When I found out that there was a new $50 miniature 2m/440 Chinese HT on the market, I knew that I had to have one to test and review. I saw that Ed at wouxun.us started carrying the new Baofeng UV-3R so I placed my order and had the radio in my hands in a couple of days.
As you can see, the radio is tiny! It's very similar in size to the Yaesu VX-3R, although the button configuration is different.
Here is a picture that shows how thin this radio really is:
Without the antenna, this radio is smaller than the wallet I carry in my pocket. With the antenna attached, it's still small enough to slip into a baggy pants or shorts pocket.
In this picture, I set the Baofeng VX-3R on top of my Yaesu VX-8R to give you some perspective on the size of the radio:
What's Included
So, I know you're asking: What all do you get for $50? You get a 2 watt 2m/440 radio with 99 memories, scanner, and FM broadcast. Here is a pic of everything included in the box:
As, you can see, in addition to the radio, battery, and manual, you get a desktop charger, belt clip, lanyard, and earphone speaker/mic. I also opted to purchase the USB programming cable and an additional camo colored shell.
Here's a picture of the FM broadcast radio function enabled:
As is commonplace with the Chinese radios, the radio also has a fairly bright LED flashlight:
After I put the battery in and started charging the radio, I started looking for the charging indicator. It took me a few minutes to figure out that the indicator is actually on the wall wart, and turns green when complete:
So, you can see that you get quite a bit of bang for the buck. The battery is a standard Fuji NP-60, Li-ion 3.7v 1500mAh battery that is inexpensive and readily available. If you want to buy them really cheap, you can get them on eBay for $6-$7 ea.
Next in the review, my first on the air impressions.
![1887-1321424839-8939a4892a0b406ca77b4e0b9c80fa16.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1887-1321424839-8939a4892a0b406ca77b4e0b9c80fa16.jpg&hash=f48cc954bb24873b2bd6336e6ebecd00)
As you can see, the radio is tiny! It's very similar in size to the Yaesu VX-3R, although the button configuration is different.
Here is a picture that shows how thin this radio really is:
![1888-1321424839-7aa7ab18477239397ad4b6b767dd3586.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1888-1321424839-7aa7ab18477239397ad4b6b767dd3586.jpg&hash=ec57d0afd2069b4ed0a54b70119ffcfe)
Without the antenna, this radio is smaller than the wallet I carry in my pocket. With the antenna attached, it's still small enough to slip into a baggy pants or shorts pocket.
In this picture, I set the Baofeng VX-3R on top of my Yaesu VX-8R to give you some perspective on the size of the radio:
![1889-1321424839-c01d70fadcee5a73108c2b7afd4301e7.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1889-1321424839-c01d70fadcee5a73108c2b7afd4301e7.jpg&hash=b755140033c771ee176afc150f9df2a2)
What's Included
So, I know you're asking: What all do you get for $50? You get a 2 watt 2m/440 radio with 99 memories, scanner, and FM broadcast. Here is a pic of everything included in the box:
![1886-1321424839-646be01980b0318414cd13d5dc3200ee.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1886-1321424839-646be01980b0318414cd13d5dc3200ee.jpg&hash=cac3245638e5ae0ee1b2ae86441aa9bc)
As, you can see, in addition to the radio, battery, and manual, you get a desktop charger, belt clip, lanyard, and earphone speaker/mic. I also opted to purchase the USB programming cable and an additional camo colored shell.
Here's a picture of the FM broadcast radio function enabled:
![1890-1321424951-f3cb1eecc89870bab29b12249588229f.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1890-1321424951-f3cb1eecc89870bab29b12249588229f.jpg&hash=d6d14b17d01e49851383f19b17b33f14)
As is commonplace with the Chinese radios, the radio also has a fairly bright LED flashlight:
![1891-1321424951-b2f25e8b948171569dc3a736418b4d2c.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1891-1321424951-b2f25e8b948171569dc3a736418b4d2c.jpg&hash=f8abba44e0eada34b639891597d0ec4f)
After I put the battery in and started charging the radio, I started looking for the charging indicator. It took me a few minutes to figure out that the indicator is actually on the wall wart, and turns green when complete:
![1894-1321426334-124ec36b81276300aae6bdc08432afeb.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldwidedx.com%2Fdata%2Fphotos%2Fl%2F1%2F1894-1321426334-124ec36b81276300aae6bdc08432afeb.jpg&hash=ad7e97d467c2cdbe941e69fc91f3d3d8)
So, you can see that you get quite a bit of bang for the buck. The battery is a standard Fuji NP-60, Li-ion 3.7v 1500mAh battery that is inexpensive and readily available. If you want to buy them really cheap, you can get them on eBay for $6-$7 ea.
Next in the review, my first on the air impressions.