RadioMaster TX16S MK3 Is Here - And If You Have an MK2, Here's Exactly Whether You Should Upgrade
H7 processor, 5-inch touchscreen, Gemini dual-band ELRS, V6 Hall-Effect gimbals. The TX16S MK3 launched January 2026. Honest breakdown of what changed and whether the MK2 is now obsolete.
What RadioMaster Actually Changed
RadioMaster has upgraded the TX16S line with the MK3 - launched January 22, 2026. This is not a cosmetic refresh. Three changes are genuinely meaningful for FPV pilots.
🧠 STM32 H7 MCU - Finally
The MK1 and MK2 used an F4-class processor. The MK3 moves to STM32 H7 - faster, more memory, and critically, better positioned for future EdgeTX development. This is the main reason for the upgrade from a longevity standpoint. Your radio firmware is no longer constrained by F4 memory limits.
📺 5-inch 800x480 IPS Touchscreen
Up from 4.3 inches on the MK2. Touch input is now standard. If you've ever navigated EdgeTX menus with a scroll wheel for hours, this is a quality-of-life change you'll notice immediately on the first model setup session.
📡 Gemini Dual-Band ELRS - The Real Story
The MK3 ships with Gemini-X: dual LR1121 transceivers covering both 2.4GHz and 900MHz simultaneously. In practice: your radio can maintain a single link that uses whichever band has better conditions at any given moment. For long-range flying this is a meaningful reliability improvement. For freestyle bando at 200m range - it's a nice-to-have, not a necessity.
💡 Gemini dual-band matters most for long-range pilots and anyone flying in congested RF environments. For pure bando freestyle within 300m, 2.4GHz ELRS alone is more than adequate. Don't let the spec sheet drive the upgrade decision.
🎮 V6 Quad-Bearing Hall-Effect Gimbals
New V6 gimbals with the same chipset as the AG02. External adjustment for travel, centering, and tension without opening the case. The ADC filter is disabled by default - lower noise from the start. MK3 MAX upgrades further to full CNC aluminium AG02 gimbals for pilots who want the absolute best input feel.
MK2 vs MK3: Should You Upgrade?
| Feature | TX16S MK2 | TX16S MK3 | Matters? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCU | STM32 F4 | STM32 H7 | Yes - future-proofs EdgeTX |
| Screen | 4.3" IPS, no touch | 5" IPS touchscreen | Comfort upgrade |
| ELRS | 2.4GHz only | Gemini 2.4+900MHz | Only for long-range |
| Gimbals | V4 | V6 (same chip as AG02) | Yes - noticeably better feel |
| EdgeTX support | Active | Active | Both supported |
| USB-C charging | Yes (2.2A) | Yes | No change |
⚠️ Honest verdict: If your MK2 works perfectly and you fly freestyle only - don't upgrade. The MK2 will receive EdgeTX updates and fly reliably for years. If you're buying new, get the MK3 - there's no reason to start on last-gen hardware.
Standard vs MK3 MAX: Which to Choose
The MK3 MAX adds full CNC aluminium AG02 gimbals, aluminium CNC buttons and knobs, and a carbon-look case. The AG02 gimbals represent a meaningful step up in precision and feel. If you tune PIDs regularly and spend hours on the sticks, the AG02 input quality is worth it. If you fly casually, the Standard V6 gimbals are excellent.
✅ Buy the Standard MK3 first. The V6 gimbals are already very good. If you later want AG02 precision - RadioMaster sells AG02 gimbals separately as an upgrade, compatible with Boxer and TX16S MK1/MK2 as well.
The mLRS Option (Advanced)
The TX16S MK3 also supports mLRS - an open-source, LoRa-based radio link operating at 2.4GHz, 915/868MHz, and 433MHz. mLRS is designed for maximum link resilience and is increasingly used in the FPV-adjacent autonomous/long-range community. For standard freestyle FPV, ELRS remains the right choice. mLRS support is relevant context for anyone building something beyond conventional FPV use cases.
Whatever radio you fly - MK2, MK3, Boxer - the Ferrum 50 accepts your ELRS receiver of choice. The Ferrum Race Wires make motor swaps fast between sessions. Spare arms mean a crashed bando session doesn't end your day.
→ Shop Ferrum 50