Review on 📻 Radioddity GS-5B: Dual Band Long Range Bluetooth Handheld Ham Radio with Dual PTT for Two Way Communication, USB Rechargeable, S-Meter, Programming Cable, Rainproof Design by Shigg Bigbee

Bottom line: save money and skip. I had this radio and I tested it. Here are Pro's observations: The radio is orange and feels solid in the hand. The flashlight on the bottom is bright, but seriously, who really needs a flashlight on the radio. The reception is excellent, much better than any portable baofeng. I have several Baofeng with different antennas and this one is better than all the others. The transmission works perfectly, no better than any other radio in this price range. Charged via USB! Finally a radio that charges directly via USB and that was the main interest in the radio. The sound of the speaker is also much better than any HT Baofeng radio. Cons: Micro USB? It's 2020, why are you even making a new product that doesn't charge via USB-C? development start. The PC software is terrible, copy and paste doesn't work from the keyboard, only from the mouse. You cannot insert more than one field at a time. Basically, importing a CSV file is useless, you will get hundreds of error codes crashing the software. The phone app seems cool at first, but you realize that it has limited functionality, the error codes don't make sense, and it becomes difficult to use. You can also just skip the app and use the menu on the device itself. Sometimes the app options aren't even programmed into the radio. You cannot set the radio to show channel names when scanning, just the frequency, limiting its usefulness as a prep radio. The turn signal setting is stupid, a waste of space and money. The radio was off long enough for them to post an update if they wanted to. Bluetooth is for programming only, does not work with audio accessories or APRS. What a waste. Many aftermarket antennas with a wider base will not fit the radio due to the shape of the molding. That includes ABREE.VS Baofeng: I didn't open the radio to compare Baofeng's internals. As said, RX is far superior to Baofeng. Voice prompts sound exactly like Baofeng. The scanning speed is painfully slow, just like Baofeng. It uses the same 2-pin connector for PC programming and accessories. There are far better radios at this price point if you're willing to forgo Bluetooth (nearly useless anyway) and decades-old micro-USB charging. I question the authenticity and honesty of many of the high reviews here.