RadioRanked verdict
Baofeng
Baofeng UV-5G Plus
The UV-5G Plus is the GMRS radio most people end up buying first, and for good reason: it costs under $30, ships pre-programmed with GMRS and repeater channels, and charges over USB-C instead of a proprietary cradle. It is the easiest way to get several certified radios into a family's hands without spending real money. The honest catch is power: independent bench testing by TruePrepper measured the UV-5G Plus transmitting close to 10 watts on GMRS channels rated for 5, roughly double its legal handheld limit under FCC rules, and Baofeng does not document why. That is a genuine legality concern, not just a curiosity, so buyers who care about staying inside FCC limits should know what they are getting. If clean, verified-to-spec output matters more to you than saving a little money, the GM-30 or Rocky Talkie are the safer bet.
FCC Certified for GMRS
Part 95E is the FCC rule part that covers GMRS: a radio must hold a Part 95E grant to be legal to transmit on GMRS channels.
- FCC ID
- 2AJGM-5GPLUS
- Rule parts
- Part 15B, Part 95E
- Grant date
- 2024-02-21
Decision helper
Is this GMRS radio right for you?
Yes, if you're…
- ✓Family and group GMRS kits on a tight budget
- ✓Buyers who want a radio that works without programming
- ✓A backup or loaner radio to keep in the truck
Tradeoffs
The good and the bad
What we like
- Ships pre-programmed with GMRS simplex and repeater channels
- USB-C charging works with any phone charger or power bank
- Cheap enough to buy several for a family or trail kit
- 969-channel memory and CHIRP support for anyone who wants to reprogram it
What we don't
- Bench testing by TruePrepper has measured output near 10 watts, about double the 5-watt handheld limit GMRS channels are rated for
- Build and audio quality are budget-grade
- No IP rating for water or dust resistance
Ready to buy?
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Overview
The UV-5G Plus is Baofeng's GMRS-certified take on its famous UV-5 platform, and it is the budget GMRS handheld most people actually buy. It ships with the GMRS channels and repeater slots pre-programmed, so it works out of the box without software or menu diving.
USB-C charging is the practical win: no proprietary drop-in cradle to lose, and any phone charger or power bank tops it up. Build and audio are what the price suggests, but for a family or trail kit where you want several certified radios for little money, it is the obvious starting point.
Specifications
| FCC ID | 2AJGM-5GPLUS |
| FCC Rule Parts | Part 15B, Part 95E |
| FCC Grant Date | 2024-02-21 |
| color | Black |
| unitCount | 1 |
Key Features
- 969 fully customizable channels, more than double the original UV-5G's channel count
- Ships pre-programmed with GMRS simplex and repeater channels, ready to transmit out of the box
- USB-C charging port, no proprietary drop-in cradle required
- 2,500 mAh battery, up from 1,500 mAh on the original UV-5G
- 1.9 inch color display, larger than the standard UV-5R screen
- CHIRP-compatible under the Radioddity UV-5G Plus profile
- FCC Part 95E certified, FCC ID 2AJGM-5GPLUS, granted February 2024