Baofeng UV-25 vs TYT TH-UV88

The UV-25 is the clear winner for most users. The single most important differentiator is transmit power: the UV-25 delivers 10W versus the TH-UV88's 5W, giving you twice the range and better performance in challenging terrain. The UV-25 also includes GPS, which the TH-UV88 lacks, and both radios support CHIRP programming.

The UV-25 costs only $14 more while offering substantially better specifications. Owners report 4.3 out of 5 stars across 89 reviews, providing meaningful feedback from actual users. The TH-UV88 has a perfect 5.0 rating, but that's from a single review and tells us very little about real-world performance or reliability.

The UV-25 is heavier at 408g, though we lack weight data for the TH-UV88 to make a direct comparison. Neither radio lists an IP rating, so weather resistance remains unknown for both.

Buy the UV-25 if you want solid power output, GPS capability, and evidence from dozens of owners. Buy the TH-UV88 only if budget is your absolute priority and you can live with half the transmit power and no GPS.

We recommend the UV-25 as the better choice for amateur radio use.