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Top 5 Best GMRS Mobile Radios In 2024

Looking for the best GMRS mobile radio? Our list covers all the best models on the market right now. From the most budget friendly, to the most efficient. No matter what kind of GMRS mobile radio you’re shopping for, this helpful guide will help!

GMRS mobile radios are seeing an uptick in usage over the last few years. They are now strong players in an arena that traditionally belonged to CB radios. But what exactly makes one of the best GMRS mobile radios?

When shopping for any kind of radio, emergency or hand-held ham, you need to consider a lot of elements. From budget, to versatility, to battery quality, it can be time consuming to find the right brand for your needs. So here are our top suggestions

Check The Best GMRS Radios HERE

The 5 Best GMRS Mobile Radios

5. Midland-MXT115

This is a micro mobile two-way radio with the ability to transmit three times the usual range covered by handheld GMRS radio. It covers up to three categories of ranges depending on the level of obstruction.

These are; obstructed especially in built-up urban settlements, the ideal which extends into the suburbs and maximum range that extends into the rural areas.

Within the urban settlements, the range varies between 5-10 miles. While within the ideal setting, the range varies between 10-15 miles. 

The maximum range covers up to 50 miles so that you communicate easily with other mobile radio users.

This radio is ideal for road trips, farm use, over landing, and off-roading. More importantly, it is easy to install in almost all vehicles.

Also, it works on optimum power output of 15 watts. This is adequate for the effective running of operations so that you get the best service out of the radio.

That said…its NOAA weather updates come in handy when you need to schedule your errands. By alerting you of oncoming storms or weather hazards, you are able to plan in advance. 

You are also able to avoid possible harsh weather-related inconveniences.

4. BTECH Mobile GMRS-50X1 – Most Versalile GMRS Mobile Radio

The versatile and powerful BTECH Mobile GMRS-50X1 is something to look at. BTECH (BaofengTech) is known for making cheap radios. This one isn’t so much on the cheap side. It’s more of a value for money deal for a GMRS mobile radio.

This is a feature-rich GMRS radio and there is indeed a lot going on here. So, let’s try to unpack it one step at a time. 

At first glance, its appearance is fairly standard. There’s a display at the center, flanked by six buttons (three on each side), and one knob at each side. 

If you’ve used Baofeng or BTECH radios before, the buttons will be immediately familiar. The buttons are very much the same as what you’d see on a Baofeng UV-5R and similar radios. The channel knob/dial is to the left and on the right side, you’ll find the volume knob. Right below this knob is room for an RJ45 connector, where the microphone connects with this radio.

Design and Details

BTECH Mobile GMRS-50X1 is fairly compact. The dimensions are about 5.5-inch length and 6.7-inch depth and 1.6-inch height. It will fit into most vehicles without trouble. Ideally, you want it somewhere clearly visible, so you can read the display.

And the display is pretty interesting. There are several lines on this display. At its top, you can see the transmit power, then there’s a line with information on transmit/receive capability, voltage, and a couple other functions.

A 2×2 table follows this line. Each cell in this table shows frequency and channel name. The line at the bottom shows customizable text. Users can customize the color of each line to suit their preferences.

Pretty much every aspect of this radio is programmable through CHIRP. Again, much of the interface is very similar to conventional Baofeng radios. Users can access most of the features through the microphone, though programming might be a more convenient option. 

Extras and Channel Selection

You will need to buy a programming cable separately since it’s not included in the box. On that note, you’ll also have to buy an antenna before you can get this GMRS radio to work.

Working through the microphone is convenient too. It has most buttons for controlling the radio and feels comfortable to hold. Its oversized PTT button is unmistakable. 

BTECH Mobile GMRS-50X1 has max output power at 50W. That’s the maximum the FCC will allow a GMRS radio to go. Of course, you don’t want to run it on max power all the time, so the radio includes options to transmit at low, medium, and high power. 

The radio works with all GMRS channels. Of course, it doesn’t transmit on the seven low-power channels reserved by the FCC for handhelds. 

Other notable features on the GMRS-50X1 include privacy codes, repeater channels, narrowband and wideband switch, quad standby, NOAA weather channels, FM radio (receive) mode, and alphanumeric channel storage.

Our Ratings

Functionality: 9/10

Reliability: 8/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

3. Midland – MXT575 – Best Premium GMRS Mobile Radio

Released in the summer of 2022, Midland MXT575 is one of the most talked about GMRS mobile radio models for the year. There is a good reason for it. This is quite a capable radio and impressively simple to use!

The radio is fairly simple. All you see on its face are two ports, one for the RJ45 microphone connector, the other is a USB-C outlet to charge your mobile phone or other devices. The back of the radio has an antenna connector, power cable, and an outlet for external speakers. Pretty clean, right?

Though there’s an outlet for external speakers, there’s a good chance you won’t need it with this radio. There’s a fairly powerful speaker on the radio, another loud and clear speaker on the microphone. It’s possible to use both these speakers at once or individually.

Since there is no display on the radio, you can place the Midland MXT575 pretty much anywhere in the vehicle. Well, it does need to hook up to the power supply. The 12V cigarette lighter spot won’t work for this powerful radio. Connectors and cable necessary for this are included in the package. 

Microphone Controls

So how do you control a radio that has no buttons or display? Through the microphone!

A small display on the microphone shows the relevant details. Users can switch the display backlight on or off. It’s also possible to pick the backlight color from a selection of seven colors. 

The buttons on the mic make it possible to control the radio. Though it is a powerful radio, it’s not inundated by buttons and controls. 

As the microphone is the one handling most of the work, Midland seems to have given it good attention. It has some weight and feels good in your hands. The buttons are easy to reach, press, and manage.

Range and Details

The maximum transmit power for this radio is 50W, which is also the maximum allowed by the FCC for GMRS. When connected to the right antenna, this can give you an impressive range and clarity. 

Midland includes a magnetic antenna in the box, along with the cable. You can simply place it on the roof of the vehicle. In this case, the metallic roof of the car also works as the ground plane. 

In case the roof of the car is non-magnetic, there’s an adhesive plate in the box. Paste this plate on the roof and then put the antenna on it. 

Midland MXT575 is a twin of another offering from the company, the MXT500. The key difference here is that the controls and display of the MXT500 are on the main unit, while the microphone is plain. Conversely, it’s the microphone that holds all the controls on the MXT575.

Other notable features of this wideband GMRS mobile radio include roger beep, NOAA weather scan and alerts, repeater capable, and nine repeater channels. 

Though simple to use, this is a powerful radio with clear audio Tx and Rx, good range, and ease of use. 

Our Ratings

Functionality: 8.5/10

Reliability: 9.5/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Overall Rating: 9/10

2. Radioddity DB20-G Mobile Radio – Best Budget GMRS Mobile Radio

Radioddity DB20-G Mobile Radio is an entry-level budget radio with pretty interesting features. It’s a compact radio, with its length and width being roughly the size of a smartphone. Although its front is obviously thicker, given the need for accommodating several functions and features.

A prominent part on the face of the radio is its display, flanked by three buttons each on the left and right. To the extreme left is an RJ45 jack for the microphone, while on its right is a knob for managing the volume. 

The buttons on the radio are fairly standard, though the “fun” button is quick to catch the eye. This is the function button, which is usually labeled as “func” or “function”. I suppose calling it fun works too, even if it’s probably not what a user would expect! 

Given the presence of the display and buttons on the main body, you’ll want to install this GMRS mobile radio somewhere in clear view and with easy access. 

Power and Advantages

Power for this radio can come through a 12V source and it includes an adapter to connect to the cigarette lighter plug in the car. 

Apart from channel information, the display also shows the received voltage. It’s a good way to keep an eye on the expected power output of the radio and your vehicle’s battery health. 

Another advantage of this setup is that you could car hop with the radio and put it in any vehicle of your choice. 

Radioddity DB20-G Mobile Radio officially claims 20W transmit power. In most cases, you’ll see it hanging around 15W, though that’s not something to look down upon. Even the manual says that the radio maxes at 18W. 

On the other hand, the manual is poorly written and difficult to comprehend, so it’s not surprising that the labeling and manual don’t get along. But we don’t buy GMRS mobile radio brands for the manuals!

Up Against Competitors

You can expect a range of around 8-10 miles on most terrains. Of course, the GMRS range can increase or decrease depending on local and environmental factors.

Radioddity DB20-G’s more expensive and better-known competitor, the Midland MicroMobile MXT275 appears to have a slightly better build quality. The slide-in mount for the Midland radio is another positive. 

Another difference is the presence of a display and buttons on DB20-G’s main body, while the Midland radio skips it. One aspect that both these radios agree on is putting most of the controls on the microphone.

This radio has a capable microphone with many buttons and controls. You can manage several functions of the radio using the mic. It feels good in the hands, though the general build quality could be better.

There’s no antenna in the box. You’ll have to purchase one separately. It does include a programming cable, which is useful since you need to program the radio before using it. This is not a plug-and-play model, which is a big disadvantage.

Radioddity DB20-G is a decent radio for the price, with good audio clarity and range. However, its power claims are inflated, it doesn’t include an antenna, and needs programming before use. Like other Radioddity models, it’s great for a budget radio You will need an FCC license to use this radio.

Our Ratings

Functionality: 7/10

Reliability: 8/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

1. Midland MicroMobile MXT275 – Best Overall GMRS Mobile Radio

Midland MicroMobile MXT275 is an entry-level GMRS mobile radio. Don’t let the “entry-level” tag excite any prejudice – it’s our choice for a reason! This is a capable GMRS radio that’s easy to use for newbies. Experienced users can find more advanced settings in the menu and tap into greater capabilities of this radio.

However, it lacks some of the complexity and features you’d see in the more sophisticated radios. For most users, this will be barely noticeable, and this radio will work fine without trouble. This balance of cost and features plays a big role in making this radio our top choice.

Using the MicroMobile Radio

There are no controls on the Midland MicroMobile MXT275. It has a speaker, an antenna connector, outlet for external speakers, a USB-C outlet to charge mobile devices, and microphone jack. The microphone connects using an RJ45 jack and has all the buttons and controls. 

This setup means you can pretty much stash the radio anywhere in the vehicle, as long as the microphone remains accessible. Many suggested installations show the radio on the dash, though there’s no need for that. 

Stashing it at the side of a seat or under the dash could work too. You could connect the Midland MXT275 to the wiring of the car, or simply to a 12V output like the lighter. This setup also means that you can easily remove the radio and move it to another car or stash it at home. 

Design and Features

Appearance and basic features of Midland MXT275 are very similar to the Midland MXT575, which is the company’s top offering for this lineup. But there are major differences here. MXT575 puts out a full 50W of output power, compared to the 15W on MXT275.

The controls of this GMRS mobile radio are all on the microphone. A small LCD on the radio shows pertinent information like the channel, signal strength, etc. 

It is possible to change the color of the backlight according to your preference. However, you can’t change the brightness, though it shouldn’t be a problem, considering the display is fairly small. 

Midland’s microphone feels pretty good in the hand. It fits comfortably and all the buttons remain within reach. Though the mic is part of a unit priced towards the entry level, it doesn’t feel cheap. The construction looks good and the mic’s weight feels good in the hands.

Now let’s get to some of the basic and standard details of the radio. 

Power and Range

This radio transmits on 15 GMRS channels, skipping seven channels where the FCC doesn’t allow mobile radios to transmit. However, considering it works with 142 privacy codes, you won’t have much trouble finding the right channel for communication.

It transmits at a maximum power of 15 W. A magnetic-mount antenna is included, which attaches to the radio through a rather flimsy-looking cable, though it works fine. 

Midland claims a range of 50 miles on this GMRS mobile radio, which is a bit of a stretch, though it’s substantially more than handheld radios. It could possibly qualify as a long-range option. It can reliably hit around 8-10 miles on most terrains, going higher in more suitable circumstances.

Other notable features on the Midland MXT275 include roger beep, NOAA weather channel receiving, and repeater capable with eight repeater channels. 

Our Ratings

Functionality: 8/10

Reliability: 8.5/10

Value for Money: 9/10

Overall Rating: 8/10