RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Baofeng UV-21R vs Yaesu FT-70DR
Our pick
Yaesu FT-70DR$249.88
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-70DR costs $300—an eleven-fold difference for radios with nearly identical specifications. Both offer 5-6W transmit power, lack DMR/APRS/GPS, support CHIRP programming, and weigh under 300g. RadioRanked's overall score reflects this disparity: the UV-21R scores 74/100 as better specifications per dollar, while the FT-70DR scores 49/100 despite a slightly higher owner rating.
The FT-70DR's 4.8/5 rating from owners is noteworthy, but it comes from only 6 reviews compared to the UV-21R's 4.5/5 from 775 reviews. The larger sample size for the UV-21R provides more reliable buyer feedback, and 4.5/5 is still excellent.
Buy the UV-21R if you want solid handheld performance without breaking your budget. Buy the FT-70DR only if you've identified specific features we don't have data on that justify the premium.
For most amateur radio operators, the UV-21R delivers exceptional value. Spend the $273 you save elsewhere in your station.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Budget-conscious buyer starting out in amateur radio
Costs far less than the alternative while covering VHF and UHF with FM for local repeater use.
UV-21R 6W Tri-BandLocal club member using Fusion digital repeaters
C4FM support lets it access Fusion repeaters that the Baofeng cannot use.
FT-70DROutdoor user facing rain, dust, or splashes
The IP54 rating gives it splash and dust protection that the Baofeng does not advertise.
FT-70DRARES volunteer running simplex net operations
Its 6W output and 999 memories suit basic simplex and net work at a low cost.
UV-21R 6W Tri-BandHiker wanting a lighter handheld for casual monitoring
At 250g it is lighter than the Baofeng's 300g and holds over a thousand channels.
FT-70DR
Reasons to choose Baofeng UV-21R
- 20% more TX power (6W vs 5W)
- Has color TFT display
Reasons to choose Yaesu FT-70DR
- 11% more memory channels (1,108 vs 999)
- 50g lighter (250g vs 300g)
- Has C4FM/System Fusion
- IP54 water resistance
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
Baofeng UV-21RPICK
Search on AmazonYaesu FT-70DR
$249.88 on AmazonKeep researching
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