Valentine One

At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Valentine One Generation 2 was a gadget from a bygone era. With its matte black, slab-sided industrial design, conspicuous lack of buttons and, yes, even a segmented LED readout instead of a full-color OLED display, it looks like it could have been hanging from your sun visor since the early '90s.

But that's sort of the point. This Gen2 device has been a long time coming, the first all-new upgrade to the legendary Valentine One product line in nearly 30 years. If you know the classic Valentine One, made famous by its game-changing directional radar detection, then you know exactly what you're looking at when you see the Generation 2.

Valentine actually calls its device a "radar locator" because when it picks up a signal from X, K, Ka or laser, one of three prominent directional arrows lights up to indicate whether the radar signal is coming from ahead, beside or behind.

Until you start using it, this bit of data may seem trivial, but you quickly realize how helpful it is to know where to look for possible signs of trouble. If the front arrow lights up, police could be around the bend. But, should the side arrows glow red, your "bogey" (as Valentine refers to radar hits) is more likely a false alarm from another car or an automatic door -- police measure your speed from the front or behind, not the side.

There's a wrinkle: Now that the company's patent on arrows has expired, this is no longer an exclusive feature, and a slew of other mid- to high-end detectors can come with directional indicators. What makes the Valentine One Generation 2 a true stand-out is adding competitive long-range detection, top-notch false positive filtering, Bluetooth and an open API to its already impressive skillset.

Focusing on its built-in smarts, if you're used to more chatty, inexpensive radar detectors, you may be compelled to ask, as we did, whether the V1G2 is even working. Where other units beep and boop indiscriminately with little indication of where potential threats are coming from, Valentine's hardware stays pleasantly silent but vigilant, only speaking up when a bogey is a legitimate concern.

Still, most notable among its few shortcomings is a lack of GPS integration. Where other detectors use location tracking to lock out non-law enforcement sources of radar pollution, Valentine relies on its advanced algorithms to do the filtering on the fly. They say the minor advantages GPS provides aren't worth the extra cost to consumers, and in any case, Bluetooth app integration brings location data and more to the party if you have your smartphone nearby.

Pair the V1G2 with one of the various apps available on Android or iOS, and the unit's capability and features extend well beyond anything baked into the hardware. This makes for what we think is a winning combination for most drivers.

Let's go back to that old-school segmented LED we mentioned earlier. As we've said, radar detectors are about data. The company kept the LED because it's much easier to read in sunlight than fancier, multicolor read-outs, and that's emblematic. The Valentine One Gen2 is all about providing the most relevant information in the clearest, simplest terms -- no frills, just well-honed skills.

Uniden

The Uniden R7 may just make you do a double-take. Its black, angular design answers the question of what the Valentine One would look like if it had sprung for an OLED screen. In truth, it's a dead heat between these two detectors, and depending on your needs, the R7 may just be the one to get. This laser detector comes with built-in GPS, voice alert, red light cameras and speed camera alerts.

In terms of range, the V1G2 and the R7 are neck and neck. In independent tests performed by Vortex Radar, the alert distance varied by only 200 to 300 feet between the two detectors with Uniden's offering occasionally winning out, depending on the band and configuration. Both outclassed the majority of contenders by a wide margin.

Like our favorite pick on this list, the R7 offers directional arrows to indicate where radar hits are coming from. In this case the arrows are rendered on a small color display, which is slightly hooded from direct sunlight.

In addition to the typical radar bands, X, K and Ka, the Uniden R7 can detect the newer MultaRadar variant as well as laser. Voice alerts are also on offer here, as are configurable alert tones for the different bands. Set alerts to notify you to speed zones, speed traps, construction zones and school zones. As with other high-end detectors, the R7 claims undetectability from certain radar detector detectors (RDDs), specifically the Spectre I and IV.

But, the killer app here may be built-in GPS, a feature missing from the otherwise full-featured V1G2. The addition of location awareness allows you to manually or automatically store up to 2,000 lockouts where false alerts repeatedly ping your detector in regular driving. GPS also enables the R7 to alert you to red light camera locations stored in Uniden's database, updateable via USB.

What the R7 gains in GPS ability it trades for Bluetooth connectivity. In one of its few omissions, Uniden has opted not to include a wireless standard for connecting your phone, which means fewer options for data aggregation with other radar users. For this, you'll need to turn to a third-party app such as Waze, which is free but no less excellent.

There's not much that disappoints about the Uniden R7, and at a street price that frequently beats the Valentine One, it's hard to go wrong.

Escort

If "budget" isn't in your vocabulary, you simply can't go wrong with the Escort Redline 360c. This beast of a radar detector has no interest in aping the black box aesthetic of its top-of-the-line competition. Instead, it's stylish with interesting contours and it's a hefty bit of machinery to boot. It mounts to the windshield using a magnet attachment point that's as powerful and secure as it is easy to decouple when you want to store the device away from prying eyes.

Getting the basics out of the way, the Redline 360c detects all the common radar bands and adds MultaRadar to that as well as laser. Like the Valentine One and the Uniden R7, the Escort radar detector is directional and features four LED arrows around the front perimeter of the device that indicate whether signals are coming from the front, sides or rear.

Inside that perimeter is a customizable multicolor OLED screen. This includes a simple Novice mode, which dispenses with signal strength indicators and band information and replaces it with color-coded bars, which say things like "Slow Down" and "Caution."

But does it also have GPS? Yes. And Bluetooth? Yes. Wi-Fi? Yes. It's also RDD immune and can expand its capability further by controlling Escort's laser jammers, sold separately. Its false alert filtering is among the best in the business, and its range meets or exceeds both the V1 and R7.

GPS affords the 360c all the usual goodies: low-speed muting, red light camera alerts as well as automatic lockouts. Additionally, in Auto Mode it uses GPS to monitor your speed and ramps its filters up to eliminate unnecessary noise when you're in town or in a parking lot. As with the V1, you may question whether this Escort is even working at times because it's so good at only bothering you when the threat is genuine.

On top of all that, the Redline 360c allows you to take the experience to the next level with its Escort Live app, which connects via Bluetooth. While the app is proprietary, unlike Valentine's open API implementation, it does allow you to tap into the hivemind of Escort and Cobra radar users. You can be alerted of speed traps and other threats in real-time while they are still outside of detection range. And when you're connected to the app the current speed limit is displayed on the Redline's screen next to your actual speed, allowing for customizable overspeed alerts.

In our testing, the app integration was perhaps the only major weakness of the Escort Redline 360c. It would occasionally disconnect from Bluetooth, requiring a reboot of the app. Also, the speed limit information was frequently inaccurate with Waze doing a much better job of displaying the correct limits. Nevertheless, if you've got the money for it, this radar detector is the full package and absolutely the one I'd choose.

Uniden

If you have less to spend but still want best-in-class performance, the Uniden R3 is CNET's detector of choice. Sharing many of the same internals as the runner-up pick, the R3 was Uniden's top performer before the R7 showed up, and it remains an impressive package.

The biggest differences from this unit's big brother are a lack of directional guidance and a less-robust, if still impressive, detection range. As to the latter, the R3 still beats some competitors sold for nearly twice the price including big hitters from Radenso and Escort. The absence of directional arrows is not surprising in this price class, and certainly not a dealbreaker.

The Uniden R3 detects X, K, Ka, MultaRadar and laser and offers customizable tones for each band, voice notifications and a color OLED screen. GPS is also built into this unit and enables speed camera alerts, low-speed muting as well as the capability to set up to 500 manual lockouts by double-pressing the Mute button.

Speaking of controls, this detector is on a short list of window-mounted devices that assign front-facing real estate to frequently used buttons instead of banishing them to the "fumble zone" at the top of the unit, out of sight. That's a personal pet peeve, but still, kudos to Uniden for positioning the Mute and Mark buttons where they can be easily accessed.

Uniden

And now for something completely… familiar. At the risk of being repetitive, the best budget radar detector available today is yet another offering from the folks at Uniden. The DFR7 initially went on sale in 2016, and despite repeated price drops, it continues to receive firmware updates from Uniden and remains a strong performer, even when pitted against some of the best detectors on the market.

In addition to the standard X, K and Ka radar bands, the DFR7 detects laser. GPS is built into this unit and provides the benefits of low-speed muting to reduce false alerts as well as manual marking of up to 100 lockouts and speed camera alerts. Information is displayed on a monochrome OLED display and voice alerts are available as well.

By all accounts, false alert filtering in the Uniden DFR7 is excellent, and will keep the detector from alarming every time a blind spot monitoring system is in the vicinity. Radar detection range is impressive as well and performs especially well on the 34.7 GHz frequency of the Ka band, according to Vortex Radar.

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Whistler

For drivers on a razor-thin budget, we present the Whistler Z-19R Plus, a radar detector which may provide some helpful situational awareness, as long as you're mindful of its limitations.

Radar and laser detection are both on the menu, and the unit displays alerts on a green OLED readout. Voice alerts are optional in both English and Spanish. Filter modes are manually selectable via the City button, which cycles between Highway, City, City 1 and City 2.

GPS is absent here, which means custom location alerts and low-speed muting are unavailable. Detection range isn't impressive, and it was chatty in our testing, with several false alerts from surrounding vehicles and traffic sensors sneaking past the filters. It definitely alerted me to legitimate threats, and if you can get past the Boy Who Cried Wolf syndrome, it may be worth your money. Still, our recommendation, based on experience and expert advice, is to save up your dollars for a detector with a few more features.

Cobra

If you're new to the world of radar detectors and don't want to invest a lot of money or time in learning new terms and technology, we think Cobra's RAD 480i may be the place to start.

Priced in the sub-$200 range, this unit has the most basic features, but skips other niceties like GPS, RDD immunity or directional arrows. However, it does have one feature which puts it over the top: Bluetooth app integration. At the risk of oversimplification, the 480i can be thought of as "Waze Plus." Keep reading to find out how.

Once you start running your new Cobra radar detector, you're immediately granted access to the free iRadar app, available on iOS and Android. The software is essentially the same as the separate Escort Live app accessible by owners of pricier, more precision hardware, as both brands are manufactured by Cedar Electronics. You can even sign into both apps with the same account credentials, as we did in our testing.

Since 2018, these two apps have shared their alert databases. This means, as a Cobra user, you're getting the benefit of data in the cloud from drivers with more-powerful Escort detectors. The iRadar app itself is colorful and intuitive to use. While the RAD 480i may not have built-in GPS or the best detection range, the app fills in a lot of holes with warnings of upcoming speed traps, speed cameras and more without needing to understand more technical terminology. Cobra users can also report their own police radar sightings by holding down the physical Mark button on the unit for 2 seconds.

Outside of app integration, the Cobra RAD 480i is similarly easy to set up and use with a simple, black and white display and all the familiar buttons. As this model consists of hardware on the more inexpensive end of the spectrum, expect more false alerts and missed hits. Digital Signal Processing provides faster processing for all incoming laser gun signals and rapidly provides accurate alerts. Still, we think this is a good option to consider if money is a major limitation.

Escort

Many of the options on our list can be discreetly hardwired into your vehicle's electrical system, but if a box mounted to the windshield, sun visor or rearview mirror just won't work for you, it's time to step up to a custom install, otherwise known as a remote radar detector. No matter which solution, you'll be paying a premium, not to mention the cost of installation. If you're going to take the plunge, we think the Escort Max Ci is worth your coin.

If you liked the sound of our splurge pick, the Redline 360c, then the Max Ci will be similarly appealing. Once installed, this aftermarket solution integrates GPS, a front radar receiver, as well as display and control modules, which allow you to interface with the system. Additionally, Bluetooth allows the system to integrate with the Escort Live app on your phone.

For additional cost, the system can be expanded to include a rear radar receiver, which enables directional indicators, as well as front and rear sets of laser jammers. The main advantage of a remote radar detector is superior aesthetics, and the Max Ci is an attractive package paired with Escort's best technology.

AL Priority

Radar detectors are still effective, as they continue to be widely used across the country, but if your goal is to build an almost foolproof system, it's time to consider adding laser jammers to the mix. The AL Priority system -- the "AL" stands for "AntiLaser" -- is considered the gold standard in this category.

ALP requires a custom installation, as all laser jammers do, with at least two sensors up front to detect and fire back a jamming signal at police radar. The system is expandable, maxing out at six sensors, split between front and rear, for necessary coverage, depending on the size of the vehicle.

Bluetooth and Hi-Fi modules are optional for audible alerts, and AL also sells a radar antenna that can be added into the mix if you don't want to run a separate unit from another manufacturer. As laser jammers aren't legal in all 50 states, the AL Priority is sold as a "parking system," and it can be used as such, should you find yourself in a locale where the laser defense abilities need to be disabled. Perhaps not surprisingly, user reviews indicate the parking feature is not where the system shines.

RAM

In the search for the best radar detector for motorcycles, one answer came up over and over: the best radar detector for your bike is the one you'd use in your car. The Valentine One and Escort Redline 360c are both strong performers. So, the question becomes, how do you mod the detector for your motorcycle? One well-regarded part of the solution is the Ram Magnetic Power Plate III for Radar Detectors.

Designed to work as part of Ram's ball-and-socket mounting system, the Power Plate consists of an adhesive metal plate, which attaches to any flat-bottomed radar detector, and a rubber cradle with two rare-earth magnets. Once paired, the plate holds the device securely, only letting go when the detector is rotated 90 degrees relative to the Power Plate.

Every radar detector motorcycle setup is going to be different, but I think this is one component that will work well for most riders.

Let's be clear: Yes, radar detectors are about situational awareness, but they're about one very particular type of awareness, spotting the police before they spot you. So, it's natural to ask if such a subversion of authority is legal.

The succinct answer is that in the United States of