Baofeng DM-1701 vs Baofeng UV-5RM Pro

The Baofeng UV-5RM Pro is the clear winner for most users. Both radios cost the same at $70, but the UV-5RM Pro delivers a significantly higher overall score of 58 versus 46, and that gap reflects real-world usefulness.

The single most important differentiator is feature completeness. The UV-5RM Pro includes APRS and GPS functionality, making it genuinely useful for emergency response, hiking, and location tracking. The DM-1701 focuses narrowly on DMR digital mode but strips away almost everything else. Unless you're specifically committed to a DMR repeater network, the DM-1701 offers limited practical value at any price point.

The UV-5RM Pro should appeal to general hobbyists, emergency responders, and outdoor enthusiasts who want versatility in a budget package. The DM-1701 is only worth considering if you operate on a local DMR repeater system and accept its significant limitations elsewhere.

We recommend the UV-5RM Pro without reservation at this price point. It's a more complete radio that will serve you better across different use cases, and the higher rating reflects genuine engineering superiority, not margin padding.