Its a subscription service, but the benefits are well worth it, especially when traveling someplace new. Several times, while driving through Ferndale and Royal Oak on Woodward Avenue, the RAD 480i alerted us to patrol cars during heavy rush hour traffic; patrol cars we would not have seen otherwise. The RAD 480i radar detector from Cobra features a gorgeous black chassis and a stupendous white OLED screen, but it's much more than just a pretty face. Cobra's 50 years of continuous innovation empowers drivers of all kinds, from professional truck driver to commuter to boater, to drive smarter and safer. The RAD 380 doesnt have these features. Cobra Electronics offers portable power & automotive electronics for everyday consumers, fleets, RV & Trucking communities. Voice alerts allow for hands-free operation and even alert you to the type of radar youre approaching. For large semis and other trucks, a speed gun can measure speed from a mile away. They are illegal in Virginia and Washington D.C. Commercial vehicles arent allowed to use them, and they are prohibited on military bases by federal law. One of the main reasons I purchased this radar was to use on road trips in the Honda, which I believe is useless. Depending on your preferences and what you want in a radar detector, the Cobra RAD 480i is either amazing or lackluster. The p7500 detector also lets you to have your own custom . Adjusting the band sensitivity is a wonderful feature, but unfortunately, the RAD 480i does not offer individual band sensitivity adjustments. When compared side by side to others in our test, the RAD 480i lagged very far behind our top performers. Your RAD 480i is designed to provide you the truest alerts and minimize the distraction of To lock out a false alert, no matter where you are driving, hit the MARK button on the top of the unit. That said, I jumped at the opportunity to test the Cobra RAD 480i Connected Radar and Laser Detector. Thus, you get full protection from threats on the road, no matter where theyre coming from. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan. Next generation updateable IVT Filter and advanced anti-falsing circuitry intelligently reduces false alerts from blind spot systems and other vehicle avoidance systems. 800-964-3138 Option 1 UPC. The R3 tops our list of the best radar detectors under $300, but there are a lot of great options in this price range. We found it best to turn the volume off and simply keep an eye out for visual alerts. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials. Front and rear laser detection, different sensitivity modes, and real-time alerts via the iRadar app: just a few of the features that make the Cobra RAD 480i portable radar and laser detector a near-steal at about $150. Instead, you must adjust the sensitivity of the entire device from high to medium to low. Any commissions received by us come at no extra cost to you. If you live in an area with long straight roads and want a budget-friendly device, this is a good choice. The second is atrade-in program. Cobras proprietary LaserEye technology (located on the top left-hand side of the unit) means the RAD 480i can detect signals from both the front and rear. Even though it has wires, they wont be in your way because theyre strung through your cars interior to stay out of your eyesight. superheterodyne technology (15 pages), 14 band high-performance digital radar/laser detector with xtreme range superheterodyne technology (15 pages), Manual will be automatically added to "My Manuals", OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES - Available at Www.cobra.com, TRADEMARKS ACKNOWDLEGEMENT, WARNINGS, and REGULATORY INFORMATION, Radar Detector Cobra RAD 480i Quick Start Manual, Radar Detector Cobra RAD250 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra RAD350 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra RAD450 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra RAD500G Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra RAD 380 Owner's Manual, Radar Detector Cobra SPX 5500 Important Information Manual, Radar Detector Cobra SPX 6700 Specification Sheet, Radar Detector Cobra 12 BAND XRS 9950 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra SLR 600 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra Elite Road Scout Owner's Manual, Radar Detector Cobra XRS 9745 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra XRS 888 Operating Instructions Manual, Radar Detector Cobra XRS 9345 Operating Instructions Manual, Page 18: Trademarks Acknowdlegement, Warnings, And Regulatory Information. Ample suction with cups provided keep it stuck to your windshield fairly well. Sometimes we go in-depth and analyze something, or we talk about car history or motorsports, or maybe were just giving our thoughts on something in the automotive industry. You can, however, turn certain bands, like the X-band detectors, completely off, which is helpful. Bouncie GPS Vehicle Tracker Review: How It Works, Top Safety Features & Cost (2023), 12V Slime Inflator Review: An Easy Solution for Unexpected Low Tires, 5 Best Jump Starters (2023 Buyers Guide), Driving On Wet Roads: 6 Essential Tips to Increase Your Safety, Best Radar Detectors With a Dash Camera (2023 Buyers Guide), Furiously Ridiculous: The Worst Car Movies of All Time, 5 Most Romantic Classic Cars For Valentines Day, AAA Drivers Ed Review: Courses & Prices for 2023, 2023 Genesis Electrified GV70: Trim Levels, Safety Tech, Pricing & More. Earlier warnings provide greater protection against all radar and laser guns in use on the road. This is only intended for international users where this type of radar is used. As you might imagine, theres not much to installing the RAD 480i. Here are five of the best radar detector options for your vehicle. Plus, the best radar detectors will have some kind of stealth technology to hide you from RDDs. There is also a mode that allows the detector's sensitivity to automatically change based on the speed . In the same vein, there arent enough users to make apps like Waze useful either. high-performance After its release, the Cobra RAD 480i was dubbed as a breakthrough in radar-laser detection. The Cobra RAD 480i issues a specific alert tone for each type of radar band it detects. }y7~6?_NSx.=/= i{Z2z#OacN?_kZ~?}.?~o_k9~i}= eI{HX_S(0j_ 9 The Cobra RAD 480i packs in a lot of powerful features. w4 'CqO viRXkp#SvT8A g+{~PZ^y^idp)ZCkeg@vJ^j=l^gt8j%xues1C~9MhlIF #P5,=!kd/66{CPzaa!k>lYS.%!k Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm EST Price Checker. The RAD 480i might drive you nuts. It helps the device remember your usual routes and recognizes a false alarm, especially in a busy city where many things might trigger an alert. endobj With real-time updates, a small collection of features, and mid-level customization, this is a great budget-friendly option. We reviewed the best radar detectors on the market, and here are our top picks. Yes. In this article, I will run through the RAD 480i spec sheet and summarize our three-week drive as I go along. Many brands have proprietary apps that let you adjust different settings and signal strength and even connect you to data from other users. Although we dont often recommend radar detectors under $100, this one is an exception. $149.95 $149.95. Its signal spreads out like radar, though not as widely. works very well alerts you long distance status there are no problems if you have the window open and you pass by since its volume decreases when you are close. Range is the showpiece of this radar detector, and our road tests reflect that as well. Its definitely a step above any base model radar detector, but beyond the iRadar app, there may not be much else to chew on if you are a bells and whistles type of person. The amount of tax charged on your order is contingent on your state. Are they really going to save you from a speeding ticket, or are they just another fancy gadget to show off inside your car? They can come from the cars around you and other sources as well. In making this list of the best radar detectors for 2023, we considered the five main points below. Let us know! Would buy again. Cobra RAD 480i Review: Is This Affordable Radar Detector Really Worth The Money? A loose power cord or connection on the unit itself could also be to blame. Best . As for the competition, theUniden DFR9is worth looking at in this price range. Customer Service: You will inevitably need to upgrade if you'd like to stay current with the devices that law enforcement uses, but this detector will do just fine for now. Should you receive an alert while connected to the app, the type will show on the OLED display (like a red light camera or speed trap, for example). The Cobra RAD 480i went from making a lot of racket to nothing. OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES - available at www.cobra.com . This allows you to get real-time alerts from over 3 million drivers who are using a Cobra device. UU. Instant-On Ready Detects radar guns with "instant-on" (very fast) speed monitoring capabilities Tone Alerts With adjustable volume UltraBright Data Display Is easy to read City or Highway Modes to reduce false alerts Safety Alert Traffic warning system distinguishes important safety alerts from other K band signals By no means would I say its an extended range, especially compared to any other radar detectors Ive used in the past. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market. We spent several weeks driving with the RAD 380 and were genuinely impressed by its performance. Lets start with the radar detector. 2023 Best Buy. Otherwise, we suggest not using Auto mode and keeping it more simple: Low for city driving and High for when you are on the open road. As a general rule, we tend to avoid blatantly inexpensive radar detectors. It offers great detection range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and access to the iRadar app. They cant be sure in every case, but some highly trained police officers will be able to tell. Cobra RAD 480i and Uniden R3 Detections. The Cobra RAD 480i is a great detector for those on a budget. The opinions below are my own based on my personal experience with the product. One downside is that the Valentine One Gen2 does not have GPS, meaning you dont get automatic red light or speed camera alerts. Not only is it thinner and sleeker, but it also has new power and volume controls that are much easier to use than on the Gen1. . User rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars with 462 reviews. This device is far from perfect in the accuracy realm and false alerts a lot, but it does okay for the price. In general, you should try to mount the detector high up, with a good line of sight. . In motion, the RAD 480i delivers alerts that are clear and easily understood. Select Free Ground Shipping over $80 at checkout to receive shipping at no extra charge. Will you get decent alerts without Bluetooth? There are plenty of high-quality units from top brands that dont cost an arm and a leg (some we will cover on this list). The styling is also kind aggressive. Whether that hassle is worth it will be up to you, but it would be helpful to determine the location of your vehicles power outlet and how the cord might impact your driving experience before buying. Thanks to its triple-antenna design, the Redline 360c has twice the range as other detectors by Escort. In Auto mode, the RAD 480i alerted to every road construction zone and flashing sign on I-75 through Michigan and Ohio. And if you buy this it does have an app you have to have. However, since it runs on batteries, youre going to have to change those regularly. (A single beep will sound when the signal is first . Range is okay. The advantages of a corded detector are that it remains very portable and never runs out of batteries. $1,699 at AL Priority. William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. They function like this: We didnt have the best luck with the Auto Sensitivity mode, opting instead for Low or High, depending on where we were. Its good, does its job but it really scans every laser on the road. Connect to smoother driving with this Cobra detector. (362.9 g.), Master Pack Dimensions: 6.85 L x 10.20 W x 11 H (173.99mm x 259.08mm x 279.4mm). They should be easy to understand while driving and play the role of copilot seamlessly. User rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars with 462 reviews. Check out our in-depth guide to radar detector laws here. Tax will be calculated at checkout. As such, for this three-week drive and subsequent review of the RAD 480i, Cobras iRadar app had little competition on my phone. The Valentine One Gen2 also has a ramp-up feature, which slowly increases the alarms intensity as you near the source. Just change the brightness settings via the DIM button on the top of the unit, based on your preferences (Bright, Dim, and Dimmer). From performance supercar windshields to ready-to-rumble Jeeps the Premium Mount will hold fast. When you compare the price to what you get, the RAD 480i is a great deal. Bonus: Best radar detector mount for motorcycles. Model: 0180009-1 | SKU: 6404074. And with these settings, you would have different needs. Ram Magnetic Plate III. This manual comes under the category Detectors and has been rated by 7 people with an average of a 9. You can turn off any band you don't want it to scan for it. Spectre will also give some false alerts so leave that off as well. digital radar/laser 800-543-1608 Option 3 This is not the case and quite the opposite in my experience. Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and amember of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. Although the screen is small, its very easy to decipher between multiple threats at the same time. Even though Ive tested a few different radar detectors over the years, I still consider myself to be an amateur user, and the 480i makes it very simple to figure out whats going on. OLEDs last a long time, which is a perk. The new Cobra RAD 480i is definitely one of the best radar detectors on the market today. Cobra 29 LTD. $129.95. Like its big brother, the R7, the Uniden R3 offers aGPS lockout featureto prevent any reoccurring false alerts. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. The Cobra RAD 480i will alert you to X, K, and Ka radar bands and laser (LiDAR) guns. This is us talking shop and talking cars. Our in-depth guides provide advice and insight on numerous aspects of vehicle ownership, including maintenance, car care, warranty, accessories, and safe driving. Works good. It does not come with all the bells and whistles, but considering the price, it's a pretty good deal. So, does it really live up to the hype? Unlike other radar detectors, the RAD 480i does not have a color display, opting instead for a black and white combo that is sofer on the eyes. They are also illegal in all 50 states for commercial drivers, such as truck drivers and taxi drivers. Most likely, there is a patrol car waiting on the other side. All Bogies Modeallows visual and audio alerts;Logic Modegives visual alerts but mutes weak signals for a quieter ride; andAdvanced Logic Modefor L, X, and K bands. Based on our experience between the Cobra RAD 380 mentioned above and RAD 480i, the RAD 380 issues fewer false alerts. Got feedback? Typically, we dont suggest units that fall much below $100. The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Dont toss your old Escort unit just yet. Auto sensitivity wasnt much better for us on the open road either. This data alerts you to things like an unforeseen red light camera, speed trap, construction work, school zone, or police radar activity. Be mindful if this happens, especially if the intensity of the alert increases as you climb the hill or begin to cross the bridge. The Escort Redline 360c is our top pick for the best portable radar detector on the market due to its exceptional 360-degree detection range, advanced features, directional arrows, Stealth technology, Wifi, GPS, AI, and Escorts additional offerings such as a trade-in program, Escort Live app, price-match, and ticket-free guarantee. From repairing televisions in a small garage to a world leader in consumer electronicsour 50 years of innovation allows us to deliver the technology you need for a modern driving experience. The 9 Best Radar Detectors on the Market (2023). Privacy | Cookies | Terms. I then assembled a wide range that covered the gamut of prices out there . My only gripe is that I don't know what to do with the wire, and it's way too long so ultimately ends up getting wadded up in a cupholder. RAD 480i Features Windshield Mounting Option Assemble Suction Cup Bracket Adjust Suction Cup Bracket to ensure your RAD 480i has a level view of the road Otherwise, as a private citizen, unless you live in Virginia or D.C., its okay to have a radar detector in your vehicle. The most obvious reason is to avoid a speeding ticket. Plus, get access the nationwide database of red light and speed cameras. There are sensitivity settings that allow you to determine how many alerts get filtered out. Its best to think of the RAD 480i as a middle ground unit. Are radar detectors worth it? Overall, I found the RAD 480i to be useful and easy to operate. A desktop icon (Cobra RAD 480i Update) will be created on your desktop. Detects from an alright distance. The RAD 480i is the best performing radar detector in its class with 2x the detection range of its predecessor for advanced warnings plus next generation IVT filtering to eliminate unwanted alerts. 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