Walkie-talkies are essential communication tools amongst outdoors adventurers and business professionals. Whether you’re hiking up Helvellyn or facing hell on the shop floor – instant, reliable communication is key. We have compiled our list of the top licence-free walkie-talkies of 2023 to help you pick the right devices!

What are licence-free two-way radios?

Licence-free handheld two-way radios, often referred to as walkie-talkies provide instant communication at the push of a button. These devices can be used freely without a licence on a specific range of frequencies in the UK. This makes them an accessible tool for communication in areas with poor cellular data when mobile phones may fail or to communicate easily with a group of people all at once.

Licence-free walkie-talkies are often used by:

• hikers and campers to stay in contact in remote areas.
• Small businesses can coordinate activities.
• parents can keep tabs on their small kids.

**Always remember not to share any sensitive or personal information over your walkie-talkies as anyone could be on the same channel listening in.

To learn more about radio licencing options read our Licencing 101 blog post HERE.

Criteria for Ranking

To evaluate the walkie-talkie’s overall performance, we have selected 5 key criteria to rate them against.

• Size & weight – how convenient is the walkie-talkie to carry?
• Durability – how well will the walkie-talkie withstand drops, extreme weather, and other demanding environments,
• Battery Life – A longer battery life means fewer interruptions for recharging, which is particularly vital during extended outings or work shifts.
• Features – What additional benefits does this device provide for productivity, safety, or ease of use?

The Rankings

#10 Entel DX446e

Entel designed the DX400 Series to accommodate users’ safety and business-critical needs. These compact, ultra-durable portables have a loud 3-watt speaker.

Durability: These devices shine when it comes to durability. They are IP68 rated which means they can withstand being submerged in 2 metres of water for up to 4 hours.

Battery Life: With an impressive 21-hour battery life which is ideal for long-shift work or if you are somewhere with limited access to power for charging.

However, these radios fall down when it comes to additional features and pricing.

The Entel DX446e comes in at £174.15 per unit with very basic features.

To conclude, there are many licenced devices that you can purchase at a similar or lower price point which come with more beneficial features and provide a wider range and coverage.

#9 Hytera BD505LF

Next, the Hytera BD505LF is a professional licence-free two-way radio, designed for the modern workplace.

Size: Weighing only 200g this device is lightweight making it easy to carry when you’re on the go.

Features: This device has a powerful 3-watt loudspeaker for clear communication and VOX (Voice activated operation) capabilities.

Durability: It has an IP54 rating which provides limited protection from dust and water, so may not be the most suitable choice for use outdoors or in harsh weather conditions.

The BD505LF has a battery life of 16 hours, more than enough to keep you connected through a long shift, however it is not as great as some of the other devices we have on the list today.

All in all, for £105.30 per device, this radio would be a great fit for small business use, whereas we wouldn’t recommend it for outdoor activity use.

Available to buy HERE

#8 Entel HT446e

The Entel HT446e is a licence-free full submersible two-way radio, designed to be used in the harshest environments.

Durability: With an IP68 rating, this radio can be submerged in 2 metres of water for up to 4 hours, which is if you’re working on or near bodies of water.

Battery life: With an impressive 26-hour battery life, this device is rugged and reliable enough to keep you always connected.

This Device is very basic when it comes to additional features, which may not be a problem for users who just need the device for communication. To illustrate, this radio is on the bulkier side at 276G, I feel that this is reflected in the durability of the device.

To recap, this radio is £184.14 per unit. If you want a rugged durable device without the need for a licence, then this device would be ideal. However, it is worth considering your required range and coverage needs as you may be better suited to getting a licenced device at a similar price point.

Available for purchase HERE

#7 Motorola T42

Simple, easy, fun. Camping, exploring, on the beach, or just playing in the garden, the Motorola T42 walkie-talkie is perfect for staying in touch when at home or out and about.

Price: These walkie-talkies come in a twin pack for only £30! This makes instant Push-to-talk communication more accessible to people on a budget. These devices are aimed more at personal communication use.

Size: Weighting only 79G, these walkie-talkies on super small and lightweight. Perfect for kids or families.

Battery life: These radios take 3 x AAA batteries to power them. But once powered they have an impressive 18-hour battery life. as a result, we recommend keeping some spare AAA batteries on hand to swap out if the device dies to keep you connected whatever you are doing.

To summarize, at such a low price point you can’t expect these devices to provide much in terms of additional features and they don’t. They provide the most basic two-way radio operation, which is fine if you need your walkie-talkies just for communicating over small distances. There is no mention on the spec sheet for these devices of what IP rating they have so we are unable to provide an accurate rating on their durability.

Available for purchase HERE

#6 Hytera BP515LF

The Hytera BP515LF two-way radio is a cost-effective device that packs a punch when it comes to usability and design.

Size: Weighing 210g this device is lightweight making it easy to carry when you’re on the go.

Features: This device has a powerful 3-watt loudspeaker for clear communication and VOX (Voice activated operation) capabilities.

Durability: It has an IP54 rating which provides limited protection from dust and water, so may not be the most suitable choice for use outdoors or in harsh weather conditions.

The BP515LF has an 18-hour battery life, great for keeping you connected through a long shift or when you have limited access to a power supply.

In summary, at £105.30 per device, we would recommend these devices for small business use where you only need to communicate over a small area.

Available for purchase HERE

#5 ICOM IC-F29DR3

The ICOM IC-F29DR3 is aimed primarily at professional users and provides a great licence-free solution for businesses that only need short-range communications.

Features: For a licence-free device this radio is packed full of additional features. Keep your workers safe with the use of lone-worker or improve usability and operation with VOX capabilities.

Battery life: Additionally, this device provides an impressive 26-hour operating time. This is ideal for people working long shifts to eliminate the need for devices to be out of operation as they are charging.

Durability: This device features impressive water porting technology which helps to drain water from the speaker cavity without distorting the audio quality. These devices are IP67-rated and can withstand being submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

The main drawback of this device is that it weighs 270g and is one of the larger devices on the list. This is also the most expensive device on the list at £194.40. For that price point, the device does offer some great features in a license-free device. Again, it may be worth considering range and coverage requirements as you may be better off getting a licenced device at a similar price point with a much larger range.

Available For purchase HERE

#4 Motorola CLR446

The Motorola CLR446e are small, lightweight, and easy-to-operate communication device. Although primarily aimed at small businesses these walkie-talkies are a great tool for all situations.

Size: A sleek design, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and weighing only 126g. These devices are easy to carry on shift or on the go out and about.

Features: The CLR446e shines when you focus on the additional features this device provides.  From an oversized Push-to-talk button for an easy fuss-free operation to VOX hands-free and customer programming software (CPS) capabilities. These walkie-talkies provide advanced functionality like what you would see in a licenced two-way radio.

Additionally, this device has an 18-hour battery life which is impressive considering it is so small. However, this device isn’t as durable as some of the other licence-free walkie-talkies on the list, This device has an IP52 rating, which is fine as long as you don’t try and use it in harsh environments or extreme weather.

In summary , priced at £119.27, this device would be ideal for use in retail or hospitality.

Available for purchase HERE

#3 ICOM IC-U20SR

In number 3 we have the ICOM IC-U20SR. This device is perfect for people who work in retail, restaurants, and hospitality.

Size:  This ultra-compact device weighs only 156g and is less than 10 cm tall. This device will provide convenient communication on to go, without the users feeling weighed down.

Features: The IC-U20SR, like the other ICOM devices on this list, boasts additional features such as VOX capabilities and an emergency button located on the top of the device.

Battery life: 21-hour battery life is great considering the size of the device.

Durability: IP54 dust and water-resistant. Meets MIL-STD810G. Additionally, this device has water porting technology to dislodge water trapped in the speaker cavity without distorting the audio quality.

Price: At only £114.21, this device is one of the lower-priced licence-free devices on the list and provides some of the best features for safety and functionality! If you want something that’s a step ahead of your basic walkie-talkie that device would be perfect. In summary, it’s lightweight, rugged, and has an impressive battery life. The emergency button feature also provides extra peace of mind for the user of the device.

Available for purchase HERE

#2 Hytera AP515LF

consequently at number 2 contender, the Hytera AP515LF business walkie-talkie, packs a host of features that drive productivity and enhance efficiency, making it the perfect choice for a cost-effective instant communication tool.

Size: This professional-grade walkie-talkie is only 200g and 10.5 cm tall. This device is for professional office, retail, and hospitality use.

Battery life: With a low-consumption design (including a 4000mAh Li-polymer battery) and an impressive 17-hour battery life, the AP515LF will help power your team through their entire shift.

Price:  priced at only £95 per device, the AP515LF is one of the more economically variable options, especially for small businesses on a budget, who only need short-range communication.

Features: The AP5 series offers features that streamline your work process, making it easier to get things done. You can confirm the operation of a programmable button, or change the channel of the radio via voice broadcast. You can also deliver critical information with three kinds of signalling, via the simple press of a button. Furthermore, the AP5 series has enhanced noise cancellation technology to eliminate unwanted background noise

Durability: Designed to MIL-STD-810G and rated IP54, this device can withstand the chaotic shop floor or the hustle and bustle of a busy bar.

Available for purchase HERE

#1 Motorola T92

Number one on our top 10 walkie-talkies of 2023 is the Motorola T92 H20 (twin pack).

The Motorola T92 has a floating waterproof design, rugged design and will keep you in contact with your friends or work colleagues,

Features: The licence-free Motorola T92 packs a range of safety and productivity features to help you with more than just your communication needs. As a result, the device floats face-up with a water-activated flashlight for easy retrieval. This radio comes with an emergency alert feature, giving you the confidence to enjoy your escape to the great outdoors, knowing that you can inform others of any dangers. It has hands-free VOX capabilities for easy communication on the go.

Battery Life: The device includes NiMH rechargeable batteries, providing up to 23 hours of uninterrupted communication, or you can use three AA batteries. The T92 H2O comes with 2 USB-C charging cables, making it easy to recharge when needed If you are on an adventure and don’t have access to a power supply for charging, you can replace the batteries with spare ones to continue communication.

Durability: This device is an IP67-rated waterproof device. Built to withstand harsh environments and weather the T92 repels rain. It can be submerged in water of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

Price:  These walkie-talkies will cost you  £91.80 for a twin pack.  These are some of the most affordable  on the list and provide a massive amount of safety and productivity features. These can  assist you through your adventures or work day. For This price point, these provide great durability and battery life for short-range communications. We think these devices are ideal for both small business use and personal leisure,

Available for purchase HERE

Conclusion

That wraps up our rankings of the top 10 licence-free walkie-talkies for 2023. To conclude,  there is a diverse array of options available available to meet all short-range communication needs. From rugged, waterproof designs for camping to lightweight, feature-packed designs for retail. We can help find the perfect walkie-talkie for you. Remember to assess your specific requirements and priorities before making a final decision. Whichever device you choose, reliable communication is just a button press away. Here’s to staying connected, no matter where your journey takes you!

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