR, C4FM, or CHIRP support, and neither lists an IP rating. The single most important differentiator is price and what owners report. The A3 costs $110 with a known price, while the APX-8000's price is unknown. The APX-8000 does offer 12W of transmit power, though we don't have the A3's TX power figure. Owners report nearly identical satisfaction for both radios: 3.6 out of 5 from 31 Amazon reviews for the A3 versus 3.5 out of 5 from 30 reviews for the APX-8000. The A3's stated 286 gram weight is its only fully transparent specification; the APX-8000's weight is unknown. The APX-8000 might suit buyers who specifically need 12W output and can accept missing specs. The Retevis A3 makes more sense for most users because its price is transparent and owners report marginally better satisfaction. Choose the A3 unless you have specific requirements that demand the APX-8000's higher transmit power.