One of our favorite tools we’ve brought with us on our rock climbing trips in Yosemite and beyond is the walkie talkie. Walkie talkies are not only useful for outdoor adventures, but can also be handy as a business tool too! Industries like security and construction require slightly different specs from an outdoor walkie, though. In this article, we’ll share some of the factors you need to consider when seeking a walkie talkie for business, as well as some of our favorites from our research.
What is the Best Walkie Talkie For Business?
Below you’ll find the list of the top 10 Best Walkie Talkie For Business. We compiled this list from walkie talkies for business we have used, asked others about, and researched further to give you the best possible roundup. With many years of experience with business walkie talkies you can be assured that this article will give you what you’re looking for.
We also wrote a buying guide and answered some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) at the end of this article.
1. Midland LXT600BBX4 FRS Business Bundle
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.3 pounds (0.14 kg) Size: 6.1 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches (15.5 x 5.6 x 3.2 cm) Range: 30 miles Battery Life: 20 hours Power Source: 700mAh NiMH or AAA alkaline batteries Continuous Talktime: 8-10 hours |
Whether it’s an outdoor activity, construction site, or a wedding ceremony, the Midland LXT600BBX4 FRS Business Bundle will get you covered with 36 FRS channels and 121 CTCSS privacy codes. The variety of built-in functions helps to achieve crisp communication, while a backlit LCD screen makes it easier to navigate through the menu.
Along with a compact and lightweight design, you’ll benefit from NOAA weather scan and alerts, VOX, squelch, and silent mode. Unlike cheaper radios, this silent mode disables all beeps for quiet use.
Despite the manufacturer’s claims that the max distance of these walkie-talkies is 30 miles, the actual signal range is lower, especially when used indoors. Also, the battery capacity is low.
Pros
- Compact design and user-friendly menu,
- Provide clear sound with no interference,
- Backlit LCD screen,
- NOAA weather scan and alerts, VOX, squelch, and silent mode,
- Come with belt clips, headsets, desktop chargers, and adapters
Cons
- Limited max distance,
- Low battery capacity
2. Greaval ZP5BF-888S Rechargeable Two-Way Radio
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.35 pounds (0.16 kg) Size: 4.3 x 2 x 1.3 inches (11 x 5 x 3.2 cm) Range: 2-3 miles Battery Life: 1-2 days Power Source: 1500 mAh Li-ion batteries Continuous Talktime: 7-12 hours |
The Greaval ZP5BF-888S Rechargeable Two-Way Radio has a widely known design and offers 5 watts of power. Many owners admit the ease of use here since all you need to do is to switch it on and select a channel. Along with the voice guides, you’ll get VOX functionality and an emergency alarm.
With those walkie-talkies, you’ll receive belt clips, charging bases, and earpieces. Additionally, the radios come with built-in flashlights to help you with finding items in your backpack after dark.
Due to the long antenna, you have to be careful when putting the radio in your backpack or pocket. Also, the earpieces need improvements, because sometimes you can barely hear your crewmate with those.
Pros
- User-friendly design,
- Led flashlight
- Low battery alarm, supports VOX, emergency alarm
- Come with belt clips, charging bases, earpieces
Cons
- Cheap earpieces,
- Fragile antenna
3. MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS RMU2040 Two-Way Business Radio
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.54 pounds (0.24 kg) Size: 4.5 x 2.2 x 1.6 inches (11.4 x 5.6 x 4.1 cm) Range: 250,000 sq. ft Battery Life: 32 hours Power Source: 2400mAh Lithium-ion battery Continuous Talktime: 15 hours |
For property management, retail, and industrial purposes, the MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS RMU2040 Two-Way Business Radio is worth considering. The walkie-talkie has 89 built-in UHF channels and 219 PL/DPL codes that you can alter using CPS software. The best part here is a rugged housing that is resistant to dust, wind, shock, and vibration.
Next, the radio comes with a loud 1500mW speaker and a tricolor LED indicator. With the VOX function or mic/speaker port, you can enjoy hands-free operation, and channel announcements make it more user-friendly. Just be careful with the belt clip as it can be too flimsy.
While many owners were happy about their purchase, some customers said that 2 watts of power were not enough for their purposes. On average, the signal covers 20 floors when used indoors or 250,000 sq. ft. in a warehouse.
Pros
- Rugged and lightweight housing,
- Channel announcements and VOX,
- 1500mW speaker and tricolor LED indicator,
- Programmable via CPS
Cons
- Limited transmitting range,
- The belt clip is cheap
4. Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies with Multi-Unit Charger
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.35 pounds (0.16 kg) Size: 4.6 x 2 x 1.4 inches (11.6 x 5 x 3.5 cm) Range: 2.5 miles Battery Life: 24 hours Power Source: 1200mAh Li-ion batteries Continuous Talktime: 8-12 hours |
When a team requires maintaining communication at the outdoor trip or at a construction site, the Retevis RT68 Walkie Talkies with Multi-Unit Charger come in handy. The radios feature durable ABS and PC designs with fixed antennas and are quite compact. You can charge up to six radios simultaneously using only one socket, and the multi-unit dock station has overcharge, overvoltage, and short circuit protection.
The product offers VOX hands-free functionality and has a squelch function that ensures clear sound. Additionally, the radios come with belt clips and earpieces. Unfortunately, those earpieces can’t provide good sound quality. A few customers also noted that the battery had lasted only for 4-5 hours of continuous talk time.
Pros
- Rugged antenna’s design,
- VOX and squelch functions,
- Compact and lightweight,
- Safe multi-unit charging
Cons
- Earpieces have poor sound quality,
- Battery life could be longer
5. MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS CLS1110 UHF Two-Way Radio
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.29 pounds (0.13 kg) Size: 4.1 x 2 x 1.1 inches (10.4 x 5.1 x 2.8 cm) Range: 5 miles Battery Life: 18 hours Power Source: 1200mAh Li-ion batteries Continuous Talktime: 12 hours |
For any business, the MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS CLS1110 UHF Two-Way Radio is a marvelous pick since it offers 56 channels with 121 sub-codes to avoid unwanted interferences. The product arrives with a charging station and also has a fast setting transfer feature so you can clone your presets almost instantly.
According to your liking, you can select between three call tones. The LCD display and large buttons make it user-friendly, while microphone and headphones ports are very helpful in a noisy environment.
While many owners like that it is compact and lightweight, this radio lacks sturdiness. Especially, you’ll have to be careful with the antenna as it tends to break easily when you tuck it in the pocket.
Pros
- Lightweight and user-friendly,
- Wide variety of channels and sub-codes, LCD display, Selectable call tones and Keypad Lock function
Cons
- Antenna breaks easily,
- Flimsy housing
6. SAMCOM Two-Way FPCNA30 6-Pack Radios
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 11 x 1.2 x 1.2 inches (27.9 x 3 x 3 cm) Range: 30 miles Battery Life: 50 hours Power Source: 1500mAh Lithium-Polymer batteries Continuous Talktime: 12 hours |
With 5 watts of power, the SAMCOM Two-Way FPCNA30 6-Pack Radios show impressive results both inside and outside of the buildings. They boast impact-resistant housing and dual channels for both single and group calls.
The automatic noise reduction with volume control provides clear transmission, and you can change the frequencies of the channels using your computer.
While the display helps a lot after it gets dark outside, the buttons are not backlit, so it will take trial and error until you find the required settings in the menu. Still, there aren’t too many buttons, and the radios are overall beginner-friendly.
The radios arrive with dock chargers, earpieces, and pre-installed belt clips. However, many customers recommend carrying the walkie-talkies in a backpack or a pocket because those belt clips are cheap.
Pros
- LCD screen and anti-drop design,
- Automatic noise reduction,
- Supports dual channels and group calls,
- Excellent battery capacity and max distance
Cons
- Belt clips are not reliable,
- The buttons are not backlit
7. Ansoko ASK-888S 16-Channel UHF 2-Way Radio Black 4-Pack
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.4 pounds (0.18 kg) Size: 4.7 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches (12 x 5.5 x 3 cm) Range: up to 3 miles Battery Life: 24 hours Power Source: 1500mAh Li-ion batteries Continuous Talktime: 8-12 hours |
The Ansoko ASK-888S 16-Channel UHF 2-Way Radio Black 4-Pack are 2-watt options with an ergonomic shape and user-friendly design, which is slightly larger than a credit card if you remove the antenna. The volume and channel knobs are quite large with the latter having sound notifications.
On the left side, you can find a led flashlight button, as well as a monitor button to receive a weak signal. When pressed, it increases the max range and makes your voice louder. It’s a shame that these are quite tricky to press.
While the product arrives with earpieces included, they aren’t the best out there. With a low battery charge, you’ll barely hear anything with them, so it’s a good idea to get a replacement if you need that hands-free functionality.
Pros
- VOX-ready,
- Led flashlight and monitor buttons,
- Come with clips, hand straps, and earpieces,
- Decent battery capacity
Cons
- Smaller buttons require more effort to press,
- Poor earpiece quality
8. COTRE Grus CO607 Rechargeable Long-Range Walkie-Talkies
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 1 pounds (0.45 kg) Size: 10.8 x 9.9 x 2.4 inches (27.3 x 25.1 x 6.1 cm) Range: 32 miles Battery Life: 25 hours Power Source: 1200mAh Ni-MH batteries Continuous Talktime: 8 hours |
In terms of functionality, it’s hard to beat the COTRE Grus CO607 Rechargeable Long-Range Walkie-Talkies. Each radio has 22 channels with 121 private codes, a backlit LCD display, and an IPX4 waterproof keypad. The user-friendly controls give access to VOX, scan, and dual watch modes. Additionally, you can switch high and low signal power settings, keypad lock, volume mute, and activate weather alerts.
The radios’ design is bright, and the package includes a charging base for two units, USB cables, and belt clips.
We weren’t happy to find out that the batteries here didn’t last long. On the other hand, it’s very simple to find a replacement to get a bigger capacity. Also, keep in mind that the max signal range here is less than 32 miles specified by the manufacturer.
Pros
- Backlit LCD display and IPX4 waterproof keypad,
- VOX, scan, dual watch, keylock, NOAA weather alerts, and more,
- LED flashlight and bright design,
- Come with a charging base, USB cables, and belt clips
Cons
- Drain batteries fast,
- Limited signal range
9. Rivins T-5 4-Pack Long-Range Walkie-Talkies
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 6 x 2 x 1 inches (15.2 x 5.1 x 2.5 cm) Range: 5 miles Battery Life: 8 hours Power Source: AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries |
Especially if you are planning a quick trip, it can often be very inconvenient to bring a bulky radio, and that is where Rivins T-5 4-Pack Long-Range Walkie-Talkies come into play. With 0.5 watts of power and 22 preset channels with 99 sub-codes, they remain extremely lightweight and compact, but that doesn’t limit the functionality.
Just like many larger competitors, these come with a built-in display and led flashlight. On top of that, you’ll get VOX, call tones, channel scan, and keypad lock here. Be careful with the ‘Call’ button, as it activates easily.
In most scenarios, these radios will deplete the regular batteries quickly. The only solution is to get pricier ones with higher capacity.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact,
- LCD screen, belt clip, and led flashlight,
- VOX, calls, scan, and keypad lock,
- Belt clip and mic port
Cons
- Drain batteries quickly,
- Easy to trigger ‘Call’ by mistake
10. Baofeng UV-5X (UV-5G) Long-Range Two-Way Walkie-Talkies
| Specs |
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Size: 9.8 x 2.1 x 1.2 inches (24.9 x 5.3 x 3 cm) Range: 20 miles Battery Life: 60 hours Power Source: 1800mAh Li-ion battery Continuous Talktime: 8 hours |
For those who prefer GMRS radios, the Baofeng UV-5X (UV-5G) Long-Range Two-Way Walkie-Talkies can be a great addition to your gear. With wide-band FM, you get access to 128 channels with 50 CTCSS and 104 DCS. The package also includes earphones, charging stations with adapters, belt clips, and hand straps.
As for the design, it is standard for this series, and each radio has a backlit screen, keypad, and flashlight. Next, the walkie-talkies offer NOAA alerts, VOX, scan, FM, and DTMF. However, reprogramming them is a matter of trial and error, and inexperienced users may find it difficult.
This model is cross-compatible with the UV-5R series, so you can add a battery with a bigger capacity or change other components. Many people recommend switching to Nagoya 771 GMRS antenna as the included one is somewhat limiting.
Pros
- 128 channels, 50 CTCSS tones, and 104 DCS,
- Keypad, backlit LCD screen and flashlight,
- NOAA alerts, VOX, scan, FM, and DTMF,
- Comes with earphone, desktop charger, adapter, belt clip, and hand strap
Cons
- Hard to reprogram,
- The included antenna is cheap
Verdict
Based on all of our experience with business walkie talkies, we found that Midland LXT600BBX4 FRS Business Bundle is the best walkie talkie for business available today.
Our Premium Option is Greaval ZP5BF-888S Rechargeable Two-Way Radio with all the best features and high-quality materials, but that’s only if you have more money to spend.
However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS RMU2040 Two-Way Business Radio as an affordable alternative.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying walkie talkies for business
Charging Time
The nickel-cadmium batteries are the oldest type of batteries that walkie talkie uses. They have a durable battery life and they are not prone to overcharging. They are the heaviest and they are easily susceptible to memory burn when the battery is recharged before it fully discharges. Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are almost the same as nickel-cadmium, but they do are not vulnerable to memory burn. They are prone to overcharging problems and are more expensive and also smaller in size. The lithium ion battery are the most premium batteries used for walkie talkies but have a powerful charging time. They do not get memory burn and they are the smallest in size, hence they are limited to a certain number of charging cycle and they will not take another charge once you reach the cycle. The battery are new designs that requires their own special chargers.
Questions and Answers About walkie talkies for business
How long does it take to charge a walkie talkie?
When you buy a new walkie talkie, it needs to be charged for a long time duration of about 10 to 14 hours. This is called initializing and it helps to achieve maximum battery capacity. After initializing, most of the walkie-talkies take around 2 to 6 hours to be fully charged. The charging time of the walkie-talkie also depends on the quality and type of battery.
Why do you say over on a walkie talkie?
A walkie-talkie is an easy device to convey messages. They are primarily used for short messages or send simple signals. Rangers, mountain climbers and even the police force uses this device for orders or conveying their message to far-off areas. It is used for transmissions on mountains even when there is no cell network.
How do I know the range of my walkie talkie?
When choosing a walkie-talkie, it’s paramount to think of the range and the environment you’ll be operating it from. In general, the range covered by a walkie-talkie is heavily influenced by circumstances; such as whether it is used within blocks of buildings or in an open space, in a remote area, or in a city. A signal is expected to travel much further in a straight path with no interruptions and no objects or obstructions in the way. Additionally, most handheld two-way radios on the market today consume between 0.5 and 5 watts of power to communicate with a clear signal. Lastly, two-watt radios with a long antenna would have a much longer range than a half-watt radio with a short antenna.
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