For Ham's looking for a portable or mobile HF rig, choosing the right rig depends heavily on the features you need in your new transceiver.  Are you looking for budget fun-filled field days operating SOTA or POTA, the simplicity of having internal batteries and whether an internal automatic antenna tuner would make your antenna installation quick and easy?  Do you want to add some bells and whistles with a model capable of operating on VHF and UHF bands or does your current handheld or mobile already serve the purpose for field communications?

Selecting between these radios is a bit like picking a car - do you want a rugged off-roader, a high-tech luxury sedan, or a reliable workhorse? Since you're looking at a mix of "budget kings" and "premium benchmarks," here is a breakdown of how we stack them up.

Below is a detailed comparison of six popular transceivers at January 2026.

Detailed Radio Breakdowns

The Xiegu "Trio" (G90, X6100, X6200)

These are your budget-friendly entries into the world of SDR (Software Defined Radio).

• G90: The "workhorse" of the group. This Xiegu model has gained a massive worldwide following.  Famous for its incredible internal tuner - hence the comments "it can tune a wet noodle" - matching almost any non-ideal "random wire" antenna. It hits a sweet spot with 20 Watts, giving you a bit more "punch" than QRP (low power) radios. It's built solidly and comes with a real-time waterfall display but lacks an internal battery and has a tiny screen.  Best for budget-conscious mobile POTA (Parks on the Air) field operators who want more than 5W. Can also be used as a base station and has an optional GPA100 or XPA125B 100 watt plug in linear amplifiers available. New model has Anderson Pole power connectors and rear ventilation grill. The front display can be separated for easier operation.
• X6100: A true all-in-one. It has a beautiful screen and runs Linux under the hood. Great for digital modes like FT8 without needing a computer, but some users find it gets a bit warm. Has large colour waterfalls, built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and internal batteries. Great for operators who want a modern, visual SDR experience in a single handheld unit.  Can also be used as a base station and has an optional GPA100 or XPA125B 100 watt plug in linear amplifiers available.
• X6200: The latest model released by Xiegu in 2024. An upgrade from the X6100 model by adding a removable battery pack and improving the receiver architecture (Direct Sampling). It feels more polished, though its max power is slightly lower (8W).  Large colour waterfalls, built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and user-replaceable (swap-out) battery.  Can also be used as a base station and has an optional GPA100 or XPA125B 100 watt plug in linear amplifiers available.

Guohetec PMR-171

A rugged, "military-style" manpack that has gained a recent cult following for its versatility when operating in the field.  The PMR-171 covers HF, VHF, and UHF in one rugged box. 20W output on HF is a significant advantage and available as a modular design (you can add GPS or DMR modules).   

Ideal for hams who want 20 Watts on HF and up to 10 watts on VHF and UHF field-ready manpack with removeable battery pack.  A nice feature is the QRadioBLE mobile app enabling users to manage the  transceiver via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for cumbersome wired connections and reducing the risk of common-mode interference.

Icom IC-705

The gold standard for QRP portable, the Icom 705 comes out at the top of the price range but includes HF, VHF, UHF and D-STAR mode.  It features an intuitive touch-screen interface, incredible SDR receiver quality and seamless integration with tablets/PCs via Wi-Fi. Extremely polished firmware.

Unfortunately there's no internal antenna tuner and would require an external one like the AH-705 or MAT705 or operate only with a resonant antenna).  Very expensive for a 10W radio.

Yaesu FT-891

The only portable/mobile 100 Watt radio on this list. While it is marketed as a mobile (car) radio, many use it for portable work.   If you've got a big battery or power available in the field 100 Watts of power means you will actually be heard.  Legendary Yaesu filtering and "bulletproof" build.    The mono-colour LCD doesn't include waterfall but is detachable.  Some users say it requires a large LiFePO4 battery, but if you drop to low power battery life is extended.  No  internal tuner included so may require an external tuner if using with a non-resonant antenna.  Great for operators who don't care about waterfalls and just want to "blast through" the pileups from a summit or a vehicle. 

Brief Summary

• If you are on a budget: The Xiegu G90. It’s the best HF "bang for buck" in New Zealand.
• If you want the best tech with VHF and UHF: The Icom IC-705 is ideal, but be prepared to carry a separate tuner.
• If you need 100 Watts out of the box: The Yaesu FT-891 is your only choice here.
• If you want a Manpack with HF, VHF and UHF: The PMR-171 offers incredible frequency coverage and power for its size.
  

A Note About Digital Modes

Be careful with power settings and cooling when operating long digital mode sessions (like FT8) as the many transceivers can get hot and need more ventilation, with some users adding an aftermarket cooling fan placed nearby helps but do proceed with caution.  You may need to reduce transmit power to save overheating or damaging your transceiver.