For today’s review, I am taking a look at the BAOFENG UV26 Ham Radio 10W (New Gen 5RM) which was released in 2025.
BAOFENG, the company from China that has taken handheld radio by storm for many years because of its low prices and to the chagrin of handheld enthusiasts who dislike how popular this brand has become and dislike it more as it became the entry hardware purchase for handheld radios (may it be GMRS to Ham Radios) for many. And because they are so cheap, people collect them like characters on “Pokemon Go” because of the colors, the style, the features and of course, that absolutely low price.
The thing is, not many people want to or can spend for the top Japanese brands ala Kenwood, Yaesu and ICOM or American brands such as Midland, Cobra, Motorola and others. It’s important to know that you are not going to get $300 quality with a $27 handheld radio. But unless you are a hardcore enthusiast who owns a spectrum analyzer, for many people, this is their first foray into the hobby, these handheld radios definitely offer way more than why your parents or grandparents had when they were into handheld radios and it’s great to have one as a survivalist and making sure you have a goto device, especially during emergencies.
So, with that established, let’s begin the review.
Today, I am reviewing the BAOFENG UV26 Ham Radio 10W (New Gen 5RM) Handheld Radio. This comes with the radio with a 771 antenna, an air-band antenna, speaker, ear buds, a strap, A 2500 mAh lithium battery, USB-C charger, cradle charger and features an enhanced design, better grip, wider frequency band, 1.77-inch color screen and frequency copy.
The frequency range for this radio is:
TX【136-174 & 220-260 & 400-520MHz】
RX【FM 76-108 MHz; AM 108-136MHz
VHF 136-174MHz; 220-260MHz
UHF 350-390MHz, 400-520MHz】
TX【136-174 & 220-260 & 400-520MHz】
RX【FM 76-108 MHz; AM 108-136MHz; VHF 136-174MHz; 220-260MHz; UHF 350-390MHz, 400-520MHz】
Talking Range Maximum 10 Kilometers
And yes, it also comes with a flash light and alarm.
It’s important to note that this is a ham radio. A ham radio requires a license which you need to pass a test in order to transmit on it. But if you are using it just to receive and not transmit, that is fine.
So, let’s take a look at the radio.
I own a lot of Baofeng radios, but this is the first time seeing a design like this.
When you attach the battery and turn it on, you realize that it has the color display which became prominent for a lot of Baofeng radios in 2024.
The handheld radio buttons are much different than other BAOFENG deices which I own. You have the black V/M button to change channel or frequency mode, to go to A or B channel. MENU to access the settings is big in orange.
The #/Z continues to scan frequencies like previous BAOFENG devices and holding the */key to lock if held down for a few seconds. The 0/SQL button, hold it down to access the NOAA weather alert frequencies.
To access the stop watch, go into the menu, third press down (down arrow) and select stop watch again with the menu and then menu again to start.
This radio comes with a cradle to charge but it can be charged via USB-C. I will say that any new ham radio, you should make USB-C a priority. It’s easy to charge on your car or at home, you can connect to a charging power bank. So, I’m glad this radio has USB-C charging capabilities.
On the left side, you will see the PTT button, and two additional buttons under it.
The first button with a simple press for a second will give you FM radio. Hold it down for a few more seconds and the light above the handheld will start flashing and an alarm can be heard.
The second button allows you to turn on the flashlight on the top. Fixed light, strobe light and also to turn off the light.
Top of the UV26 is the flash light, where you connect the antenna and also the volume control. This device utilizes only antennas with an SMA-F connection, that means the part protruding under the antenna has a hole on it, as the device has a male pin sticking out.
You get different types of antenna, but the most important one is the 771 antenna. 771’s are dual-band amateur radio antennas designed for both 2-meter (VHF) and 70m (UHF) amateur radio frequencies. You will see it comes with an air-band antenna, to receive and transmit signals within the frequency range used by aircraft communication systems (between 108 to 137 MHz). Some may want to invest in a triple band antenna, but for the most part, unless you are near an airport and a lot of planes, more than likely you will be sticking to the 771 dual-band antenna.
On the right side of the device is a flap which has a K-plug connector, this is where you plug in the data cable to connect your radio to your computer, a speaker (ie. walkie talkie like speaker) and ear buds.
With that being said, the radio supports CHIRP, CPS and Wireless Programmer (via the ODmaster APP).
I always use CHIRP, it’s so easy. So, with this radio, you will need a data cable (make sure you buy one or at least it is offered by the manufacturer). But for testing, I use a different USB data cable (sold separately), specifically a Baofeng/Abbree data cable with a CH340 Chip. This allows me to connect the radio to my computer via Chirp. Not all data cables work the same but this cable has allowed me to connect to nearly most all of the radio I own. So, I like this cable a lot!
Once the data cable is inserted to the side of the Baofeng (make sure the cable is pushed all the way in), go ahead and click on radio on top and download, select Baofeng and for radio, select 5RM (this allows the UV26 to connect to CHIRP).
It comes with frequencies but you can delete or leave them there and add your own. I use websites such as RadioReference[dot]com to search for frequencies in nearby counties. From police, medical, airports, you name it. I search for those within 300-400 miles and I start inputting the ones I want onto CHIRP.
The BAOFENG UV-26 allows for 999 memory channels which is a plus! Also suitable for advanced privacy with 50 CTCSS tones and 104 DCS codes
On Chirp, you can select Memories to enter the frequencies, while Settings allows you to set the settings. You can do this on the UV26, but I find it much easier to do it all on Chirp.
Using CHIRP, makes life using your handhelds much easier and quicker.
So, for settings, to save batteries, the screen will go dim quickly but I set it to last a little longer. You can select English or Chinese voice. You can select how long you want your backlight timer to go. To turn off beeps. For channels, I like A to always show the name of the frequency I am visiting, as I like to put the name and know where I’m going. Channel B is straight frequency, which I set.
For scan mode, (when you have it scanning all frequencies), I select carrier mode, so it will find whoever is on and stay on it until no one speaks for a certain amount of time. So, there are a lot of settings that you can control.
But when you are done, save and upload the data back to your radio. And that is it! Very easy!
Why should I consider the BAOFENG UV-26?
There are a few major factors that make the BAOFENG UV-26 appealing. For one, USB-C charging. This is important. So, important that my other BAOFENG handheld radios receive less use because they die and I can’t easily charge them. USB-C makes it so convenient to charge on the go.
The second factor is that you get a 2500 mAh battery. In 2024, the new BAOFENG radios I reviewed had 1800 mAh batteries, so the increase for longer battery power on this UV26 is a major plus.
And this new generation radio now incorporates 10W like the 5RM radios. This is great for those who transmit. This means you get a 3db increase in signal strength. But of course, the kind of antenna and the elevation you are at can mean much more. 10W will definitely work great in open fields, but truth be told, while 10W is nice, for a lot of people who live in a home near trees, other homes or buildings and also depending on terrain can limit the 10W. And of course, with the additional 10W versus the 5W, it leads to higher battery consumption, but that is why you have a better battery with this handheld radio. Last but not least, with the higher wattage, do not leave these devices near your eye. Keep it at a distance when talking because the higher the watts, RF exposure is something to worry about. Don’t keep it on and have it near your head and you fall asleep. Just know that no prolonged exposure is important. With that being said, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other wireless technologies also emit RF radiation. They keyword is prolonged exposure.
The other plus is you get the new colorful digital screen which is better than a backlit display screen with black or white lettering.
I also like when I’m scanning on the radio (which is a long press on the #/Z button), you will see a green light on top of the unit telling you the unit is still turned on (this light goes on when the screen dims completely).
You also get a lot more when your purchase a BAOFENG radio. Back then, you only got the battery, the strap, carriage and antenna. Now, you are getting a few more extras which is a plus.
Overall, the BAOFENG UV-26 is a 2025 handheld radio that gives more bang for the buck. Granted, depending on where you buy, this radio goes for under $27 with the better wattage, better battery and more extra things that it comes with. I feel it’s a ham radio to own and with the device having CHIRP capability, it’s quite easy to enter frequencies or copy frequencies from another handheld radio on CHIRP and paste it on the radio’s CHIRP settings and upload it back. And of course, USB-C is now the standard for charging these units.
For the functions this radio has, it functions great as a survival radio. May you want to keep it in your vehicle or at home, you get access to the NOAA Weather, Radio and it is triple-band ready.
With all the bells and whistles, does it dethrone the BAOFENG UV-5RM GPS? Last year’s UV-5RM GPS was no doubt a wonderful releases from BAOFENG. A lot of what you can find on the 5RM can be found on the UV26. But the 5RM has GPS and Zone Scanning and costs nearly $45 versus the $27 of the UV26. The 5RM is wider and feels more robust, but again, you are paying more for the 5RM. The UV26 is much better than other BAOFENG’s in this price class. For one it’s newer and comes with more capabilities and you are not limited to memories and again, USB-C charging.
Overall, having owned so many BAOFENG, seeing how the company makes things better each year, there is no doubt an improvement with this handheld device and yet retaining it’s under $30 pricetag, if you are looking for a more recent BAOFENG device, the BAOFENG UV-26 Ham Radio is definitely worth owning and I highly recommend it!
