TESTED: The BEST radar detectors

[@micahnightwolf]

Even my grandfather's old RadioShack radar detector from 1995 had LIDAR detection. All that does is let you know you've been caught, but the flashing red and blue lights in your mirror will do that for free.

[@marcmccord5085]

I have been running an R3 since it came out. Good updates, and often. I don’t care which direction the signal comes from, just that I am alerted to it. Great range and a ton of settings to customize it to my area and driving habits. Valentine is a no go because you need external apps for it to work at its best. Escort… simply too pricey. The R3 is excellent and has saved me more times than I can count.

[@pherylihy58]

The R7 is a beast. Not including it in this video is a strikeout.

[@patrickoutlaw6462]

I agree. I have the R7

[@MowerModdin]

Me too. I own an R7. Very close to the V1 Gen2 in performance, but there are a few tradeoffs. Also the Redline 360c seems to be a way overhyped detector, at least compared to the other top dogs

[@themoors3403]

What about the best the AntiLaser please?

[@klugermann5806]

@@themoors3403 that would be the ALP jammer system

[@bmd1825]

@@klugermann5806 - how so? It hasn’t been out long enough to gather enough data to compare. Even @Vortex has just received his to perform testing.

[@urnzwayzmoove]

V1 saved me thousands back when I used it. Still the best!

[@scpittman5769]

Bought an unide r3 im very happy with it does what I need it to do

[@VortexRadar]

haha yeah, that's what a good detector does :)

[@veepeecee8630]

COBRA 480i is AMAZING!!!! It does the unthinkable! It’s the most humble radar detector out there! And it gets the job done! It has Bluetooth so it’s has GPS that way. It tracks your speed and it tells u what speed your suppose to go on that road: it’s updated regularly as well.

[@dannyorsello8668]

I loved your presentation, thank you. I recently acquired an '05 Corvette very fast car and although I'm an old man I've been pulled over twice in the last week for speeding. I appreciate all of your information and excellent personality. Merry Christmas.

[@dastardlydave1455]

Good review, covering a full range of budgets. I have graduated from a Uniden R3 to a R7. The R7 is a great radar detector. It is full featured, programmable, and has one of the longest ranges for detection. My other car has the new Radenso DS1. The DS1 just came out. This is another great detector, cheaper than the R7, no arrows, but has bluetooth (right now for update and changing settings from phone app). There are alot of updates planned for this detector from Radenso. I would recommend these two--the R7 & DS1. FYI, I still have my first radar detector. Useless in today's environment. Lol

[@I53-624]

R3 is useless?

[@I53-624]

And does the r7 get annoying with false alerts? Lot of people say it does

[@samh7982]

all im waiting for is the radenso theia

[@DeepCover757]

@@samh7982 you may as well wait on the tooth fairy.

[@MowerModdin]

@@I53-624 if you have the settings configured on your R7, the false alerts aren't that bad. Maybe like 2-4 times on a 3 hour roadtrip. Or whenever you pass a Mazda or any GM product. But with the R7 stock, it sucks in terms of BSM filtering

[@the-boring-car-guy]

Oh crap I forgot about this guy. Cooley 2.0. Keep him on roadshow

[@trueamericanpatriot8305]

I have had the Cobra 480i I love it on the highway

[@BlitzkriegBev]

Glad to see Vortex. Brings the necessary validity to this video.

[@vasekvi]

Always very entertaining! Vortex reviews got me into a Redline 360c and I got an extra mount to switch it very easily between my two vehicles. I plan to add some laser jammers to my hot hatch, which the Redline 360c supports. I also recommended it to my brother who picked one up as well.

[@yingyang203]

Just picked up a uniden r8 range on it is insane works to well will alert me at a half mile away and the cop can be on different road not even in my sight

[@ishaukthedoc5686]

Vortex is selling himself short here he’s absolutely the radar master. he’s been doing this stuff for years and i was going to be sorely disappointed if he didn’t make an appearance in this video

[@VortexRadar]

Who's this "Vortex" guy you speak of? :)

[@UKSportsFan]

Vortex calling himself "The Master" would be a very ghetto thing. Humility is still a virtue, even if it is underutilized these days.

[@channelx92]

I would choose the R7 or the Redenso DS1 over any of these. The R8 will be the new king of the hill as soon as it's released. Haven't seen anything come close to it's range with an average increase of 20 to 25% in range over the R7.

[@matt007]

I had no idea these were still a thing. I remember them being so popular back in the late 90s early 00s.

[@ForTehNguyen]

they are very good nowadays, lot less false alarms, good detection range. Mine still save me a lot

[@gardenst4398]

Police are even smarter😝😝 You cannot escape with this tiny device....Laser & MRCD🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@samh7982]

@@gardenst4398 just get spectre elite and become equally smart with them

[@gardenst4398]

@@samh7982 spectre elite is radar detector detector? How could that be useful to us unless I'm a cop😝😝

[@thedragon356]

@@gardenst4398 something a cop would say nice try

[@MPGunther1]

Thank You and I still own an old Escort from the 70's

[@jermvasquez3869]

cobra is surprisingly decent, nice interface,

[@markcollins3732]

R3 has been my choice for about 5 years.

[@GTIngold]

Still using a beltronics rx65 from over 10 years ago. Still fantastic. Way more false alerts but mute helps

[@MarkP-v8b]

got one too 10 years too 4 + miles in flat straight roads .... see around corners and good from behind too

[@avgbowler]

I prefer NetRadar and ALP Parking Sensors but hey, that's just me and what I have been using for over a year.... Also I am rocking a Val One for when I travel.....

[@aurorajones8481]

Ive been wanting to get one of these for my Ducati. Like just yesterday! I blew through a slow pack of cars only to find myself lit up by a moto cop! I cracked the throttle and eliminated any paperwork for the both of us and I saved a bunch of money on my insurance by not stopping. BUT, if I had a detector I would have known to slow it down prior to getting lit up eliminating the need to run like a maniac.

[@Kerleem]

Great video! I have an old escort 9500ix back in the US and it worked quite well. Loved having GPS with it.

[@deplorabledave1048]

I still have mine. But it is USELESS now because if sounds constantly from false alerts due to modern tech. I had to spend $420 to buy a Uniden R7. Problem solved. VERY happy.

[@RadensoRadar]

We believe you missed some other much better radar detectors... ;)

[@sparkk5358]

like what?

[@SuperTurbocoupe]

To be fair, they covered the top brands. Granted there are other brands out there but they don't offer one designed and built by them, they are just rebranded/remarketed.

[@terpinkov8770]

@@sparkk5358 the DS1

[@VortexRadar]

@@sparkk5358 The DS1 is a solid pick

[@r31dmciver2]

Radenso Pro

[@Get_yotted]

Got one, I got the Cobra 480i, thinking of returning it. Too many false alerts in different locations on windshield, likely due to my cars collision avoidance system. Also it tells me there are red light cameras in the highway. So yeah I’m returning and getting the midrange pick.

[@haycock7759]

valentine one has been awesome for me, but i do like the escort redline

[@timtimtimmay4654]

I see several comments in here saying just to "do the speed limit". It isn't always that easy. Speed traps are a thing, passing trucks that block speed limit signs happen. Good songs on the radio with good weather conditions tend to lead drivers to get comfortable at higher speeds as well. It isn't always about trying to break the sound barrier or get a new quickest time from point A to B. Technology has made leaps in the last ten years (recently moved from my trusty Escort 9500ix to a Redline 360c). I drive often for my job, through a lot of places I've never been. I've been pulled over enough by crooked cops and good ones the same. The detectors help you to know when one is trying to bait you into saying "I may have been speeding" when you weren't (see Riverside, AL Sheriff who wasn't even running radar) and the ones who try to ticket you while another car is passing you (Jackson, MS trooper, you know who you are). I wish we could trust people to be honest, all cops to protect and serve instead of the few who are revenue generators, and jurisdictions to not make following the law into a game of hoop jumping by changing speeds multiple times from 45 to 70 in the span of a couple miles. Get a good detector and a good dashcam setup if you plan on driving often. Waze and my 9500ix served me well until all the blind spot monitoring drove me nuts when I purchased the Redline 360c AND configured it to suit my needs AND updated it. Keep your stuff updated, learn to configure it properly, run Waze, and don't get so cheap that you end up being annoyed more than you can stand. Many on this list are great. Happy travelling!

[@henlofren7321]

I took their advice to "do the speed limit" and the very next time I drove I get a $400 ticket for violating the "move over" law because a cop was intentionally blocking the emergency lights of another. All victimless crimes are no crimes at all, they are just an unconstitutional tax.

[@RosserNFT]

Great to watch while eating dinner, and omg if I had the car and $$$ I would get the last one.

[@TheNLHAZE]

No DS1/ R4 or R7 you missed a lot of really good detectors. My friend.

[@searches04]

He throws a whistler and a cobra in the bunch those two dont even compare to the other ones he has . R4 And DS1 And R7 all the way

[@Powerpickle68]

@@searches04 Yeah, no Radenso

[@searches04]

@@Powerpickle68 ds1 is good . I like it better then the r4

[@leoguy1609]

Vortex Radar did instant on test the V1 Gen 2 average response time was 1 second, Uniden R3 and Uniden R7 average response time was .37 second, my older V1 Gen 1 is quicker responding to instant on than the V1 Gen 2. Biggest improvement I would like to see in any radar detector ? A speaker that will actually last! Cobra radar detector are owned by Escort and they are garbage.

[@SuperTurbocoupe]

Only vs K band. On Ka band it's the fastest ever tested.

[@stevenbryant4718]

Get the Uniden R1. Are you really speeding in the grocery store parking lot or even within K band range. I have only seen one K band hit, in a small town. Ka band is what you need on the highway and range detection is king. Having the mute button on the front is very useful as you can see the display once alerted. If you spend $500 on a detector, leave it in the window, expect it to be stolen. The R1 doesn't have GPS. It is what you need, something simple and sensitive to Ka band. I have had the Laser alert me to a laser gun in a construction zone. It was load and bright. It was in a construction zone and it is good to know where they are using laser. I was going 60 mph as well as the 10 cars on my bumper. None of them were passing me in the 45 mph zone where the workers were but they floored it while still in the offical zone. I am wondering where the new light K band is though.

[@mike_prod.9224]

The V1 Gen 2 is generally a better detector than the Redline360 for most users who journey on thr highway frequently. I drive nearly 1600 miles a month, mostly on the highway, and the V1 Gen 2 paired with JBV1 is an incredible package that keeps me safe. It's sensitivity to Ka band instant on at a distance very much exceeds the relatively sluggish Redline360 and is on Par with the Uniden R8, while also being undetectable (essential for us who drive through VA/DC). It also has significantly better false alert filtering if you combine with JBV1 compared to any other radar detector. On its own the Redline360 or Uniden R8 are probably a better detector, but with JBV1, The V1 Gen 2 is by far the best overall package for those who are looking to get to their destination the fastest while not collecting speeding tickets.

[@CrystalhearingukCoUk]

If i use google maps to navigate how does this work when iseing the JBV1 app ?

[@andrequiroz4657]

I’ve been happy with my R3. Bought on sale $260 out the door. Couldn’t see spending $500 just for arrows. I’ve seen Mcrd pop up while in bigger highways.

[@JSTROTER2]

Great Work.....V1 Gen2 for me

[@osiriseye6335]

Lmao yes I always told people they are helpful but if the department is using laser, like the highway patrol units of the NYPD. Seeing laser on your detector means your just about to get pulled over and ticketed

[@l...]

Thank you for chapters

[@richardharris5819]

My money's on the R7:) It's never let me down:)

[@fefella3937]

Escort redline 360C all day- everyday!!!!!!

[@David-yp4fl]

Thank you for the valuable information y'all have been a blessing

[@kennyman338]

I actually have a cobra 480i its great for on the budget but I'm considering on getting a different brand like the uniden dfr7. Cause that has red light camera alert, and sometimes the cobra 480i can have some false alerts and doesnt even pick up patrol vehicles sitting in a hiding spot.

[@TheNLHAZE]

up grade I have a Excellent condition R3 Uniden case and all just like New for sale.

[@mapley2167]

If you can swing it, the uniden R3 is a great step up in sensitivity from both that 480i and even the DFR series. It also has GPS for the red light camera alerts.

[@boshyshabani01]

@@TheNLHAZE how much for the r3?

[@TheNLHAZE]

Still have the box and all Accessories Excellent shape would be glad to send you pictures if you're serious I now have R4 And DS1. So great Christmas gift to yourself !! lol

[@TheNLHAZE]

@Bashar Shabani I already have it set up for my area 864 You can see for where u live six one seven and turn off 15 Fifty nine that's what I would do.

[@williamsmith8354]

Question, boss! Can you recommend a great radar detector with GPS and camera I can rotate, where time, speed and location are encoded into the video? Thanks! :)

[@saltygrapes-bt7rr]

I run the radenso ds1 and its great!!

[@markusdupree5317]

I’ll buy a RWR and install chaff to prevent getting targeted by radar guided missiles

[@Wasabi9111]

I was thinking of getting one for my upcoming extended family road trip. But they’re not cheap and their effectiveness seems questionable based in this review. I’ll stick w my Waze for now.

[@tech_gear]

Waze + Radar Detector (a good one) = Ultimate effectiveness

[@stancummings6257]

They can be costly but so is a speeding ticket a R4 or even R3 gives you that extra time to slow down and layer of protection that I find to be worth the money now instead of later waze is OK but now the fact it is so well known that most State troopers have the app now and just delete themselves every time you report them so good luck and safe travels on the road trip

[@daviddin8863]

Valentine1 gen2 + jbv1 app, gives you just about everything the $800-900 detectors have, looks for small planes (tells you who owns them, and it will give waze reports.

[@weiky79]

I had the old 9500 but found it lacked with newer speed detection equipment so i upgraded to the ix. Saved me THOUSANDS in fines and insurance premium increases

[@velocity4260]

Bit of an old video, but if you’re looking at the cobra 480 pick the 700 instead newer and performs better.

[@JamesSmith-Jtz]

Anyone else notice how the bird goes out of its way to tempt fate and narrowly escaped death within the first 3 seconds of this video?

[@robertnicoletti3846]

I see Ka false signals from new car collision avoidance systems and cruise control systems.

[@broken1965]

Beltronics saved me countless times in last 20 years

[@6548ww]

I bought a Valentine V -1 spent over $500 for it including the latest software update and though it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t any better than the Cobra’s I have used over the last 30 years and my V 1 is for sale has all Original box papers latest update and the wireless Bluetooth adapter I live in north Ga area Calhoun near Dalton Ga if anyone is interested? Got over $500 invested will take $325 still look like New has been packed back in the Original Box waiting for a new home

[@MrUGA2010]

I used to have Escort 9500x back in the day; nowadays I have Waze and it is more than enough for me; no ticket in a long time

[@andyp9131]

I live in the UK and own two a snooper had it since 2001 does all the k radar guns and i.also have a microfuzion fz1 and that's satellite GPS it tell u to slow down has updates for life I aid £99 bit now they are only £79 or there's one with no free updates for £49 but if u have a mate who has the fz1 u can use his account to update URS lol

[@Aldnon]

Nice, I never knew there was ELINT for car in the road, I am from one of those country that use kmph.

[@ryanwalker8098]

Awesome Vid!!!! Thank you!

[@ReginaldKSon]

Well done. No R7?

[@izzilla77]

Great video 🤞🏼

[@hughgonzalez8958]

Which brand has the brightest and readable display? Thanks

[@D84D]

what's best for your typical long distance highway trips? I do Portland to Seattle and Portland to CA or Tahoe

[@aurorajones8481]

Great vid guys.

[@rondellschuyler7074]

Ok. July 2022 and i have my picks down to two. Valentine 1 gen 2 and the uniden R7. Hmmm one cheaper and one more expensive. Tuff decision.

[@Leggs013]

❤❤ cobra 500Rad ❤❤

[@cheeseburgerrunner5217]

Good information, but you’re side bar comments are kinda annoying. I know it’s probably hard to not see that comment as rude but hopefully it’s just one random internet guys attempt at constructive criticism. Thanks for the helpful video!

[@robertallen3133]

Great video !!!

[@johnhstein6244]

``Be aware you can get alerts of a "radar in front" alert, if in fact you are behind a large truck and the emitter is in fact behind you... BTDT... ;-)... also... if the emitter is "sampling" passing traffic... particularly helpful if the emitter is laser. these can give you alerts well in advance of the threat zone.

[@cedrick305]

Gas is so expensive that I actually stay 5 below the posted speed limit.

[@Bobbodaclown70]

How 😢 sad

[@TylerEubank]

Any cordless ones?

[@fentor3713]

Now this is very interesting :)

[@petertorressr7725]

No R7 and now there's a new King in the R8.

[@JMCretella]

Redline 360c availability? Anyone know when it will be in stock again?

[@elijahmurray6094]

Whatever you do don't go to Virginia or Washington DC with one. It's against the law.

[@BrogeKilrain]

So is using a cell phone 😆😆😆🤔

[@elijahmurray6094]

@@BrogeKilrain I'm just saying it's one expensive ass ticket.

[@peterrose5746]

Very good video. Here in the U.K. they use 99% Laser speed traps. Not sure if these r/d’s would be helpful?🙏

[@Guy_de_Loimbard]

Not really, no. You're better off using Waze to tell you where the laser traps are. It's far from foolproof but better than a laser detector.

[@Lostsoilder]

Bad Boyz bad Boyz, watchaGonnaDo, pull-out-my R7, they won't come 4u.

[@shannonbuff587]

My old v1 have saved me for the past 20 years that I went out and got the new gen 2 version

[@microminiskirt]

IS THE NEW VALENTINE ONE BETTER THAN THE OLDER V1? I HAVE A 2005 VALENTINE 1 AND IT WORKS GREAT ON KA BAND IN LOGIC MODE.

[@shannonbuff587]

@@microminiskirt i dont think its better than a gen 1, just adds Bluetooth capability to change settings on the fly. I would make sure you have the latest update by putting your serial number on their online lookup tool that tells you if you have the latest update or not

[@microminiskirt]

@@shannonbuff587 Sounds good to me.

[@AaronBlankenship]

My R3 had saved us money. But this video was so cringe, it was sad.

[@ZootyZoFo]

The R8 beats all of these, so does the R7 in most areas.

[@davidjamgochian]

Mockingbird - Carly Simon & James Taylor

[@auxil47]

Laser detection is like the legendary unicorn if its a laser is after you its gotchu period.

[@anthonymigliori4703]

I find that when you drive a beater car that's silent the cops don't even notice you.

[@tigerbalm666]

The CHEAPASS 2 little suction cup mounts SUCKS! Get the big single mount with the release lever!

[@jamesseaver6326]

This man is genuinely funny..

[@jmo6722]

Seems like just turning off K and X band removes all the issues. I have been using radar detectors for 14 years and KA band is the only one to focus on

[@braydonwebb3432]

No mention of the Uniden R7?

[@solardiver7]

I'm surprised! The R7 is one of the top rated detectors. Vortec Radar on KZbin said "Uniden R7: Best Bang for the Buck High End Radar Detector".

[@ROrneli]

good review but not even mention the R7 and R8? wow .. the R7 is probably the best bang for the buck and has arrows ..

[@thebigmon]

Running with Waze and an R7 has saved me hundreds of dollars. That's because I'm immature and like to go fast.

[@dustinpankratz2245]

Thoughts on the DFR9? I’m considering this but I can’t decide between the dfr7 and dfr9

[@Primal-Lo]

Dfr7 is discontinued and will not receive anymore updates. Dfr9 is basically a dfr7 but with updated exterior.

[@washingtonpereiranetoperei391]

gs80 Tel? Japonese

[@markmeeker2300]

Ive had Uniden, Valentine, Escort..meh...they were nothing special Not worth that kind of money for a Radio receiver... I bought a cheapo Cobra RAD 250 for my Gsons Mustang...works great..no false alarms..when it did go off, it was a cop. I got Cobra RAD 450...even better.. Cobra and Escort are one company now and the RAD series has Escort components... Its still a Radio receiver.. The Cobra RAD 450 was under $150. Worth it.

[@Bobbodaclown70]

No false on alarms huh? Sounds good 🤭

[@markmeeker2300]

@@Bobbodaclown70 no lie..you can switch off bands on the 450 so all you get is Police radar. False alerts are always X of K band, if you shut off X and K band, you cant pick em up.. Read a book

[@Oakcitymedia]

Me 10 videos later still didn’t decide between Radenso ds1 or R4

[@ocalaeyeguy]

What about radar detectors with dash cams built-in? are they just as good? Or is it better to have separate independent devices?

[@denisgonzalezblandon1538]

Separate would always be better, that way they do their job better since they are focused on that one specific thing.

[@ocalaeyeguy]

@@denisgonzalezblandon1538 Good point. I just like a clean look and multiple devices looks cluttered. :)

[@denisgonzalezblandon1538]

@@ocalaeyeguy understandable, u could definitely have a clean set up with 2 devices just have to find the right place to put the wires

[@britishmalayasociety]

The Escort MAXcam 360c is what you want if you want an integrated solution. If you can get it the Neoline options aren't so bad either.

[@carlosmorillon1174]

The redline is V1

[@111111111Tiger]

should have included Uniden R7

[@edgardorodriguez]

the only thing is how they work with tint on glass and for example I have a bow i3 that is carbon fiber how police can detects it?

[@perry9492]

How about some actual roads tests and sensitivity tests. Feature comparison does not mean a thing without test data.

[@Jay-oj1jj]

Radenso RC M?

[@MichaelKing-yu1wj]

I've been looking into getting a radar detector, but I've been skeptical how it would work on my car. My car has all the radar devices, lane change detection, adaptive cruise, auto braking and blind spot monitoring. Wouldn't all these radar detectors just constantly give me a false alert?

[@jochimbenschneider1915]

I have all that on my older 430 LS and I have no problem with radar detection as I bought the best. The 9500. But it’s time for a new one with the best technology that is reliable and lasting.

[@MichaelKing-yu1wj]

@@jochimbenschneider1915 Thanks I just don't want to spend the money and have it be useless in my car.

[@ncdogg425]

I have the R7 and once you follow Vortex setup settings it's pretty quiet. The false I normally get from cars are Mazda CX-5. If you can afford it the Escort 360c is a plug and go and has the best filtering.

[@jochimbenschneider1915]

@@MichaelKing-yu1wj You can sometimes buy these 9500s on EBay for not a whole lot. Mine has been good. Of course I have to upload the new information that they send out maybe once every six months or a year

[@OhioBallKnower]

Golly bro, why are radar detectors so expensive. I wish people could affordably stop cops from targeting them

[@cee_tee]

Nothing about Radenso DS1?

[@Rannd]

It is pretty clear this video is done solely for Amazon affiliate link sales. Cobra RAD series is one of the worst performing radar detectors made and is not the best "easy-to-use".

[@klugermann5806]

Go to Vortex radar channel and watch his videos. They used his videos in this one. He is the go to guy on all things radar/laser and dash cams. Also join RDF (Radar Detector Forum) for even more information.

[@Rannd]

@@klugermann5806 I work for Radenso, I’m good thanks.

[@tombrown1032]

@@Rannd ummmm...that was just cruel.........i meant funny

[@zheckav]

But where is the promised test?!

[@brianhampton9392]

How come no mention of Big Foot oh I mean Thiea

[@watchmanexpert]

Uniden R8

[@Matowix]

Still falses at car sensors