Baofeng AR-5RM vs Retevis RA79

The AR-5RM edges ahead due to better listed specifications relative to its lower price, reflected in its 65 versus 60 overall score. Both radios share identical feature sets—no DMR, APRS, or GPS—and both support CHIRP programming. Owners report the same 4.5/5 rating for each, though the AR-5RM's rating draws from a much larger sample of 1206 reviews compared to the RA79's 278 reviews, giving greater confidence in that owner feedback.

The single most important differentiator is price. At $22 versus $35, the AR-5RM costs significantly less while achieving a higher score on our composite metric, which accounts for specifications, price, and owner satisfaction together.

The AR-5RM suits buyers seeking maximum value with confidence from extensive user reports. The RA79 makes sense only if you specifically need its documented 225g weight specification or prefer it based on individual research beyond our data.

For most buyers, the AR-5RM delivers better listed specifications for the money. Choose it unless the RA79's known weight or other factors outside our comparison matter to your use case.