Baofeng UV-5RM Plus vs Retevis A3

The Baofeng UV-5RM Plus is the clear winner for most users.

The single most important differentiator is price combined with owner satisfaction. The UV-5RM Plus costs $60 versus $108 for the Retevis A3, and owners report significantly higher satisfaction with the Baofeng at 4.6/5 stars across 352 reviews compared to 3.6/5 stars from just 31 A3 reviews. The specs are effectively identical: both lack DMR, APRS, and GPS, weigh nearly the same (290g vs 286g), and both support CHIRP programming. The UV-5RM Plus offers known 10-watt transmission power, while we lack that specification for the A3.

The UV-5RM Plus should appeal to budget-conscious operators and those new to the hobby who want proven performance at minimal cost. The Retevis A3 might interest someone who specifically needs its unknown specifications or has other unstated capabilities, but the current data doesn't support that choice.

Buy the Baofeng UV-5RM Plus. It delivers better listed specs for the money and owners consistently report satisfaction with it. Unless you have a specific reason to choose otherwise, paying nearly twice as much for the A3 makes no sense.