The territory range should be the most significant factor in deciding whether to purchase a model or not. This component is essential because it will be what prepares you to slow down when in the presence of officers. Do not be surprised if you find a detector that discloses from up to 5 miles away! When it comes to design, try not to look too much into aesthetics and instead consider the weight and dimensions. As for the price, this varies, depending on the level of functionality your new device offers. If your budget is smaller, there are also plenty of options. Radar detectors can be a tremendous help to drivers, but before looking for one of the best radar detectors, make sure to check if they are illegal in your state. Light and compact, the RAD 250 is easy to handle and to install. Suction cups allow it to be mounted to your windshield, and a long power cord plugs into your car’s power supply. Using the device is simple, too. Even without more advanced, flashy features like GPS or Bluetooth, it offers plenty of convenient touches. Three brightness levels include an ultra-bright setting. Alerts can be automatically muted when you’re stopped or moving slowly. The ability to switch between Highway mode and City mode helps cut back on false alerts in busy areas, though users note that it can still be overly sensitive to false signals. Weight: 10.1 Oz | Bluetooth: No | GPS: No They’ve included the requisite K False and KA False filters, a feature that will help to limit noise interference from older model cars (such as Cadillacs). That last feature is crucial to eliminate false positive radar detection. Finally, there’s limited voice control, so you don’t have to take your hands off the wheels, and there’s even quiet operation so that the only people who will know you’re using a radar detector are those that you want to know. Weight: 4.8 Oz | Bluetooth: No | GPS: Yes As the name implies, the combination of GPS, Escort Live for crowdsourced results and 360-degree protection fills the Max 360 to the brim with features. Extra features include an over-the-speed-limit alert, display lights showing different types of radar detection and Bluetooth connection via your smartphone through Escort Live. The pre-installed Defender Database adds the red-light and speed cameras, though some Escort users have complained that the database is too small and that Escort doesn’t offer frequent updates. Weight: 1.75 Oz | Bluetooth: Yes | GPS: Yes Escort’s proprietary false-threat detection combines with GPS to automatically detect and fix false alarms for drivers. Syncing to Escort’s Live community, iX users are afforded real-time ticket protection against photo enforcement, caution areas and live police alerts, thanks to the huge number of users working behind the scenes to protect against threat detection and the 10,000 radar and speed cameras inside the United States. Weight: 1 Lbs. | Bluetooth: Yes | GPS: Yes Beyond what you can see, there’s no shortage to what the MAX 360c can do. Its GPS lets you mark known speed traps on your route, and it learns from false alarms to automatically block them out in the future. This is in addition to already filtering out collision avoidance, blind spot detectors, and other in-vehicle technology (IVT) that might trigger alerts, on top of a pre-loaded database of camera locations across North America. But the MAX 360c’s biggest differentiator is its integration with connected vehicles. It can use a Wi-Fi signal if your car has one, or connect to your smartphone through Bluetooth. You can then take advantage of the Escort Live app (one free year of premium subscription included) and real-time crowd-sourced alerts from its community of drivers. All this advanced tech comes at a price, but there’s no denying the level of detection performance and connected convenience the MAX 360c can provide. Weight: 10.1 Oz | Bluetooth: Yes | GPS: Yes
What to Look For in a Radar Detector
Range
The better the range of your radar detector, the more time you’ll have to slow down. Range depends on the number, direction, and quality of the antennas. Some of the best devices out there can score you up to five miles of signal reach.
Design
As mentioned above, in some states it’s illegal to mount a radar detector on your windshield as it may affect the driver’s vision. When comparing designs of radar detectors, consider how you plan to mount yours. Also think about the size and weight of the detector, as a smaller car might demand a smaller device.
Price
Radar detectors can easily run up in price, with some premium models costing as much as $500. You can get a perfectly decent one for less than $100, though the range might not be as good.
