Baofeng UV-5R Plus vs TYT MD-UV390

The UV-5R Plus wins on price and owner satisfaction, but it depends on your radio needs. The Baofeng costs one-fifth as much and owners report 4.5 stars from nearly 1,800 reviews. The TYT costs $121 but brings DMR capability, the only digital mode either radio supports, plus IP67 weather sealing that the Baofeng lacks. We don't have TX power or weight specs for the TYT, and the Baofeng's TX power is unlisted, so we cannot compare those directly. The TYT has received only 142 reviews at 4.0 stars, a smaller sample from users reporting slightly lower satisfaction.

The single most important difference is DMR. If you need digital mode support for a DMR repeater network, the TYT is your only choice here. Without that requirement, the UV-5R Plus delivers better value and stronger owner feedback at a fraction of the price.

Buy the UV-5R Plus if you want an affordable FM-only handheld for local analog repeaters and simplex. Buy the TYT MD-UV390 if you operate on DMR networks and need the weather sealing to justify the cost premium.

For most operators on a budget, the UV-5R Plus is the practical choice unless DMR is mandatory for your local repeater scene.