Baofeng BF-X3 vs Baofeng DM-5R - Comparison in 2025

Trying to choose between Baofeng BF-X3 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 BF-X3	Baofeng DM-5R
Image
Radio Name	Baofeng BF-X3	Baofeng DM-5R
Bands	2m, 1.25m, 70cm	2m, 70cm
Max Power 2m/70cm	3/1.1	2.6/2
Digital Mode	-	DMR
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Battery Volts	8.4 v	7.4 v
Rated mAh	9500 mAh	2000 mAh
Antenna Connector	M-SMA	M-SMA
Height w/ant	254 mm	303 mm
Width	60 mm	58 mm
Thickness w/clip	50 mm	43 mm
Weight	260 g	215 g
Color Screen	No	No
GPS	No	No
USB-C Charging	No	No
Review Link	LINK	LINK
Book Link	LINK	LINK
Price	$45	$15
Purchase Link	LINK	LINK
CHIRP Program	Yes	No
Rating by Price	C	D
Rating Overall	D	F
Conclusions	Unfortunately, the Baofeng BF-X3 plus looks like another attempt to juggle things around and sell yet another radio. There is nothing special here, your money is better spent on a Baofeng UV-9R plus. To recap, the UV-9R has a better clip, volume knob shield, appears much more waterproof, feels more rugged, has a multicolored keypad, includes a better antenna, and is cheaper. I could go on, but why.	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.