Baofeng UV-21R vs Retevis RA89

The UV-21R is the clear winner for most users.

The single most important differentiator is price. The UV-21R costs $27 versus $67 for the RA89, a 2.5x difference. Both radios share the same owner rating of 4.5 stars, though the UV-21R has far more reviews (775 versus 278), giving stronger statistical confidence in that score. The RA89 offers a superior IP68 waterproof rating against the UV-21R's IP54, but both include CHIRP programmability, similar weight, and no DMR, APRS, or GPS on either model. The RA89's transmit power is unknown, preventing direct comparison on that spec.

Unless you specifically need the IP68 submersion rating for water-intensive work, the UV-21R delivers the same owner-reported satisfaction at a fraction of the cost. The larger review count also means you're buying with more evidence behind you. The RA89 makes sense only if waterproofing to submersion depth is a genuine requirement for your use case.

Buy the UV-21R if budget matters and IP54 weather resistance is sufficient. Buy the RA89 only if you need IP68 submersion protection for your regular operating environment.