Baofeng DM-1701 vs Baofeng GT-5R

The GT-5R is the clear winner for most buyers. It costs half as much, offers better specified TX power at 6W, includes CHIRP programmability, and has substantially more owner feedback showing higher satisfaction. Owners have reported 4.4 stars across 1,145 reviews for the GT-5R versus 4.1 stars from just 76 reviews for the DM-1701.

The single most important differentiator is price combined with feature accessibility. The GT-5R's $20 price point and native CHIRP support make it far more practical for casual users, while the DM-1701 costs 2.2 times more and requires workarounds for programming without CHIRP capability.

The GT-5R should go to anyone building their first HT or seeking a backup radio on a tight budget. The DM-1701 suits operators specifically wanting DMR digital mode capability and willing to pay extra for it. RadioRanked's scores (69 vs 64) reflect that the GT-5R delivers better specifications for the money, though we lack the DM-1701's weight and TX power data. Buy the GT-5R unless DMR is essential to your operations.