Best Radar Detectors (Review & Buying Guide) in 2021

The Valentine V2 is one of the most versatile radar detectors on the market and comes from one of the best brands out there. The V2 is actually the latest edition to the family, replacing the aging V1 that still was everyone’s go-to for top-spec radar detectors and it’s no slouch. The V2 can detect radar signals in all directions, covering the most widely used band ranges (K, Ka, X), and a K-Verifier BSM filter also works to clear out false alerts. We especially appreciate weaker notifications coming through with false signals, which helps increase concentration on the road.

Another key highlight with the Valentine V2 is a built-in Bluetooth 5.0, which allows you to wirelessly connect with your Apple or Android phone. Its V1Connection app also allows you to receive real-time information on all incoming threats. Our only knock on the product is its paltry one-year limited warranty.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: LED

Pros:

• Easy-to-read LED display
• Sleek magnesium case
• Coiled power cord stretches to 8 feet
• V1Connection apps offer live streams of all alerts

Cons:

• Hard to remove the detector from windshield suction cup holder
• Short warranty length (one year)

Nothing beats the feeling of getting a great gadget at a pocket-friendly price and that’s why we recommend the Cobra RAD 350. This radar detector uses Cobra's patented IVT FILTER System to reduce false alerts that can be a result of modern car’s collision avoidance radar systems that could get picked up by cheaper radar detectors. It’s designed with an advanced laser eye sensor that can detect threats from the front and rear and the sensor can detect X, K, Ka-band, laser, and VG-2 signals.

The RAD 350 is designed to provide driver safety by allowing the driver to seek out radar gun signals while keeping his or her eyes on the road. This is made possible by its digital voice announcement feature that reads out alerts in a manner that you can easily understand. Also, for a more manual approach, it’s fitted with an easy-to-read OLED display at the front. But in a world where there are more speakers than just English and Spanish, we’d have liked to see other languages included. 

Product Specs:

• Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: LED

Pros:

• Includes numeric signal strength meter
• Plugs into car's lighter outlet
• Helpful seven-segment color display

Cons:

• Does not accept voice commands
• Only programmed in two languages (English and Spanish)

Easily one of the best radar detectors on the market is the Uniden R7, as it offers the longest range out of any windshield mount radar detector, period. The R7 comes packed with a bunch of other useful features that make for a better driving experience, including offering arrows to help you locate the signals around you. This way, when it goes off, you’ll know immediately if the officer is ahead of you, when you pass him, and when they’re behind you.

An integrated GPS allows you to teach the detector where false alerts are located around town from speed signs on the side of the road and automatic door openers in front of drugstores and grocery stores. Once you do that, the detector will stay quiet along your regular commute. The biggest complaint that people have with the R7, however, is its blind spot monitoring (BSM) filtering. The detector is pretty good at filtering blind spot monitoring systems from other cars, but it still falses a fair amount, especially compared to the competition.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 2 pounds
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: OLED

Pros:

• 360-degree protection in detecting threats
• Super, easy-to-read OLED display
• Audible voice warnings

Cons:

• Issues false reads at times from other vehicle's blind spot monitoring systems
• Higher than average cost

The Escort Max 3 Laser Radar Detector is a high-tech, premium range radar detector that delivers state-of-the-art radar sensitivity. While it is a little on the pricey side, you get some serious benefits and high-end features with this model that you won’t find in many other options as the Max 3 is equipped with a next-generation platform that greatly decreases false alerts set off by your in-vehicle technology.

You also get a radar detector that actually learns your driving style and becomes more intelligent based on your regular GPS routes, typical driving speed, and driving habits to even further eliminate false alerts. You can connect to the Escort Live App and join a community of drivers who receive and share continuous updates and alerts about traffic conditions, including red light and speed camera locations, live traffic updates, police radar, and speed limits.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 8 ounces
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: OLED

Pros:

• Good at filtering blind spot monitoring systems
• Excellent at filtering out weak K band alerts
• Intuitive Escort Live app to change settings and share alerts with other drivers

Cons:

• Subscription fee required to access Defender Database
• Suction mount design could be better

Escort is a leading powerhouse in the radar detection field, and the Escort Passport 9500iX is one of our favorite offerings. It comes equipped with integrated traffic sensor rejection to give you fewer false alerts and limits your distractions while driving. It also features national coverage of thousands of pre-loaded speed camera locations and known hot spots in its Defender Database, which updates frequently to give you the most accurate information.

When you do get an alert, you get all the info you could possibly need, including laser band, signal strength, and vehicle speed. Download the app to receive warnings and other valuable info from millions of other Escort users. All your alerts are tailored to your specific vehicle location and motion. One thing to note is that when you do system updates, you can potentially lose some of your stored locations. Also, there are reports of this model giving false alerts when overexposed to extreme heat or direct sun for prolonged periods.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 8.1 ounces
• Power Source: Corded electric
• Display Type: LED

Pros:

• 360-degree laser protection
• Excellent field of view
• Intuitive Escort Live app and access to Defender Database

Cons:

• May trigger false alerts on occasion from motion sensors

In the same breath as the 9500iX, we’re going to recommend the Escort Passport S55, another advanced radar and laser detector in the Escort Passport series. It provides extended range warnings of long-range K and Ka bands while using Exclusive AutoSensitivity Mode to filter false warnings. Also, it features an ExpertMeter that allows it to seek out up to four signals at once.

If you are navigating through an unknown destination, the Escort Passport S55 will give you access to the local speed limit and upcoming alerts from other Escort users in the area. Information is presented on a backlit display with a red LED light to make it easy to read in the daytime. However, you may get what you pay for, as you may still get several false alarms despite having the AutoSensitivity feature, and it can easily get triggered by blind monitoring systems in other vehicles.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: LED

Pros:

• Sensitivity adjusts in real-time to reduce false alerts
• Detects radar bands of all types (X band, K band, Superwide Ka band, POP)
• Includes carrying case

Cons:

• Constructed using lower grade plastic
• Not compatible with vehicles with gesture control systems

The Cobra DualPro is one of the most top-notch, state-of-the-art radar detectors on our list. It’s also one of the priciest but what do you get for that price? Well, you get lightning-fast detection with 360-degree directional sensors and alert arrows, as well as the integrated DSP technology that quickly and accurately pinpoints radar traps all around you.

We like the Cobra DualPro Radar Detector for its customizable, high-resolution, multi-color display, which gives you the best viewing capability of detected bands and types of threat. GPS-based auto-learning technology provides five different levels of filtration to eliminate unwanted noise and repeated false alerts. A handy voice alert system can even warn of approaching radars in either English or Spanish.

Even though this is one of the most technologically advanced units on our list, some users still report getting frequent false alerts, or being caught by lidar speed traps from time to time. Nothing’s totally foolproof, right?

Product Specs:

• Weight: 15.9 ounces
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: OLED

Pros:

• Four-band detection (X, K, Ka, Laser) using 360-degree directional alert arrows
• Includes stable EZ Mag windshield mount
• Works with Cobra Driving Community app
• Very readable OLED display with five brightness settings

Cons:

• Poor length of warranty (one year)
• Voice alerts only available in English and Spanish

Another top offering from Escort is the Escort X80 Laser Radar Detector. This unit uses high performance laser sensors to provide long range protection and maximum early warnings and alerts against a large variety of radar bands, including instant and conventional radar guns. You even receive clear and informative voice alerts to allow for safe, hands-free operation. Alerts are specifically tailored to your particular speed, location, and movement so you can keep your eyes on the road and minimize distractions.

Another benefit of the Escort X80 Laser Radar Detector is its proprietary Escort Live app, which provides more info about what lies ahead, potential radar traps, and hazards from millions of like-minded users. One downside to this already pricey unit is that you need to have a subscription to SmartCord to have your speed displayed on the unit. You’d think that after spending that amount of cash on a radar detector, the company would include that at no extra charge.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 1.17 pounds
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: OLED

Pros:

• Loud, two-tone audible alert system
• Warns on K-band, X-band, SuperWide Ka-band, and POP radar detectors
• Three sensitivity options (Auto, Auto No X, and Highway)

Cons:

• Subscription to SmartCord not included
• Higher than average number of false alarms (especially K-band)
• Dim, poor contrast display

The Escort IXC Laser Radar Detector is a customizable device that learns your route and prevents false alerts by using GPS, IVT filtering, and auto sensitivity. The device is also Wi-Fi compatible and provides accurate and precise information by tapping into a database of real-time, user-generated alerts.

One of our favorite features with the Escort IXC Laser Radar Detector is the Escort Live app. You can receive information about red light and speed camera locations, traffic updates, and police radar. It alerts you to those signals so you have plenty of time to react, and it auto locks false signals. While you can customize the alert types, sounds, colors, and so on, you must do so through the app. It's not possible through the actual device, which can be a slight inconvenience. Also, the app's interface could be a little better. Pairing it with Bluetooth can also be a hassle for some people.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 8 ounces
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: OLED

Pros:

• Very clear, audible alerts
• IVT filter blocks false alerts
• Compatible with Escort Live! to discover crowdsourced speed cameras and red light cameras

Cons:

• OLED display not as viewable under direct sunlight
• Paltry one-year limited warranty
• Only two voice alert languages are available (English and Spanish)

Another budget-friendly option that we think is a great buy is the Cobra RAD 480i Laser Radar Detector. It is equipped with front and rear detection capabilities, thanks to its LaserEye technology, which gives you all-around protection wherever you go. It also features updatable next-generation IVT filters and advanced anti-false technology to decrease false alerts from other vehicle avoidance systems and blind spot systems. This provides you with a more accurate and longer range of radar detection.

Special digital signal processing allows for faster and earlier warnings of incoming laser gun signals to help alert you to a radar trap before you’re right on top of it. The RAD 480i comes with everything you need, including a 12-volt power cord, a hook and loop fastener for dash mounting, and a suction cup mount for your windshield. You can also download and connect to the iRadar App to get real-time alerts to speed traps, red light cameras, speed cameras, and other potential hazards from more than 3 million other drivers.

Product Specs:

• Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Power Source: DC
• Display Type: OLED

Pros:

• Alerts for X, K, and Ka radar bands and laser guns
• Three brightness settings (bright, dim, and dimmer)
• Four sensitivity levels (High, Medium, Low, and Auto)
• Excellent long-range detection

Cons:

• No color display
• Struggles with false alerts on occasion