--By Jay Farlow, W9LW

Introduction and Key Features

Baofeng’s UV-5R Mini is much more than a miniature version of the company’s ubiquitous UV-5R handheld transceiver. Baofeng created a radio that is slightly smaller than the UV-5R and has significantly greater capability. For example:

✅Reception of the VHF aircraft band (108 to 137 MHz)
✅USC-C battery charging
✅999 channel memories
✅Mobile app configuration via Bluetooth
✅Dual push-to-talk keys (one for each VFO)
✅Programmable function key on the side of the radio

Physical Design and Ergonomics

This small transceiver is incredibly easy to carry around. When I clip it to my belt, I forget that it’s there. It’s also more comfortable in my hand than the UV-5R is. A big reason for this is that the UV-5R has an annoying metal connection point for a wrist strap on its right side, near the volume control. That metal loop frequently digs into one of my fingers when I’m holding the radio to transmit. The Mini, however, has its lanyard connection point on the top of the radio, out of the way of my hand. The Mini has smoother, rounder corners and edges than the UV-5R. This also makes the Mini more comfortable to hold and makes it feel considerably smaller than the UV-5R, even though the Mini is only approximately 5 mm shorter and 9 mm narrow than the UV-5R.

Programming via CHIRP and Keypad

For years, I’ve used CHIRP, a free, open-source software tool to program the memories of my UV-5R (https://chirpmyradio.com/). I have CHIRP files stored on the hard drive of my Windows computer. Using CHIRP to transfer that data to the Mini was easy. In a minute I had a “clone” of my UV-5R.
Saving frequency information from the radio’s keypad is much easier than it is with my UV-5R, because the menu system is more intuitive. I had no trouble adding a new repeater to an empty memory channel using only the radio’s keypad.

Mobile App and Bluetooth Configuration

The UV-5R Mini can also be programmed via a mobile app available for Android and iOS devices, which communicates with the radio via Bluetooth. The app, called Ola, is not intuitive as CHIRP but with a few minutes of trial and error, I learned how to edit and add memories to the radio. I was also able to store the radio’s configuration in the app and then send that same configuration to a second UV-5R Mini via Bluetooth.

Another unique way to store frequency and tone squelch data in the UV-5R is with its frequency search function, which quickly “sniffs out” the transmit frequency and squelch code of a nearby radio while that second radio transmits. This function does not, however, determine on what frequency the second radio receives.

Antenna Performance and Airband Reception

My UV-5R Mini arrived with a 3.5-inch-long antenna that’s not very flexible. Dual-band, VHF/UHF handheld antennas are more typically about eight inches long, so I didn’t expect much performance from the shorter antenna on the Mini. I was surprised, however, by how well the radio heard local repeaters while using the stock antenna. Replacing that antenna with a Nagoya brand NA-701 antenna extended transmitting distance, but the Nagoya antenna is about twice as long as the UV-5R Mini is alone.
The radio does a fair job of receiving AM aircraft band transmissions, especially when I’m near an airport, but for serious monitoring, a purpose-built scanning radio receives such signals better. This feature is nonetheless nice to have for times I’m near an airport and don’t have my scanning receiver with me. I used CHIRP to add memories for the nearest airport’s common traffic advisory frequency (it has no control tower) and for the tower, ground and approach/departure control frequencies of a class C airport that’s farther away.

Scanning Capabilities and Memory Management

Speaking of scanning, the UV-5R Mini does not scan memories as fast as a purpose-built scanning receiver, but its scan speed is adequate for my needs because most of my memories hold amateur radio frequencies that are usually quiet. I didn’t put any public safety frequencies in my Mini, because all public safety agencies in my area use frequencies (800 MHz) and a digital voice mode (P25) that the UV-5R Mini cannot receive. A disadvantage of using the UV-5R Mini as a scanner is that there is no way to divide the radio’s 999 channel memories into banks. So, unless I individually set some memories to be skipped, the radio will scan every memory that I’ve programmed.
I have trouble imagining how I would fill every one of the radio’s 999 memories, but I suppose if I traveled a lot I could fill more than the 90 memories that I have programmed so far. Scrolling through even 90 memories to select one on which to transmit takes considerable time but fortunately, I can enter a memory number on the keypad to switch to it directly, if I can remember the number that I need.

Regulatory Considerations for GMRS

The radio does a good job of receiving General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies. Transmitting on those frequencies with the UV-5R Mini would violate the US Code of Federal Regulations because the Mini is not approved by the US government for transmission on GMRS frequencies (see 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart E). In fact, transmitting on any frequency governed by 47 CFR Parts 95 or 90 with the UV-5R Mini would violate those regulations.

Display and Visual Interface

The UV-5R Mini’s 1.44-inch color display provides much more information than the UV-5R display does. The size of the Mini’s display requires that some characters and icons be small, but I had no trouble seeing them, even though I have presbyopia and use eyeglasses with progressive lenses. I found the Mini’s display a bit difficult to see in direct sunlight, especially while wearing sunglasses. The Mini’s ability to display channel names of up to 12 characters is more convenient than the seven-character limitation of the UV-5R.

Battery Life and USB-C Charging

The battery that came with my UV-5R Mini has a USB-C connection on the back for charging. This is especially convenient for any user who has devices, like mobile phones, that use USB-C for charging. The battery has no charging contacts on the back, so charging it with a drop-in desktop charger is not possible. The USB-C connection cannot be used for data communication with the radio (e.g., to program channel memories), nor can it be used to power other devices from the Mini’s battery. Batteries made for the UV-5R do not fit the UV-5R Mini. My radio came with a battery whose label indicated a 1,600 milliamp-hour capacity. To test that battery’s standby time, I let the radio scan local amateur repeaters and GMRS channels for eight hours. By the end of the day, the 8.4-volt battery measured at eight volts. At the time I wrote this review I could find no way to purchase an extra or higher-capacity Mini battery from Baofeng. On Amazon, however, a third-party manufacturer appeared to offer a three-pack of 1,600 milliamp-hour batteries. Note that the UV-5R Mini’s belt clip attaches to the battery, not the radio.

Final Conclusion

These are just a few of the aspects of the UV-5R Mini that impress me. If I were considering the purchase of a UV-5R or similar radio, I’d choose the Mini instead.