RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Baofeng UV-25 vs Radtel RT-860
Our pick
Radtel RT-860$36.99
The UV-25 is the clear winner for most users seeking better value and capability.
The most important differentiator is that the UV-25 offers substantially better listed specifications for the money. At $54 versus $39, you gain 10W transmit power, GPS functionality, and CHIRP programming support—features the RT-860 lacks or leaves unspecified. The UV-25's RadioRanked score of 73 versus 45 reflects these specification advantages relative to price. Owners of the UV-25 also report higher satisfaction at 4.3/5 across 89 reviews compared to the RT-860's 3.9/5 from 139 reviews.
The RT-860's only meaningful advantage is weight and initial cost, making it attractive if you prioritize absolute portability and have a severely limited budget.
The UV-25 should appeal to operators who want programmable VHF/UHF capability with GPS and adequate transmit power for the price. The RT-860 makes sense only if budget is extremely tight and you accept unknown transmit power and no GPS or CHIRP support.
Get the UV-25. The fifteen-dollar premium delivers measurable capability gains and reflects owner satisfaction that's noticeably higher in real-world reports.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Budget-conscious first-time licensee
Costs less and handles local repeaters and simplex, which covers most needs for a new licensee.
RT-860Hiker prioritizing light carry weight
At 255 grams it is considerably lighter, which suits hikers and long days in the field.
RT-860Technician growing into intermediate use
Adds 1.25m coverage and CHIRP programming support for operators growing into intermediate use.
UV-25Emergency backup communications planner
Ten watts of output gives more reach than the alternative for backup or emergency communications.
UV-25Operator running large local scan lists
Holds 1024 channels, a slightly larger memory for busy local scanning lists.
RT-860
Reasons to choose Baofeng UV-25
- 160% more battery (5200 mAh vs 2000 mAh)
- Has built-in GPS
- Has CHIRP compatibility
- Has color TFT display
- FCC equipment authorization on file
Reasons to choose Radtel RT-860
- 3% more memory channels (1,024 vs 999)
- 153g lighter (255g vs 408g)
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
Baofeng UV-25PICK
Check on AmazonRadtel RT-860
$36.99 on AmazonMore head-to-heads