Baofeng UV-32 vs Baofeng UV-5RM Plus

The Baofeng UV-5RM Plus is the clear winner here. While both radios deliver identical TX power and CHIRP compatibility, the UV-5RM Plus achieves a marginally higher overall score at 55/100 versus 54/100, but more importantly, it undercuts the UV-32 by $34—a significant savings on budget radios where that difference matters most.

The single most important differentiator is price. The UV-32's GPS capability sounds appealing on paper, but unless you specifically need integrated GPS functionality, it doesn't justify the 57 percent price premium. For most amateur radio operators, smartphone-based mapping renders built-in GPS increasingly obsolete.

The UV-32 makes sense only for operators who demand integrated GPS and have already decided that feature justifies the cost. The UV-5RM Plus is the better choice for nearly everyone else—new operators on a tight budget, experimenters, or anyone building a multi-radio collection.

Buy the UV-5RM Plus unless GPS mapping is a hard requirement for your operations. The money saved can fund accessories, antenna upgrades, or a second radio that might serve you better overall.