Baofeng NA-K61 vs Baofeng UV-98 Pro - Which One is Better in 2025?

So it’s time for that question, would I recommend it? Like all radios, the answer to that is both yes and no. It does not fit my hand very well at all, so if you have large hands, you might want to try one before you buy it. This radio is absolutely an improvement over the standard UV-5R as far as the screen, charging capabilities, and battery life are concerned. Where it comes up short is price versus performance, but only if you look at the Baofeng NA-K61 from just a dual-band perspective.

A UV-5R has almost the same power output with substantially less spurious emissions. It also cost a bit less. Since you can add a USB-C chargeable battery to a UV-5R for very little money, it might make more sense for someone on a very tight budget who only needs standard dual-band functionality.

Where this radio shines is that it adds 1.25m TX/RX, and several other receive bands, for just a few dollars more than a UV-5R, which makes the Baofeng NA-K61 a pretty good deal.

Would I recommend the Baofeng UV-98 Pro? That depends. There is nothing really wrong with the radio, in fact it is a pretty good radio once you put a better antenna on it and if you don’t mind the lack of power. I really like the amount of choice in colors and accessories.

The problem I have is that I think the UV-9R Plus is an objectively better radio for less money, and that is hard to overlook. Even if you add the price of a USB-C chargeable battery to the UV-9R Plus, it is still cheaper and still a better radio. And when you can swap that battery out in seconds without tools, I have a hard time wanting to carry the UV-98 Pro.

If you really want a Baofeng UV-98 Pro, go for it, it works well, feels great in the hand, and so far, hasn’t let me down. If you are on the fence or want the best value for your buck in a waterproof radio that is ergonomically excellent, get the UV-9R instead.