Baofeng 5RH Pro vs Baofeng DM-5R - Which One is Better in 2025?
Trying to choose between Baofeng 5RH Pro and Baofeng DM-5R? Below you'll find a side-by-side comparison of key features, specifications, and performance to help you decide which handheld radio best fits your needs. Click the link below for a full review and detailed test results.
| Feature | Baofeng 5RH Pro | Baofeng DM-5R |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Radio Name | Baofeng 5RH | Baofeng DM-5R |
| Bands | 2m, 70cm | 2m, 70cm |
| Max Power 2m/70cm | 7/4 | 2.6/2 |
| Digital Mode | - | DMR |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Battery Volts | 7.4 v | 7.4 v |
| Rated mAh | 2500 mAh | 2000 mAh |
| Tested mAh | 1780 mAh | mAh |
| Antenna Connector | M-SMA | M-SMA |
| Height w/ant | 329 mm | 303 mm |
| Width | 62 mm | 58 mm |
| Thickness w/clip | 42 mm | 43 mm |
| Weight | 320 g | 215 g |
| Color Screen | Yes | No |
| GPS | Yes | No |
| USB-C Charging | Yes | No |
| Review Link | LINK | LINK |
| Book Link | - | LINK |
| Price | $33 | $15 |
| Purchase Link | LINK | LINK |
| CHIRP Program | No | No |
| Value Score | B | F |
| Performance Score | C | C |
| Ergonomics Score | - | B |
| Conclusions | I really like the Baofeng 5RH Pro radio, and I really dislike that my kit not come with a drop-in charger, although some kits do. That isn’t a big problem for me because I have several radios on this platform, so I can use their drop-in charger for this radio. For you, though, you have to ask yourself how badly you want a drop-in charger and choose your kit accordingly. Then again, the 5RM desktop charger only adds another $10. Other than that, I think the Baofeng 5RH Pro offers an excellent bang for your buck for features and usability, with my only reservations on the radio itself being the use of the screen in bright sunlight and the lack of a guard next to the volume knob. | If you are wanting to get into DMR digital radio as cheap as possible, the Baofeng DM-5R Plus is the radio for you. The antenna is junk on 2m but most hotspots are on 70cm anyway. I am not sure I would replace the antenna even though it feels like it will come apart any second, mainly because the analog signal the radio produces is so horrible a new antenna probably won't do any good anyway. All of that being said, it does just fine on DMR. Want a cheap way to add DMR to your ham shack and don't plan on spending a lot of time using it? Then the Baofeng DM-5R Plus might be the perfect solution, but if it was something I was going to carry, I believe I would look elsewhere. |