I have one of each in my quiver.... so here’s the comparison... All the RSMs shown below are IP68 except the far left (APX/XPR impres RSM... IP57)
Left to right:
APX/XPR impres RSM (volume 2-position hi/low, emergency button, one side no-dot programmable button)
APX XP RSM (volume step up/down, emergency button, one side 1-dot programmable button)
APX DRSM (volume step up/down, emergency button, TWO side 1-dot/2-dot programmable buttons, channel selector, display)
APX XE RSM - gen 2 shown (volume step up/down, emergency button, one side 1-dot programmable button, LED light button)
APX XE500 RSM (volume step up/down, emergency button, one side 1-dot programmable button, LED light button, channel selector)
FRONT VIEW
![Image](https://s5.postimg.org/51fccdlav/1-front.jpg)
BACK VIEW (APX DRSM clip swapped out with D-ring clip)
![Image](https://s5.postimg.org/m386eh05z/2-back.jpg)
TOP VIEW (XP RSM is thinnest)
![Image](https://s5.postimg.org/ykeu1mvbr/4-top.jpg)
PTT SIDE VIEW (XP RSM is thinnest)
![Image](https://s5.postimg.org/5ti0bkphz/3-pttside.jpg)
Rearranged with longest to shortest cables
- APX/XPR impres RSM has longest, but not interchangeable with other RSMs
- XE500 RSM has slightly longer cable than other three to the right and stretches more – high temp cable
- XP, DRSM and XE units have same cable length
![Image](https://s5.postimg.org/fglilaihj/5-cord.jpg)
I have used all these RSM's at one point for enough to get a good feel for them.
Pros/Cons on each......
- APX/XPR impres RSM
Pros: long cable, compact head, good audio
Cons: controls not glove or big finger friendly, volume is "hi/low", not "up/down" step, sensitive PTT
- XP RSM
Pros: not bulky, loud audio, volume "up/down" step, IP68, good tactile PTT
Cons: D-ring clip too tight to hang over antenna, almost too thin to use with gloves, no display
- DRSM
Pros: IP68, channel selector, volume "up/down" step, good audio, two programmable buttons
Cons: sensitive PTT, no D-ring clip, audio port is somewhat non-standard (though IP68), side buttons are kind of hard to use for gloves or big fingers.
- XE RSM
Pros: IP68, glove and big finger friendly, large emergency button, LED flashlight (Gen 2 or later), volume "up/down" step, award-winning ergonomic design, good tactile PTT, clip rotation easy to use, dual mic ports, reflective strip
Cons: no channel selector, no display
- XE500 RSM
Pros: channel selector, dual mic ports, Bluetooth indicator LED, Tx/Rx LED, large emergency button, high temp cable standard, volume "up/down" step, good tactile PTT, LED flashlight is also button for that feature
Cons: a tab bit bulky/wide, fitment on case/housing pieces not perfect, no display, pricey