RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Baofeng UV-5R vs Y23UV-98PLUS
Our pick
Y23UV-98PLUS$78.28
The UV-5R is the clear winner for most users. The single most important differentiator is price and evidence from real buyers. The UV-5R costs $16 versus $78 for the Y23UV-98PLUS, while owners report 4.5 stars across over 10,000 reviews compared to 4.0 stars from just 16 reviews. The Y23UV-98PLUS does offer higher transmit power at 10W and adds APRS and GPS features that the UV-5R lacks, but these advantages don't overcome its substantial cost premium and far thinner owner feedback. The UV-5R also supports CHIRP programming, a practical advantage for managing frequencies.
Buy the UV-5R if you want a proven, affordable entry point to handheld radio with strong owner feedback to back it up. Buy the Y23UV-98PLUS only if you specifically need APRS or GPS capabilities and can accept less owner evidence from the market.
The UV-5R remains the stronger choice for most buyers: it's dramatically cheaper, overwhelmingly better-reviewed, and sufficiently capable for general handheld use.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Budget-constrained first-time licensee
It costs far less, letting a newcomer experiment with VHF and UHF repeaters without a large outlay.
UV-5ROperator needing APRS position tracking
It includes built-in APRS and GPS, which the Baofeng UV-5R lacks entirely.
Y23UV-98PLUSCamper planning portable field operations
Its 10W transmit power and built-in GPS suit outdoor trips better than the 5W Baofeng.
Y23UV-98PLUSLocal repeater monitoring on a tight budget
It handles local FM repeater work at a lower cost, with a CHIRP-compatible programming path.
UV-5RBuyer wanting many memory channels and features
It offers 1024 memory channels against 128, plus a higher feature score for added functions.
Y23UV-98PLUS
Reasons to choose Baofeng UV-5R
- Has CHIRP compatibility
- FCC equipment authorization on file
Reasons to choose Y23UV-98PLUS
- 100% more TX power (10W vs 5W)
- 8x more memory channels (1,024 vs 128)
- 33% more battery (2400 mAh vs 1800 mAh)
- Has APRS support
- Has built-in GPS
- Has color TFT display
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
Baofeng UV-5R
Check on AmazonY23UV-98PLUSPICK
$78.28 on AmazonKeep researching
Related Buying Guides
More head-to-heads