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Best Baofeng Radios Reviews (Updated 2024)
What is the best Baofeng radio?
Whether you want to upgrade to the latest version or you are a newbie starting your Ham experience, wondering which is the best Baofeng radio is one dilemma that you may face.
Simply because Baofeng radios are a popular choice for both amateur and commercial users.
Unfortunately, the search is never easy. With lots of options and inadequate information to guide you, it’s easy to go round in circles.
So, which is the best Baofeng radio In 2023?
Best Baofeng Radios – Our Top Three Picks!
- Baofeng UV-S9 Plus – Best Analog Ham Radio
- BaoFeng BF-F8HP – Runner Up
- Baofeng DM-1701 – Best DMR Radio
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The best Baofeng radio is the BF-F8HP which is also one of the best handheld ham radios . It’s a powerful Baofeng radio with a lot of features at an affordable price.
Why Baofeng Radio?
Baofeng is a company with a proven record in making world-class radio communication equipment, mainly VHF and UHF walkie-talkie. It was founded in 2001.
Since 2012, Baofeng radios have passed the FCC certification and the European ROHS certification, paving the way for large-scale entry into the US & Europe markets.
Baofeng radios are the real deal because of the level of investment in R&D, production, sales and after-sales service.
Occasionally, they release improved versions of their radios giving users the pleasure of using the latest and most advanced Ham radios in the market.
But that’s not all. Baofeng radios are awesome for;
- Affordability- acquiring a Baofeng radio will not leave a hole in a pocket. The prices are a great bargain and you get a lifetime value.
- Multiple-use – They are versatile and can be used both for amateur and commercial use. You only need to get the right licensing.
- Ease of Operation—They are simple to operate even for starters. The package comes with a detailed user manual that is easy to follow.
- Powerful – They boast of output power of up to 8 watts. They also run on powerful batteries that are durable and never drains easily. You get more time to use the radio even in remote areas.
- Flexible: Their radios have channels as low as 2.5KHz, CTCSS and DCS tones, can either be PC or manually programmed, operate in both VHF and UHF frequencies.
You’re assured of getting real value with guaranteed performance and warranty.
3 Best BaoFeng Radios Comparison Table
| Feature/Criteria | Baofeng UV-S9 Plus (Best Analog Ham Radio) | BaoFeng BF-F8HP (Runner Up) | Baofeng DM-1701 (Best DMR Radio) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pros | – Attractive pricing – USB and dock charging – Improved build quality – RF output at 1, 4, 8W – Bigger, powerful battery – Good manual – Programmable via CHIRP | – 3rd generation technology – High-frequency ranges – 3 power levels – Powerful 2000mAh battery – Sturdy, durable – User-friendly – Competitive price | – Attractive pricing – Powerful 2200mAh lithium battery – Easy switching from analog to digital – RF output at 1, 2, 5W – Clear Tx and Rx |
| Cons | – Receiver struggles with noise – Poor antenna quality | – Requires separate FTDI programming cable for PC | – Limited space for contacts – Incompatibility with other codeplugs |
| Key Features | – Dual band – LED flashlight and emergency alarm – Receives broadcast FM | – 8W Max Output – Tri-color display – 65-108 MHz (FM), VHF 136-174 MHz, UHF 400-520 MHz | – 3,000 channels, 10,000 talk groups, 120,000 contacts – Tier I and II compatible – 136-174 MHz and 400-470 MHz bands |
| Battery and Charging | 9/10 | 8.7/10 | 8/10 |
| Audio Clarity | 7.5/10 | N/A | 8/10 |
| Programming | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | 8/10 |
| Value for Money | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | 9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 8.6/10 | 8/10 | 8.25/10 |
| Additional Comments | – Improved over UV-5R – Removable battery – Improved manual | – Detailed manual for beginners – Compatible with additional accessories | – Manual programming available – Windows only software |
Top 9 Best BaoFeng Radios Reviews
1. Baofeng UV-S9 Plus – Best Analog Ham Radio
Pros
- Attractive pricing
- USB charging with dock charging alternative
- Improved build quality
- RF output at 1, 4, and 8W
- Bigger, more powerful battery
- Decent instruction manual
- Convenient programming via CHIRP.
Cons
- The receiver can struggle with noise
- Bad antenna
Baofeng UV-S9 Plus is our top choice for the brand’s best analog ham radio. Conventionally, this spot would belong to the Baofeng UV-5R or its variants like the BF-F8HP.
However, the company has been making attempts to go beyond the UV-5R in this space, so we have the UV-S9 Plus, which is an excellent budget ham radio in its own right.
At first glance, it is clear that the Baofeng UV-S9 Plus has a more refined appearance as compared to the UV-5R. Baofeng UV-S9 Plus is slightly larger and supports charging via a desktop charger or a USB charger. It also gets a more advanced chipset.
It runs off a 2200 mAh Li-ion battery as compared to 1800 mAh battery that powers the UV-5R8W. Though both these radios have a maximum output power of 8W, the UV-S9 Plus gets more battery.
The battery and charging for the UV-S9 Plus are worth talking about in a bit more detail. While conventional handheld radios have so far stayed on the line of requiring a desktop charger, Baofeng UV-S9 Plus adds the option of using a USB charger.
Having two charging methods is important. The USB charger is very convenient and almost ubiquitous in the modern world. The spot for the charger’s pin is placed right above the battery in the radio’s back.
Baofeng has made this battery removable, so it’s possible to use multiple batteries with relative ease. On the downside, the new 2200 mAh battery can be a bit more difficult to find, though its availability has significantly improved.