The first thing you notice when you power up the Baofeng UV-29 Pro isn't the screen or the power output. It's the voice. Punch in a few numbers and the radio reads them back in a robotic tone that sounds a lot like the Speak & Spell some of us grew up with. It's not a problem, exactly. It's just the first thing you'll hear, so I figured I'd get it out of the way.
Past the voice, this is a 10 watt dual-band VHF/UHF handheld from Baofeng, and it packs a lot onto the spec sheet for the money: Bluetooth programming, a cross-band repeater, 1,000 memory channels, NOAA weather, AM airband receive, USB-C charging, and three selectable power levels. Radioddity has it listed at around $60.
In this article I'll go through what comes with it, the controls and display, the receive features, how channels and programming work, the Bluetooth and cross-band features, and the one thing about it that bugged me.
What Comes With It
The kit covers the basics and then some:
- A 2600mAh battery. It just locks into place on the back of the radio.
- A wrist strap and a belt clip. The belt clip locks onto the back and still leaves room to pull the battery, which honestly makes battery swaps easier than on some radios where the clip gets in the way.
- A desktop charging dock. If you don't want to use the dock, there's a USB-C port for charging the battery directly. I like having both options.
- A wired headset. I haven't used it yet, but it plugs into the standard speaker-mic jack on the side of the radio.
- The antenna and a user manual. Baofeng is using a new style of antenna on these models. More on the manual later.
Controls, Display, and Receive Features
Top and Side
On top you've got the volume knob, a flashlight, and an LED indicator that glows green on receive and red on transmit. Down the side is the PTT button plus two programmable side keys, SK1 and SK2. On mine, SK2 runs the flashlight: press it once for a steady light, press it again and it flashes. Baofeng says SK1 can be set for FM radio, frequency copy, scan, flashlight, or VOX.
Display and VFOs
The display is bright and colorful. One thing that's a little different here: there's no dedicated button to swap between VFO A and VFO B. Instead, you press the Exit button to switch VFOs, and you press and hold the Menu button to toggle between VFO mode and channel mode. Once you know that, it's quick, but it's not something you'd guess on your own.
Weather, Airband, and FM
NOAA weather radio is built in, and the audio from it is quite good. You can also receive the AM aviation band, and there's FM broadcast radio too. For a handheld that lives in a go-bag or on the truck seat, having weather, airband, and FM in the same radio is genuinely useful.
Channels, Zones, and Programming
The UV-29 Pro holds 1,000 channels divided into 10 groups. That's more convenient than it sounds. You can set up one group for your home area, and if you travel somewhere regularly, build a separate group for that area. Switching between them is easy, so you're not reprogramming the radio every time you leave town.
Programming from the radio itself happens in the menu under "Program Channel," where you enter the channel name, receive frequency, power level, and the rest. The menu layout is a little different from other Baofeng radios I've used. It seems like a new format they're working with, so expect a short learning curve if you're coming from a UV-5R.
Power output is selectable at 10, 5, or 2 watts.
What I really like is that you have options. You can program it three ways:
- On the radio through the Program Channel menu.
- The Ola Radio app over Bluetooth on your phone, iOS or Android.
- CHIRP with a programming cable. There's no UV-29 Pro entry to look for. Baofeng's spec sheet says to select the UV-28 Plus model.
Baofeng also lists a one-key frequency copy feature that grabs the frequency and CTCSS/DCS settings from a nearby transmitting radio, which is handy for getting a group of radios on the same channel quickly.
Program it from the keypad, from your phone, or from CHIRP. Having all three options on a radio at this price is the part I like most.
Bluetooth and Cross-Band Repeat
The Bluetooth on this radio does double duty: Baofeng lists both BT data (that's the app programming) and BT audio. On the audio side, a new Bluetooth headset and a PTT ring were on the way but not yet for sale when I made the video. The idea is that you'd pair one device on one Bluetooth connection and the second on the other. Baofeng's product page also lists the BT-R1 PTT as compatible.
There's also a cross-band repeater function. You can receive on UHF and retransmit on VHF to extend your range, for example letting a lower-power radio reach further through the UV-29 Pro. Baofeng notes that it's normal for the radio to get warm during extended cross-band use and suggests pausing or switching back to simplex to let it cool off.
Size, Build, and the Manual
The UV-29 Pro is slightly larger than a UV-5R and has a noticeably rounded body. The case quality seems good.
The manual is not bad, and it includes a QR code so you can download it. I recommend doing that, because the printed font is so small it's hard to read. Honestly, my approach these days is to download the PDF, drop it into ChatGPT or Claude, and just ask how to do whatever I'm trying to do on the radio. It's a lot faster than squinting at a pocket manual.
What I Didn't Like
It tips over. That's my main complaint. Set it down on a table and it doesn't want to stay standing. There are small plastic feet on the bottom, but because of the rounded shape, the radio feels top-heavy and topples easily.
Maybe I'm being too picky. A lot of people will clip it to a belt or keep it in a pouch and never notice. But if you like to stand your HT up on the desk or the dash while you're listening, it's worth knowing. For comparison, the Baofeng SW-9 I'm reviewing next is much more stable, and I like its body style better.
Baofeng UV-29 Pro Key Specs
Transmit
144 to 148 MHz and 420 to 450 MHz on the US version (EU version: 144 to 146 and 430 to 440 MHz). Selectable 10, 5, or 2 watt output, with 25 kHz wide or 12.5 kHz narrow channel spacing.
Receive
FM broadcast 76 to 108 MHz, AM airband 108 to 136 MHz, VHF 136 to 174 MHz, and UHF 400 to 520 MHz, plus NOAA weather channels.
Memory
1,000 channels organized into 10 zones.
Bluetooth and Programming
BT data and BT audio. App programming through the Ola Radio app (iOS and Android), keypad programming, or CHIRP using the UV-28 Plus model. Built-in cross-band repeater.
Battery and Charging
2600mAh Li-ion battery at 7.4 V. Charges through the USB-C port or the included desktop charger.
Size and Weight
68 × 154 × 42 mm (2.7 × 6.1 × 1.7 in) without the antenna, and about 320 g (11.3 oz).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Baofeng UV-29 Pro?
It's a dual-band VHF/UHF amateur handheld with selectable 10, 5, or 2 watt output, 1,000 memory channels in 10 zones, Bluetooth for app programming and wireless audio accessories, a built-in cross-band repeater, and receive for FM broadcast, AM airband, and NOAA weather. It's available from Radioddity for around $60.
How do you program the UV-29 Pro?
Three ways: on the radio through the Program Channel menu, with the Ola Radio app over Bluetooth, or with CHIRP and a programming cable. There's also a one-key frequency copy feature for grabbing settings from a nearby transmitting radio.
Does it work with CHIRP?
Yes. Don't go looking for a UV-29 Pro entry. Baofeng's spec sheet says to select the UV-28 Plus model in CHIRP and program it with a cable.
Does it have a cross-band repeater?
Yes. It can receive on one band, such as UHF, and retransmit on the other, such as VHF, to extend range. Baofeng says it's normal for the radio to get warm during extended cross-band use, so give it a break now and then.
What comes in the box?
The radio, a 2600mAh battery, an antenna, a wired headset, a belt clip, a wrist strap, a desktop charger with adapter, and a user manual. You can also charge through the USB-C port, so the dock is optional.
What are the downsides?
Stability. The rounded body makes it top-heavy, and even with small plastic feet on the bottom it tips over easily on a table. The printed manual's font is also very small, so download the PDF with the included QR code.
Conclusion: A Lot of Radio, If You Don't Stand It Up
The UV-29 Pro packs a long feature list into a handheld that costs around $60. Ten watts, 1,000 channels in 10 zones, weather, airband, cross-band repeat, USB-C charging, and three ways to program it. The zone setup alone is a nice quality-of-life upgrade if you move between areas, and being able to program it from your phone means you're not hunting for a cable every time you need to add a repeater.
The menus take a little getting used to, the voice prompts are pure Speak & Spell, and the rounded body tips over more than I'd like. None of that is a dealbreaker. The tipping is the one I'd actually think about, and only if you're the type who stands your HT up on the desk.
Next up is the Baofeng SW-9, which I like better on the stability front. If you're shopping Baofeng handhelds right now, it's worth seeing both before you decide.
Get the Baofeng UV-29 Pro
The Baofeng UV-29 Pro is available from Radioddity, with Bluetooth app programming, cross-band repeat, and 1,000 channels in a 10 watt dual-band handheld.
Shop the Baofeng UV-29 Pro at Radioddity