![]() ![]() Though it seems a little basic at first glance, it’s helpful when identifying the source of a threat, especially if it’s to one side and you’re on a two-lane road, since it’s likely to be another car’s blind-spot monitor or the automatic door of a convenience store. On the plus side, even without pairing with a phone, the arrows (which Valentine pioneered) help identify the direction of the source of the suspected speed-check. This is probably a skip if you don’t plan to pair it with your phone as it won’t have access to many of its attractive features. You can fine-tune a lot when it comes to this setup, so it’s fun for people who like to make tweaks to the setup they run. The unit pairs with an app on your phone to enable a whole suite of crowd-sourced information, like GPS lockouts, muting at lower speed, and a display of which frequency has been detected. The retro style is heavily reminiscent of the previous version and is wrapped in a high-quality magnesium case instead of the plastic common in many other units. The Valentine V1 Gen2 is neck-and-neck with the Uniden R7 for range and is a popular choice. Old-school LED is classic, and easy to see.Why it made the cut: The Valentine V1 Gen2 is the latest version of the radar detector you probably remember from “back in the day,” but with the tech to keep up in 2023. That means you’d have to separately run an app like Waze to take advantage of data aggregation with other users. The only other downsides are the awkward side-button placement of the mute button (which you use to silence false alarms) and a mixed bag when it comes to detectability. ![]() But that also means the Uniden R7 must be updated via USB cable. The built-in GPS eschews the need for it to connect to a smartphone for location services. The onboard GPS allows you to easily mark false alarms and set alerts for school zones and speed traps automatically. The unit features directional arrows, multiple brightness settings, and a built-in GPS. That said, the R7 gets you a solid collection of features that makes it one of the best radar detectors out of the box, especially for the price point. ![]() The upgraded R8 adds a few nice features over the R7 but it also adds a few hundred dollars to the price tag. Uniden makes some excellent radar detectors but the company’s R7 is the best value overall. Not completely undetectable to radar detector detectors.Why it made the cut: Offering an excellent value, the Uniden R7 features an amazing range, GPS for logging common false alarms, and it doesn’t require a separate mobile device to utilize the GPS. Here’s what we found to help control your need for speed. Much like dash cams, radar detectors can keep your driving in check. The best radar detectors: Reviews & Recommendations The radar detectors, and companies, represented on this list all have a history of supporting their products as well and can be thought of as a good place to start your research and shopping. If there were a few radar detectors in a certain price range, I compared to see what had the most useful features and selected the best in each set. I then assembled a wide range that covered the gamut of prices out there that represented good quality for their feature sets. I eliminated a number of the cheaper units right off due to poor testing results, and cut out a number of brands that were outlandishly priced. For this list of radar detectors I wasn’t able to get hands-on, so I used a method of aggregating reviews from across the internet on Amazon,, and the hands-on reviews from Vortex Radar. Whether it’s modifications to the hard parts or to the technology in the cabin, I’m interested in learning more and finding the best the industry has to offer. The best radar detectors can detect all the commonly used methods for checking a vehicle’s speed, and they do it far enough out to give you time to react.Īs an automotive journalist of more than eight years, I’ve written for some of the biggest names in the business, and I bring that experience into my favorite space: aftermarket. Maybe you get lucky and the officer doesn’t flip his lights on and turn around. A robust radar detector tells you when radar is in use, and gives drivers the opportunity to make adjustments to their speed accordingly. You spot the highway patrol car going the other way and you get a “slow down” wave. Imagine you find yourself, in a newer SUV, going up a hill and the speed limit is much lower than if it feels safe to drive. It’s no secret that with the proliferation of more powerful engines and often even quieter cabins, it’s easier to go faster now than it has been in previous years. A solid radar detector can make you more aware of what’s going on around you while you drive.
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