Let’s face it: speed traps are everywhere. The only way to “even up” the playing field between you and the police is to purchase a radar detector. While the initial investment might be a little steep, you’ll actually save money in the long run by avoiding speeding tickets (which as you know, can cost hundreds of dollars and a lot of time to take care of). Let’s take a look at the best radar detectors 2016 to see which one suits your budget and preferences the best.
Top Best Radar Detectors Review
1. Escort Max 360
$568.05 From Amazon
Buy This Item Escort 360 Review
Product specifications
| Escort Max 360 | |
|---|---|
| Operating Bands | X-Band , K-Band , Ka-Band |
| Laser Detection | Multiple Laser Type Detection |
| Display | OLED display |
| Best Feature | Threat Directional Detection |
| Price | $585.58 on Amazon (price may be changed without notice) |
| GPS Technology | Yes |
| Red Light Cameras Detection | Yes |
| Sensitivity Setting | Highway, Auto and Auto No X |
| Community Share | Escort Live |
| Threat Directional Detection | Yes |
| Auto Learn Technology | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Power Requirement | 12VDC, Negative Ground |
| Dimension | 1.36H x 3.60W x 5.4L |
The new Escort Max 360 is undoubtedly one of the best radar detector in the market. It offers many versatile features such as directional alert arrows, extreme range, pinpoint precision, quick response time and directional alert display. Max 360 is an advanced laser/radar detector that serves as a reliable, technically viable option for evading police radar guns.
With built-in Bluetooth technology , the unit lets you access the award-winning app from Escort- Escort Live. The special real-time ticket-protection network of Escort is indeed a great advantage because it warns you about upcoming threats that have been received or reported by other users in a particular area. This way, you can know the presence of radar guns in the area. Moreover, it provides access to local speed limit data, which helps you in acquiring over-speed alerts.
Max 360 is termed as one of the best radar detector because of the technical smartness that is embedded in it. The DEFENDER Database lets you check the speed traps and camera locations, which have been carefully concealed by the law enforcement, and you will be alerted even before reaching that location. It is a well-known fact that the US and Canadian police departments have installed safety cameras and speed traps all over the place and one cannot identify those locations manually. However, if you install Escort’s advanced GPS system and the DEFENDER® Database , the unit will alert you about the active red-light and speed camera presence wherever you are travelling. The pre-loaded maps are always updated by Escort so that you are able to receive the most up-to-date information in this regard.
Max 360 is a unique product as it combines Escort’s ingenious filtering technology with the enhanced protection of a rear-facing antenna. This makes the unit a powerful yet easy-to-use radar detector. It also offers you the exclusive threat location alert arrows feature with which you are able to know whether the threat are coming from front, back or right/lest side. This feature was previously found in Valentine One’s radar detectors only but the new Escort Max 360 gives you a full package deal. Through these directional arrows, the unit will inform you about the threat location as well the speed-measurement signal’s type and strength. Such as, blue means X-band, red means Ka-band and Yellow indicated K-band. The rear-facing antenna and directional arrows combo is brilliant in protecting drivers from the clutches of the police.
Why You Should Buy It?
- One of The Longest Range Radar Detector
- Military-grade antenna technology
- Effective GPS technology
- Effective False Alert Filter System
- Escort Live which help you communicate with other Escort users for sharing and receive threats
- Auto-Learn Technology which can remember spots where false alerts have occurred
2. Escort Passport Max 2
$323.66 From Amazon
Buy This Item Escort Passport Max 2 Review
Product specifications
| Passport Max 2 HD | |
|---|---|
| Operating Bands | X , K, Ka band. |
| Laser Detection | Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes |
| Display | Multi-Color OLED |
| Best Feature | Military-Grade Antenna Technology |
| Price | $369.00 on Amazon (price may be changed without notice) |
| GPS Technology | Yes |
| Red Light Cameras Detection | Yes |
| Bluetooth Technology | Yes |
| Community Share | Escort Live |
| Over-Speed Alert | Yes |
| Power Requirement |
12VDC, Negative Ground
Escort SmartCord® Included |
| Dimension | 1.3" H x 3.2" W x 5.3" L |
Easily one of the best radar detectors for 2016 is the Escort Passport Max2 HD radar detector. Although it’s price tag is a bit steep ($497.98 on Amazon), it’s definitely worth every penny. So, what makes it stand out from the crowd? One feature that immediately stands out is its Internal Bluetooth Chip Set. The reason this feature is so useful is because it will allow you direct access to a special community of other device owners. While in this community, you can all share information regarding speed traps in your area.
Secondly, there’s the Digital Signal Processing program within the Max2. As you know, one of the biggest problems with radar detectors today is that they continually give off false readings. With the Max2, false alerts will become a thing of the past. And the best part is that the device will “store” false alert locations, meaning, it will never give you a false alert for the same location again.
How does the Max2 fair in the range department? Built within the Max2 is a premium M5 antenna. This antenna is based on the latest military technology and will result in more accurate detections than ever before. The response time will also be dramatically quickened. This means that, rather than catch a speed trap a few hundred yards away, you’ll be able to catch it miles away. No more surprises and no more being caught off guard. With the Max2, you’ll be in complete control.
What about sensitivity? Great question! This is something that will automatically dial up or down depending on where you’re driving. For example, when driving on the highway, the device will automatically switch into “highway mode”, which is much more sensitive (since there are more speed traps on the highway than in the city). As you exit the highway, the sensitivity will automatically become much lower, without you having to do anything.
Finally, there’s the infamous Auto-Learn technology that comes with the Max2. Why is it important? It will remember spots where false alerts have occurred. Then it will store these location via the device’s premium GPS system. So next time that you drive by that location, you won’t have to worry about such a high number of false alerts. Due to all of these amazing features, the Max2 has earned our number one spot for the best radar detector of 2016.
Why You Should Buy It?
- One of The Longest Range Radar Detector
- Military-grade antenna technology
- Effective GPS technology
- Effective False Alert Filter System
- Escort Live which help you communicate with other Escort users for sharing and receive threats
- Auto-Learn Technology which can remember spots where false alerts have occurred
3. Escort Passport 9500IX
$347.90 From Amazon
Buy This Item Escort Passport 9500IX Review
Product specifications
| Passport 9500IX | |
|---|---|
| Operating Bands | X,K,Ka bands |
| Laser Detection | Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes |
| Display | 280 LED Matrix/Text |
| Best Feature | False Alert Filter System |
| Price | $366.10 on Amazon (price may be changed without notice) |
| GPS Technology | Yes |
| Red Light Cameras Detection | Yes |
| Bluetooth Technology | Yes |
| Community Share | Escort Live |
| Power Requirement |
12VDC, Negative Ground
Escort SmartCord® Included |
| Dimension | 1.4" H x 2.90" W x 5.35" L |
This is one of the most intelligent radar detectors out there , and also one of the most effective. It can detect all bands of speed enforcement radar- Ku, Ka, K, and X- and do so from both sides (rear and front). This seemingly subtle feature is actually very useful because it decreases the chances of you getting “blindsided” by a speed trap.
The Escort Inc. Passport 9500IX radar detector also comes with programmable GPS-enabled circuitry. What does this mean? Basically, this will ensure that you don’t get caught off-guard by speed cameras or speed traps that are hidden from view. It also does something else very useful: decrease false alerts. False alerts are annoying and will make owning a radar detector a less enjoyable experience.
As you approach a speed trap or speed camera, the device will automatically give off an audible and visual alert. So even if you have the music turned up very loud, you’ll still see the threat via the device’s visual alert system. The 9500IX radar detector comes with Auto-Learn technology , which basically allows it to “remember” where a high frequency of false alerts are occurring. Then it will store those locations to ensure that false alerts don’t occur when driving by them again.
Why You Should Buy It?
- Defender Database which have thousands of locations that contain potential threats.
- Effective GPS technology
- Effective False Alert Filter System
- Escort Live which help you communicate with other Escort users for sharing and receive threats.
- Auto-Learn Technology which can remember spots where false alerts have occurred.
4. Valentine One V1
$488.98 From Amazon
Buy This Item Valentine One V1 Review
Product specifications
| Valentine One | |
|---|---|
| Operating Bands | X,K,Ka and Ku bands |
| Laser Detection | High Sensitivity Laser Detection |
| Display | LED |
| Best Feature | Threat Direction Detection |
| Price | $487.99 on Amazon (price may be changed without notice) |
| Directional Indicator | Yes |
| Number of Threat Indicator | Yes |
| Red Light Cameras Detection | Yes |
| Over-Speed Alert | Yes |
| Power Requirements |
11.0-16.0 Volts DC negative ground
225 mA typical standby, 425 mA maximum alarm condition |
| Dimension | 1.0" H x 3.6" W x 4.5" L |
The Valentine One V1 radar detector is definitely one of the top models of 2016 . It’s an excellent option for drivers who are looking to drive faster without having to worry about getting a speed ticket. While very effective at what it does, owners will come to appreciate the amount of simplicity associated with this device.
The Valentine One’s three arrows will light up and tell you from which direction a signal is coming from. There are few other radar detectors that offer directional displays like this. So not only will you know where they’re coming from, but you’ll also have a general sense of where, which is very useful. For instance, if a signal is coming from up ahead, and it’s a Ka-band, then there’s a good chance it’s a speed trap.
If it’s coming from the side, then you have nothing to worry about because no radar is capable of accurately reading another vehicle’s speed from the side. If it comes from behind, then you’re most likely okay, although it’s possible that there’s an undercover cop trailing close behind you. Either way, none of this would be possible to predict without the three-arrow warning system present in the Valentine One V1 radar detector.
This radar detector is sleek, clean-looking, and relatively easy to install and program. It also offers nice value for your dollar. If you’re looking for something reliable, something that won’t break the bank, and something that won’t continually give off false readings, then the V1 is the way to go.
Why You Should Buy It?
- One of The Longest Range Radar Detector.
- High Sensitivity Laser Detection.
- Directional Indicator which can tell you where the threats are.
- Number of Threat Indicator which can tell you number of threats.
- Full Protection with 2 antennas.
5. Whistler Cr90 Laser
$153.78 From Amazon
Buy This Item Whistler Cr90 Review
Product specifications
| Whistler CR90 | |
|---|---|
| Operating Bands | X,K,Ka bands |
| Laser Detection | Yes |
| Display | Blue Oled Text Display |
| Best Feature | Newest Features With A Budget-Friendly Price |
| Price | $153.74 on Amazon (price may be changed without notice) |
| GPS Technology | Yes |
| Red Light Cameras Detection | Yes |
| Power Requirement | Intellicord Powercord |
| Dimension | 1.24" H x 2.86" W x 4.45" L |
With a windshield-mount, specialized GPS technology, and a blue OLED text display, the Whistler Cr90 Laser radar detector definitely earned its way onto this list. Its all-black housing gives it a nice, sporty look, while the chromed buttons helps separate it from competing models (at least visually).
What you’ll appreciate most about this radar detector is its crisp, clean OLED text display. It offers much more contrast compared to other models, and doesn’t cram too much information onto a single screen. This means that the font size is larger than average, making it easier to read during the night or day.
The visual interface is accompanied by a reliable GPS system that will keep you alerted on a variety of threats, ranging from speed traps to red light cameras. This is all thanks to the integrated “memory” system that comes engrained in each device. The Cr90 also keeps its red light camera database regularly updated, so that you never get caught off guard.
The GPS antenna for the Cr90 can be found within the housing. It uses both tons and voice alerts to audibly warn the driver about an impending threat. There are also visual alerts available, which are useful for when the surrounding environment is too loud to hear the audible warnings. Another thing that consumers will come to appreciate is the amount of ease associated with using the device.
It’s based around a “ plug-and-play ” operation, meaning, all you need to do is turn it on and let it do its job. There’s no technical programming involved, and adjusting the device’s settings is as simple as a few clicks and turns. The device’s Three City mode will lower X-band sensitivity progressively, or even disable it, while the detector’s six distinct filter modes can be used for the trio of radar bands (allowing you to reach a separate level of filtering for each individual one). You can even set the audible alerts to be speed-based.
Why You Should Buy It?
- Newest Features with a Budget-Friendly Price
- Effective GPS technology
- 2 Year Warranty
- Multi Color OLED Display
