The Baofeng UV-5R is perhaps the most popular radio of all time. It is famous for its extremely low cost and simple use. These radios are sometimes branded as "B-Tech", Pofung, and various other third-party names but they all are the same, hardware-wise. This radio typically outputs 4W on 2 meters and 70 centimeters (despite being advertised as a 5W radio). It features 128 memory channels with a commercial FM radio. Besides this it scans 136-174 and 400-500 (or 400-520 depending on the model) which includes marine VHF, NOAA, GMRS, and various other services. To program this radio, you may use proprietary Baofeng software but it is recommended to use the CHIRP programming software.
The UV-5R is regarded by some as "cheap Chinese junk" but I personally think that the 30 dollar price point compared to 200 dollars for an American handheld with similar features (prices as of early 2024) is worth it. Apparently there are spurrious RF emissions but an SDR test doesn't really show any major spurrious RF compared to other radios. I would definitely recommend this for a first radio. It does VHF and UHF and allows for repeaters. I would recommend getting an after-market "whip" antenna as this increases the radio's performance compared to the stock "rubber-duck" antenna.
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