BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus Review: The UV-5R, Upgraded

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The BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus is the UV-5R rebuilt — the same capable dual-band handheld that has been a fixture in UK prepper kit for over a decade, but with USB-C charging, a colour display, a bigger battery, and airband receive added for £39. That is still less than a tank of fuel. The question is whether the upgrades justify choosing the Plus over the original UV-5R, or over the cheaper variants that fill the lower end of the market.

This review covers what is new, what has genuinely improved, and where the BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus earns its price. The legal position and Foundation licence process are covered fully in our Baofeng UV-5R guide — you will find a link in the Further Reading section below. This review focuses on the product.

What Is the BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus?

The BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus is a dual-band handheld amateur radio covering VHF (144–146MHz) and UHF (430–440MHz) — the two frequency bands used by UK Foundation licence holders. It transmits at up to 5 watts, stores 999 programmable channels, and now includes airband receive covering aviation frequencies, making it more capable as a monitoring tool than its predecessor.

Compared to the UV-5R, the changes are as follows:

• USB-C charging — no more proprietary desk charger to lose
• 2500mAh battery — up from 1800mAh
• 1.77-inch colour display — replaces the UV-5R’s monochrome LCD
• Airband receive — covers aviation frequencies for monitoring only
• One-key frequency copy — scan and clone a nearby channel with a single button
• 999 channel slots — up from 128

The transmit specification is unchanged from the UV-5R: 144–146MHz and 430–440MHz only. The radio does not transmit on PMR446, CB, aviation, or emergency service frequencies — the transmit bands are the amateur radio allocations, and legal use requires a Foundation licence. Reception covers a much wider range, which is where the airband addition is useful.

USB-C Charging: The Upgrade That Actually Matters

The original UV-5R shipped with a proprietary desk charger that was easy to lose, slow to charge, and incompatible with everything else you own. The BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus charges via USB-C — the same cable as your phone, your power bank, your laptop. In a power cut scenario, that means one less dedicated charger that can’t be used and opens up charging possibilities like car/leisure batteries, power banks and solar generators,together with one less cable to remember when packing a grab bag.

The 2500mAh battery is a meaningful improvement too. More capacity means longer transmit time between charges and better resilience during extended use. The radio also feels more substantial in hand because of it — not heavy, but noticeably more solid than the UV-5R.

Colour Display and Frequency Copy

The 1.77-inch colour display is a genuine improvement on the UV-5R’s basic monochrome LCD. Frequencies, channel numbers, and signal strength are easier to read at a glance, particularly in poor light. It is not a large screen, but it is more legible than what it replaced and does not require a torch to read in the dark.

The one-key frequency copy function lets you scan a nearby channel and copy the frequency with a single button press. The practical use is picking up a local repeater or frequency in the field without needing to connect to a laptop and programme via CHIRP. It is not something you will use daily, but when you need to tune in quickly it is significantly faster than the manual alternative.

Airband Receive

The BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus can receive aviation frequencies — the VHF band used by aircraft and air traffic control. This is receive-only; transmitting on aviation frequencies is a serious criminal offence, and the UV-5RM Plus does not attempt to circumvent that. What it gives you is the ability to monitor local airspace activity, which adds situational awareness value in a major incident or during disrupted conditions.

For most preppers this will be a secondary feature rather than a primary reason to buy. It adds capability without adding cost over the base model.

The Legal Position — Short Version

Owning the BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus is entirely legal. Listening on any frequency it can receive is legal. Transmitting legally requires a UK Foundation amateur radio licence — a multiple-choice exam costing approximately £27.50 that most people pass after a few evenings of study.

Without a licence, the BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus functions as a capable receive-only scanner — useful, but not its full potential. The Foundation licence is the legitimate path to legal transmit access and opens up the UK amateur radio repeater network. The full process is covered in our Baofeng UV-5R guide, linked in the Further Reading section below.

The Nagoya NA-771 Antenna

The stock antenna supplied with the BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus is functional but not the best it can be. The Nagoya NA-771 is the standard upgrade — a 40cm dual-band antenna with an SMA-F connector that fits directly onto the radio. It costs around £13, carries over 12,000 reviews at 4.6 stars on Amazon UK, and produces a noticeable improvement in both transmit range and receive sensitivity. If you are buying the BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus for serious use, budget for the NA-771 at the same time. ASIN B00KC4PWQQ.

Programming — CHIRP

The BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus supports programming via CHIRP, the open-source radio programming software used across virtually every Baofeng model. Connect the radio via a programming cable (not included — a cheap USB cable with the correct driver works fine), open CHIRP, and programme channels in bulk from a spreadsheet view. For anyone loading repeater frequencies, local calling channels, or amateur band memories, CHIRP is significantly faster than programming on the radio manually.

CHIRP is free and actively maintained. If the UV-5RM Plus does not appear as a direct option in your version of CHIRP, select the UV-5R — the two are near-identical in programming structure.

BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus — Verdict

The BAOFENG UV-5RM Plus improves on the UV-5R in every area that matters for everyday use. USB-C charging removes the biggest practical frustration of the original. The larger battery improves resilience. The colour display is more readable. The airband receive adds monitoring capability without adding complexity.

At £39, it is not aimed at licensed amateur operators with high-end requirements — those operators have different tools. It is a radio for households that want a capable, licence-eligible, grab-bag-ready comms option at a price that requires no significant justification. Get the Foundation licence alongside it. The two together cost less than £70 and give you legal access to the UK repeater network. That is worth considerably more than the price tag suggests.

What the Rest of the Team Think

Pros and Cons

Pros

• USB-C charging — uses the same cable as most modern devices, one less proprietary charger to track
• 2500mAh battery is a meaningful upgrade over the UV-5R’s 1800mAh
• Colour display is noticeably more readable than the UV-5R’s monochrome LCD
• Airband receive adds monitoring capability at no extra cost over the base model
• 999 channel slots — far more than most users need, but useful for organised regional setups
• Frequency copy speeds up channel acquisition in the field without needing a laptop
• Open-source firmware support (Egzumer and similar) for those who want deeper customisation
• Standard SMA-F antenna connector — the Nagoya NA-771 is a direct-fit upgrade for around £13

Cons

• Only 469 reviews at time of writing — far less community knowledge than the UV-5R’s years of forum data
• 4.4 stars — marginally below our usual 4.5 threshold, though the strongest available option in this category
• Programming cable not included — you need a separate purchase to use CHIRP
• Legal transmit use requires a Foundation licence — worth the £27.50 and a few evenings, but it is a step
• No case included and the compatible case market is thin — a basic belt pouch is the practical option

Frequently Asked Questions