Baofeng UV-5R Plus vs Retevis RA79

The UV-5R Plus is the better value here. Both radios share identical feature sets—no DMR, APRS, or GPS on either—and owners report the same 4.5/5 satisfaction across both platforms. The UV-5R Plus scores higher (64 vs 60) because it delivers equivalent specs for $15 less. The RA79 is slightly lighter at 225g versus 250g, but this modest difference doesn't justify the price premium. We lack TX power figures for both, so you'll need to verify those specs separately if output matters for your use case.

The single most important differentiator is price. For identical capabilities and equal owner satisfaction, spending less makes obvious sense.

Buy the UV-5R Plus if you want proven, budget-friendly performance without overpaying for marginal weight savings. Buy the RA79 only if the 25-gram weight difference is critical to your specific application and you're willing to pay for it.

Go with the Baofeng UV-5R Plus. It's the smarter financial choice when everything else is equal, and the Amazon review base of 1818 owners gives you more real-world evidence than the RA79's 278 reviews.