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RadioRanked verdict

Updated Nov 2026

Baofeng K5 Plus vs Radtel RT-470X

The K5 Plus wins this comparison. Both radios share identical feature sets and lack published TX power specs, so the meaningful differences come down to price, weight, and what owners report. The K5 Plus costs $23 versus an unknown price for the RT-470X, weighs slightly more at 290g versus 267g, and owners report a higher rating at 4.5/5 from 506 reviews compared to the RT-470X's 4.1/5 from 256 reviews. The RT-470X does list an IP54 rating while the K5 Plus does not, indicating some weather resistance on the Radtel. However, the K5 Plus delivers better documented owner satisfaction at a known, budget price point.

The single most important differentiator is owner satisfaction: the K5 Plus has earned stronger ratings from a larger review sample, which is your best signal of real-world performance with these entry-level handhelds.

Buy the Baofeng K5 Plus if price and owner feedback matter most to your decision. Buy the Radtel RT-470X if you need weather sealing and the unknown price is competitive. The K5 Plus is the safer choice for most users given its proven owner satisfaction and confirmed affordability.

By use case

Which should you buy?

  • First-time Technician learning radio programming

    CHIRP support and a higher beginner score make it the easier first radio to program.

    RT-470X
  • Budget-focused buyer testing local repeaters

    Costs less and offers 999 channels, which suits buyers who mainly want cheap local repeater access.

    Baofeng K5 Plus
  • Outdoor user wanting weather-resistant simplex radio

    IP54 rating and a lighter 267g body give it an edge for outdoor simplex use.

    RT-470X
  • Operator juggling many repeaters and simplex channels

    Holds 999 channels against 256, suiting users managing large lists of repeaters and simplex frequencies.

    Baofeng K5 Plus

Reasons to choose Baofeng K5 Plus

  • 4x more memory channels (999 vs 256)
  • FCC equipment authorization on file

Reasons to choose Radtel RT-470X

  • 23g lighter (267g vs 290g)
  • Has color TFT display
  • IP54 water resistance

Spec battle

Spec-by-spec breakdown

Baofeng K5 PlusSpecRadtel RT-470X
46
Overall Score
52
+14% for winner
999
Memory Channels
256
3.8× difference
290g
Weight
267g
+9% difference
—
Battery
2800 mAh
—
Display
1.77in TFT Color
—
IP Rating
IP54
Covers the electronics only (Part 15B)
FCC Authorization
No grant found
Black
color
Standard
1
unitCount
1
Black
Color
Standard
UHF
Tuner Type
FM/AM
K5 Plus
Model Number
RT-470X
User Manual
Built-In Media
1x Radtel RT-470X Ham Radio,1x 2800mAh Type-C Battery, 1x 7.87-inch Dual Band 145/435 Antenna, 1x 39-inch USB-C Charger Cable, 1x Belt Clip with Metal Piece, 1x English User Manual,1x AC Power Adapter with USB Port (FCC ID: 2AZSA-RT470X)
[Frequency-based compatibility]: 136-174 MHz (VHF) and 400-480 MHz (UHF)
Compatible Devices
K-connector
Rechargable
Additional Features
Air band RX, Chirp Programming, Multi-band TX/RX, Type-C Charger, Wireless Copy frequency
no
Warranty Description
1 Year Warranty

Made your choice?

Baofeng K5 Plus

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Radtel RT-470XPICK

Check on Amazon

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