These feature HAM+GMRS+FRS+MURS out of the box.

Current version of CHIRP supports the Minis   use any older UV-5R programming cable
Under $40 for the pair (Amazon)

New menu system
Color screen
5 watts out
Smallest yet
single button push for WX band
screen icons both easier to see and understand.  

Uses oddball battery pack w/contact in middle of battery pack 
comes with the USB-C charger cable.

Good, clear audio for TX and RX

I see these as a good 'parking lot comms/shopping center intercom for me and my DW.

******
I can hear, if not talk to all area ham repeaters, eve th eones out i the valley (60+ miles away)

Amazon sells an adapter to use 'ham' BNC-F base HT antennas.

Worth a look

BTW - ALL current FCC rules still apply.

Quote from: TACAIR on November 14, 2025, 01:24:03 PMThese feature HAM+GMRS+FRS+MURS out of the box.

Current version of CHIRP supports the Minis  use any older UV-5R programming cable
Under $40 for the pair (Amazon)

New menu system
Color screen
5 watts out
Smallest yet
single button push for WX band
screen icons both easier to see and understand. 

Uses oddball battery pack w/contact in middle of battery pack 
comes with the USB-C charger cable.

Good, clear audio for TX and RX

I see these as a good 'parking lot comms/shopping center intercom for me and my DW.

******
I can hear, if not talk to all area ham repeaters, eve th eones out i the valley (60+ miles away)

Amazon sells an adapter to use 'ham' BNC-F base HT antennas.

Worth a look

BTW - ALL current FCC rules still apply.

I wasn't taking these very serious before I read your comments. And the early prices I saw didn't impress me. The battery thing still sucks. How much are the batteries? How long do they run? And do they offer larger ones? 

Quote from: Moab on November 14, 2025, 10:58:25 PM

Quote from: TACAIR on November 14, 2025, 01:24:03 PMThese feature HAM+GMRS+FRS+MURS out of the box.

Current version of CHIRP supports the Minis  use any older UV-5R programming cable
Under $40 for the pair (Amazon)

New menu system
Color screen
5 watts out
Smallest yet
single button push for WX band
screen icons both easier to see and understand. 

Uses oddball battery pack w/contact in middle of battery pack 
comes with the USB-C charger cable.

Good, clear audio for TX and RX

I see these as a good 'parking lot comms/shopping center intercom for me and my DW.

******
I can hear, if not talk to all area ham repeaters, eve th eones out i the valley (60+ miles away)

Amazon sells an adapter to use 'ham' BNC-F base HT antennas.

Worth a look

BTW - ALL current FCC rules still apply.

I wasn't taking these very serious before I read your comments. And the early prices I saw didn't impress me. The battery thing still sucks. How much are the batteries? How long do they run? And do they offer larger ones?

No larger batteries that I can find.  I bought 2 batteries for $21 each, but you can find them on Aliexpress in the $16 range.  I'll get you a runtime when I've had a chance to use them more, but it looks like about 36 hours receive-only on a fairly low-usage local repeater.

Quote from: Moab on November 14, 2025, 10:58:25 PM

Quote from: TACAIR on November 14, 2025, 01:24:03 PMThese feature HAM+GMRS+FRS+MURS out of the box.

Current version of CHIRP supports the Minis  use any older UV-5R programming cable
Under $40 for the pair (Amazon)

New menu system
Color screen
5 watts out
Smallest yet
single button push for WX band
screen icons both easier to see and understand. 

Uses oddball battery pack w/contact in middle of battery pack 
comes with the USB-C charger cable.

Good, clear audio for TX and RX

I see these as a good 'parking lot comms/shopping center intercom for me and my DW.

******
I can hear, if not talk to all area ham repeaters, eve th eones out i the valley (60+ miles away)

Amazon sells an adapter to use 'ham' BNC-F base HT antennas.

Worth a look

BTW - ALL current FCC rules still apply.

I wasn't taking these very serious before I read your comments. And the early prices I saw didn't impress me. The battery thing still sucks. How much are the batteries? How long do they run? And do they offer larger ones?

for RX only, the battery does well.
I use the 20/80 formula for use/battery life.

The OEM battery is 2200 mAh, so good size for such a small radio.   There is a AAA battery pack, something I always try to have for each HT.  Right now, I'm waiting for them to show up on Amazon, the one on market now is via TEMU, a no-go for me.

At  $40 for a pair, I see no risk and buying a pair to play with.  At 5 watts, makes a it deal for me as I have a ham license and they play well on V/UHF.

Quote from: TACAIR on November 15, 2025, 04:43:25 PM

Quote from: Moab on November 14, 2025, 10:58:25 PM

Quote from: TACAIR on November 14, 2025, 01:24:03 PMThese feature HAM+GMRS+FRS+MURS out of the box.

Current version of CHIRP supports the Minis  use any older UV-5R programming cable
Under $40 for the pair (Amazon)

New menu system
Color screen
5 watts out
Smallest yet
single button push for WX band
screen icons both easier to see and understand. 

Uses oddball battery pack w/contact in middle of battery pack 
comes with the USB-C charger cable.

Good, clear audio for TX and RX

I see these as a good 'parking lot comms/shopping center intercom for me and my DW.

******
I can hear, if not talk to all area ham repeaters, eve th eones out i the valley (60+ miles away)

Amazon sells an adapter to use 'ham' BNC-F base HT antennas.

Worth a look

BTW - ALL current FCC rules still apply.

I wasn't taking these very serious before I read your comments. And the early prices I saw didn't impress me. The battery thing still sucks. How much are the batteries? How long do they run? And do they offer larger ones?

for RX only, the battery does well.
I use the 20/80 formula for use/battery life.

The OEM battery is 2200 mAh, so good size for such a small radio.  There is a AAA battery pack, something I always try to have for each HT.  Right now, I'm waiting for them to show up on Amazon, the one on market now is via TEMU, a no-go for me.

At  $40 for a pair, I see no risk and buying a pair to play with.  At 5 watts, makes a it deal for me as I have a ham license and they play well on V/UHF.

To be honest I prefer multiples of a normal sized battery over larger extended batteries. In most of my use cases portability outweighs needing a heavier, bulkier radio. 

Like everything else - I'm wishing I'd waited to buy so many electronic things this year. I bought a battery station 2 months ago. And every battery station is on deep discount now. I think in prep for that new battery tech coming out of Wyoming.