Part of our New Ham? This Is Where You Should Spend Your Money guide.
The IC-7300 is one of the best-selling HF transceivers ever made (Icom puts the number north of 100,000 units worldwide) and it earned that reputation by being the radio that made direct-sampling SDR, a real-time spectrum scope, and a touchscreen interface affordable for the average ham. In late 2025, Icom released the IC-7300 Mark II. Here’s what actually changed, and where both radios land next to the G90 and FT-891.
What’s shared between the IC-7300 and Mark II
- 100W output, HF plus 50 MHz (Mark II adds 70 MHz where permitted)
- RF direct-sampling SDR architecture, no traditional mixer stages
- 4.3″ color touchscreen with real-time spectrum scope and waterfall
- Built-in automatic antenna tuner
- SD card slot for recordings, logs, and settings
- Roughly 4.2 kg / 9.3 lbs, similar compact footprint
What the Mark II actually adds
- Better receiver dynamic range: RMDR improved to roughly 105-113 dB (Icom cites over 12 dB improvement) at 2 kHz spacing, meaning strong nearby signals cause noticeably less blocking
- Cleaner transmit: phase noise improved by about 12 dB at 1 kHz offset
- HDMI output, a first for Icom’s HF line, lets you run the spectrum scope and menus on a large external monitor
- USB Type-C with dual virtual COM ports and audio I/O, so digital modes and logging software can run simultaneously over one cable
- Built-in LAN/Ethernet port for RS-BA1 remote operation without needing a separate server PC
- Built-in CW decoder, read Morse without a computer
- Separate RX antenna IN/OUT connectors for external filters or preamps
- Lower standby power draw (0.9A down to 0.7A) and quieter fan control, meaning less heat on long operating sessions
Price reflects the upgrade: the original IC-7300 typically runs $1,000-1,100, while the Mark II lands around $1,299-1,499. Worth noting: a handful of early hands-on reviews have raised questions about specific component choices inside the Mark II compared to the original, so if you already own a working IC-7300 and mainly want the connectivity upgrades, it’s worth reading a few in-depth reviews before deciding whether the jump is worth it for your use case.
Where the G90 and FT-891 fit in
Both IC-7300 variants sit in a different tier than the G90 and FT-891: higher price, but a real step up in receiver performance, display quality, and built-in tuner convenience. Here’s the honest breakdown:
- Xiegu G90 (~$450-500, 20W): the budget and portability champion. Built-in tuner and small size make it a great field radio, but it doesn’t match either 7300’s receiver dynamic range or screen size, and 20W is a real ceiling.
- Yaesu FT-891 (~$650, 100W): full power in a small, display-light package. No touchscreen, no spectrum scope, no built-in tuner, you’re trading interface and convenience for more power, size and price.
- IC-7300 (~$1,000-1,100, 100W): the sweet spot for most people wanting a proper touchscreen SDR base radio without paying flagship prices. Built-in tuner, excellent scope, huge user base for support and accessories.
- IC-7300 Mark II (~$1,299-1,499, 100W): the same strengths as the original plus meaningfully better RMDR/phase noise and modern connectivity (HDMI, USB-C, LAN), for those buying new and wanting the latest hardware.
Bottom line
If budget and portability are the priority, the G90 or FT-891 are the better fit. Pick the G90 if you want the built-in tuner and lighter weight, the FT-891 if you want more raw power and don’t mind an external tuner. If you want a proper base-station experience with a spectrum scope and touchscreen, the IC-7300 remains an excellent value, especially now that Mark II availability is pushing used original prices down. And if you’re buying new and want the best receiver performance plus modern connectivity, the Mark II is the one to get, just budget a few hundred dollars more for it.