Retevis A1 vs Retevis RB22 - Which One is Better in 2025?
Trying to choose between Retevis A1 and Retevis RB22? 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 | Retevis A1 | Retevis RB22 |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Radio Name | Retevis A1 | Retevis RB22 |
| Bands | 2m, 70cm | 70cm |
| Max Power 2m/70cm | 2/3.7 | 0/3.5 |
| Digital Mode | - | DMR |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Battery Volts | 7.4 v | 7.4 v |
| Rated mAh | 2200 mAh | 1500 mAh |
| Tested mAh | 2270 mAh | mAh |
| Antenna Connector | M-SMA | M-SMA |
| Height w/ant | 304 mm | 252 mm |
| Width | 60 mm | 58 mm |
| Thickness w/clip | 53 mm | 49 mm |
| Weight | 283 g | 260 g |
| Color Screen | No | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | No |
| USB-C Charging | Yes | No |
| Review Link | LINK | LINK |
| Price | $50 | $75 |
| Purchase Link | LINK | LINK |
| CHIRP Program | No | No |
| Rating by Price | C | C |
| Rating Overall | C | C |
| Conclusions | The Retevis A1 is an excellent balance of features for the price. With a few tweaks, I could see this easily being a leader in its price range. My biggest complaint is the screw holding the cover on the side, and honestly, I can take a rotary tool to that (after removing it from the radio of course) and make the edges much more rounded to save my thumb. I guess the bottom line is, would I recommend this radio? If you are looking for a good quality, durable, dual-band radio with some nice features, then yes, I believe I would. I have always liked the Baofeng UV-9R Plus as a budget dual-band waterproof radio, and I think this Retevis A1 takes that and substantially improves on it. If you really need to save that $10 difference, stick with the Baofeng UV-9R Plus, but if you can swing it, you will really enjoy the Retevis A1. | The Retevis RB22 has a lot of competition in the $100ish DMR radio field including the Baofeng DMR-V1, Baofeng DR-1801UV, TYT MD-UV380, Ailunce HD1, and even Retevis’ own RT3s. So the question is, is the Retevis RB22 the best one in the pack? In my opinion, for amateur radio, the Retevis RB22 is not that great of a choice. For business radio, maybe the Retevis RB22 is something to consider. I will absolutely say that the Retevis RB22 is a good radio that performs pretty much just as well as any other DMR radio in its price range. For amateur radio operators, radios like the Baofeng DM-1801 and TYT MD-UV380 have batteries, chargers, belt clips, and even cases available for them while also having a full keypad making some programming possible in the field. Not only that, but both the Baofeng and TYT are cheaper in most cases than the Retevis RB22. If you have a Retevis RB22, keep using it! It is a fine radio. If you are an amateur radio operator and haven’t bought one, yet you might look into some alternatives before pulling the trigger on the RB22. If you are a business that needs DMR radios, then the only real complaint I have is the lack of replacement batteries and chargers, which Retevis may fix. They may already have them for another radio that fits the Retevis RB22. |