Baofeng UV-28 vs Retevis RA79

The RA79 is the better choice for most buyers. The single most important differentiator is price: the RA79 costs $31 versus $45 for the UV-28, a 31 percent savings on what are otherwise similar handheld radios.

Both radios support CHIRP programming and lack the digital modes (DMR, D-STAR, C4FM). The UV-28 offers GPS and Bluetooth connectivity, features the RA79 omits, but we cannot confirm the RA79's transmit power, making a full specifications comparison impossible. What we can compare is owner feedback: the RA79 has earned a 4.5/5 rating from 278 Amazon reviews, while the UV-28 rates 4.1/5 from 44 reviews. Owners report satisfaction with the RA79 at a higher level and significantly greater volume.

The UV-28 weighs more (360g versus 225g), which matters if portability is a priority. The RA79's lighter weight and lower price make it the practical recommendation for general VHF/UHF communication without digital features.

Buy the RA79 if you want solid value and lighter weight on a budget. Buy the UV-28 only if GPS and Bluetooth are essential to your use case. For typical amateur radio operations, the RA79 delivers what owners want at the price point that makes sense.