My-EMR1 vs Retevis A1 - Which One is Better in 2025?
Trying to choose between My-EMR1 and Retevis A1? 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 | My-EMR1 | Retevis A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Radio Name | My-EMR1 | Retevis A1 |
| Bands | 2m, 70cm | 2m, 70cm |
| Max Power 2m/70cm | 3.9/5 | 2/3.7 |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Battery Volts | 7.4 v | 7.4 v |
| Rated mAh | 1400 mAh | 2200 mAh |
| Tested mAh | 1070 mAh | 2270 mAh |
| Antenna Connector | F-SMA | M-SMA |
| Height w/ant | 250 mm | 304 mm |
| Width | 58 mm | 60 mm |
| Thickness w/clip | 48 mm | 53 mm |
| Weight | 230 g | 283 g |
| Color Screen | No | No |
| GPS | No | Yes |
| USB-C Charging | No | Yes |
| Review Link | LINK | LINK |
| Price | $140 | $50 |
| Purchase Link | LINK | LINK |
| CHIRP Program | Yes | No |
| Rating by Price | F | C |
| Rating Overall | C | C |
| Conclusions | Are you kidding me? Protect from EMPs? Who are you going to communicate with after an EMP, even if YOUR radio survives? No one, that’s who. Just wow! So this is just a $33 TYT TH-UV88 with a different sticker on the front and on the battery. Then they mark it up to$139.99, then put it on a “1 DAY ONLY!” sale for $69.99. To take it a step further, those $69.99 “1 Radio & No-Programming” kits are marked “sorry, sold out!” These people can’t be religious because they would know they are on the express train down, first class. Reading their website is just one deceit after another. Read the disclaimer at the bottom of the page, and you will find “For global communications, ECHO link or something similar will be required.” First, ECHO link isn’t open to the public, you need an amateur radio license and then registration with ECHO link. So even if it is an emergency, you are stuck out. Second, an EMP just went off, the ECHO link towers are gone! Idiots. So, who is doing this? That’s easy, look at the back of the box: Quanzhou TYT Electronics Co., Ltd, Quanzhou, Fujian, China. www.tyt.com, email: tyt@tyt888.com. Enough said. Bottom line, buy the TYT TH-UV88, not the rebadged overpriced one. | 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. |