Baofeng UV-28 vs Baofeng UV-5R

The Baofeng UV-5R is the clear winner for most users. Despite the UV-28's GPS capability and higher overall score anomaly, the UV-5R's superior price-to-performance ratio and proven reliability make it the better choice. The single most important differentiator is price versus practicality: the UV-5R costs less than half the price while delivering CHIRP compatibility for easy programming, a known 5W output, and a significantly higher overall score.

The UV-5R should appeal to budget-conscious beginners and operators who value simplicity and community support, while the UV-28 might interest only those specifically needing built-in GPS and willing to accept incomplete specifications and weaker performance ratings. Given the UV-28's missing power specifications, unclear weight, lack of CHIRP support, and lower score despite premium pricing, it appears to be a less mature product.

We recommend the UV-5R. It's battle-tested, affordable, and delivers solid performance for entry-level operations. The UV-28 doesn't justify its higher cost or specifications gaps, making it a questionable purchase even at its modest price point.