Baofeng BF-888s vs Baofeng BF-88ST - Which One is Better in 2025?

The Baofeng BF-888s is a fantastic radio for what it is meant for which is a very cheap, disposable radio for two or more licensed amateur radio operators to use to keep in touch when you can not, or do not want to carry your real radios.

I originally purchased a pair of these Baofeng BF-888s for my wife and me to carry at large outdoor events where it was entirely possible that a radio could get lost, stolen, or damaged. It was also nice that they weighed almost nothing, so I could carry it in a breast pocket or clipped to a collar.

I would never want a Baofeng BF-888s to replace one of my main radios, not even a Baofeng UV-5R, but for what it is intended for, it is a nice little radio.

Would I buy these Baofeng BF-88ST radios instead of something like the Motorola T100? Nope.

I know, you expected me to say that they would be good if you were an amateur radio operator and wanted something that could do both amateur radio and FRS, right? Not even.

The Motorola radios are far superior in the transmitted signal, the audio quality is superior, better features right out of the box, they have an LCD screen, and use standard batteries. The only place the Baofeng BF-88ST has the upper hand, aside from being $5 cheaper per pair, is that you can buy a programming cable (there goes your savings, and then some) and add features that the Motorola radios just can’t do.

If I wanted something for amateur radio and wanted to be cheap, I would just get the BF-888s instead of the Baofeng BF-88ST because I could put a much better antenna on them to give them a little more range.