Baofeng UV-5RM Plus vs Retevis A3

The UV-5RM Plus is the clear winner here.

The most important differentiator is owner feedback. The UV-5RM Plus has 4.6 stars from 352 Amazon reviews, while the A3 has 3.6 stars from only 31 reviews. That's a substantial gap in both rating and sample size, reflecting what buyers actually report about their experience.

The specs are effectively tied on features: neither radio offers DMR, APRS, GPS, Bluetooth, or digital modes. Both weigh around 286-290g. The UV-5RM Plus lists its TX power at 10W; we don't have that figure for the A3, so we can't compare on that metric. However, price and owner satisfaction strongly favor the UV-5RM Plus at $60 versus $110.

The UV-5RM Plus is the better choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a straightforward analog handheld with strong owner approval and CHIRP compatibility for programming. The A3 might appeal only to someone who specifically needs its unknown features and is willing to take a chance on limited review data, but there's no clear reason to do so at nearly double the price.

Get the UV-5RM Plus unless you have a specific requirement the A3 alone meets.