Alinco DJ-MD5 vs Baofeng DM-5R - Which One is Better in 2025?
Trying to choose between Alinco DJ-MD5 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 | Alinco DJ-MD5 | Baofeng DM-5R |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Radio Name | Alinco DJ-MD5 | Baofeng DM-5R |
| Bands | 2m, 70cm | 2m, 70cm |
| Max Power 2m/70cm | 3.5/2.3 | 2.6/2 |
| Digital Mode | DMR | DMR |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Battery Volts | 7.4 v | 7.4 v |
| Rated mAh | 1700 mAh | 2000 mAh |
| Tested mAh | 1790 mAh | mAh |
| Antenna Connector | F-SMA | M-SMA |
| Height w/ant | 278 mm | 303 mm |
| Width | 59 mm | 58 mm |
| Thickness w/clip | 51 mm | 43 mm |
| Weight | 266 g | 215 g |
| Color Screen | Yes | No |
| GPS | Yes | No |
| USB-C Charging | No | No |
| Review Link | LINK | LINK |
| Book Link | LINK | LINK |
| Price | $100 | $15 |
| Purchase Link | LINK | LINK |
| CHIRP Program | No | No |
| Value Score | A | F |
| Performance Score | B | C |
| Ergonomics Score | - | B |
| Conclusions | If I could only own one dual-band DMR radio, this Alinco DJ-MD5 would be the one. The extra money you spend on this compared to other comparable radios is justified with a better screen, more channels, better audio all around, USB programming cable, and better programming software. | 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. |