Retevis RA79 vs Retevis RT85

The Retevis RT85 is the clear winner here, though the margin is narrow. Both radios are basic analog handhelds with identical feature sets: no DMR, APRS, or GPS, and both support CHIRP programming. The single most important differentiator is the RT85's confirmed 5W transmit power versus the RA79's unknown specification. In amateur radio, transmit power directly impacts range and reliability, making this a meaningful advantage that justifies the $20 price premium.

The RA79 makes sense only for budget-conscious operators who need a throwaway radio or backup unit where transmit power is genuinely irrelevant to their use case. The RT85 should be purchased by anyone actually planning to use their handheld for regular communication, as the known 5W output and slightly higher overall score suggest better build quality and performance characteristics.

Given how close these radios are in price and how little you're spending either way, choose the RT85. The confirmed specs and marginally better score provide peace of mind that the RA79's mysterious missing data simply cannot offer at this price point.