Baofeng UV-21R vs Yaesu FT-60R

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

The single most important differentiator is price. The UV-21R costs $27 while the FT-60R costs $210, yet they share identical feature sets on paper: both lack DMR, APRS, and GPS, both are analog-only radios, and both achieve the same 4.5 out of 5 owner rating. The UV-21R offers slightly more transmit power at 6W versus 5W, weighs less at 300g, includes an IP54 weather rating, and supports CHIRP programming. The FT-60R lacks a listed IP rating and is heavier. Neither radio offers the digital modes or location capabilities found in more advanced handhelds.

The UV-21R should appeal to anyone seeking an affordable analog handheld for basic VHF/UHF use, especially those willing to program via CHIRP or those valuing weather resistance. The FT-60R makes sense only if you already own one, prefer its specific ergonomics, or need its exact feature set for a particular use case.

Buy the Baofeng UV-21R. It delivers the same owner satisfaction as the Yaesu at a fraction of the cost, with better specs on the measurable inputs we have.