RadioRanked verdict
Updated Nov 2026Radtel RT-880 vs Retevis A3
Our pick
Radtel RT-880$53.38
The Radtel RT-880 is the clear winner here. Both radios share identical feature sets: no DMR, APRS, or GPS, and neither lists TX power or IP ratings. The critical differences come down to price and what owners report.
The RT-880 costs $34 less at $74 versus $108, and owners give it substantially higher marks. The RT-880 has a 4.3/5 rating from 207 Amazon reviews, indicating consistent positive feedback across a large sample. The Retevis A3 manages only 3.6/5 from 31 reviews, suggesting less satisfied buyers and based on far fewer opinions. We don't know the RT-880's weight, but this is missing data rather than a problem.
The single most important differentiator is owner satisfaction: the RT-880 owners report notably better experiences across a much larger review base.
Buy the RT-880 if you want solid value with strong owner backing. Buy the Retevis A3 only if you specifically need to know its exact weight or prefer exploring a less-reviewed option, though the price premium is hard to justify given the feedback gap.
The RT-880 is the smarter choice for most users.
By use case
Which should you buy?
Budget-conscious buyer wanting multi-band coverage
Costs less than the alternative while still covering VHF and UHF with 1024 channels.
RT-880Weather-focused listener wanting NOAA and repeater use
Lists NOAA monitoring and repeater use among its strengths, making it the better fit for weather-focused users.
A3Operator tracking many regional repeaters
Offers 1024 memory channels, more than the alternative, for operators tracking many regional repeaters.
RT-880Experimenter interested in 6 meter operation
Adds 6 meter coverage that the alternative lacks, appealing to experimenters exploring that band.
A3Experienced operator wanting a stronger feature set
Has a higher feature score and greater channel capacity, suiting experienced operators who want more control.
RT-880
Reasons to choose Radtel RT-880
- 51% cheaper ($53.38 vs $109.99)
- 3% more memory channels (1,024 vs 999)
- Has color TFT display
Reasons to choose Retevis A3
- 4% more battery (2500 mAh vs 2400 mAh)
Spec battle
Spec-by-spec breakdown
Made your choice?
Radtel RT-880PICK
$53.38 on AmazonRetevis A3
$109.99 on AmazonMore head-to-heads