See Also
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Editors of SpeedZones
SpeedZones reports on field evaluations of radar detectors tested by Speed Measurement Laboratories. Testing is incredibly well documented and results are published, but no recommendations are made. All… tested radar detectors managed to detect all types of radar, with the strongest signals provided by the Escort Passport 9500i, Valentine One, Whistler XTR-695 and Beltronics STi. The Valentine One and Beltronics STi had the most consistent success against POP radar guns. The Valentine One and Passport 9500i also enjoy a clear edge among laser detectors, being the only models to see all transmissions from all laser guns used in the site's tests. The Beltronics STi and Escort 9500ci are the only radar detectors that are completely invisible to all radar-detector detectors. The Escort Passport 9500i is a strong performer that incorporates GPS features.
by Editors of Guys of Lidar
The reviews conducted by Guys of Lidar are comparative and comprehensive. Most pit several models -- including retail and modified radar detectors -- against each other in trials designed to simulate… real-world situations. No best detectors are named. Instead, complete results are published, leaving the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. The site is also packed with information on radar and laser detectors along with other countermeasures. An earlier review (March 2007) includes many of the same radar detectors but a somewhat different battery of tests, including a POP test and an RDD test.
by Editors of Guys of Lidar
In this review, Guys of Lidar subject eight different laser jammers to a comprehensive test. Each device is tested against every type of laser gun on the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police)… approved list except for the new LTI TruSpeed (testers said it was too new to obtain). Two test runs are performed with the gun aimed at a headlight and three with it aimed at the license plate. An easy-to-read chart shows that the Laser Interceptor works best.
by Paul Graham and Gary Smith
Radar detector "geeks" Paul Graham and Gary Smith own Graham Smith Motoring, a Kentucky auto gear shop they founded after speeding across the country in the notorious Cannonball Run race. In this online… arm, Graham and Smith provide one-page reviews of 18 radar detectors from Escort, Beltronics, Whistler and Cobra. The detectors are not compared against each other, but each gets a numeric "cannonball rating," making it easy to see which ones rate best. However, testing methodology is not explained. Top-rated are the Escort 9500i and the Bel STi Driver.
by Roy Reyer
Former police officer and certified radar instructor Roy Reyer runs this site, which also sells radar detectors. Reyer was sentenced in 2001 for computer tampering in a satellite-TV fraud case. However, his… radar-detector reviews appear credible -- unlike many retailer-written reviews, the testing methodology is clearly explained, and Reyer highly rates some detectors he does not carry, while downgrading some he does. Products are awarded from zero to five stars, and Reyer makes specific recommendations. While most of the products mentioned are current, this undated report does include a few discontinued radar detectors. Customer reviews posted here are also helpful, with several detectors amassing 50 or more reviews. Bel and Escort models are the winners here.
by The Veil Guy
If you can get by the numerous plugs for their own product (an automotive spray designed to absorb laser light in order to reduce a laser gun's targeting range), this site has a number of good… single-product and comparative reviews. Unlike some higher-rated reviewers, reporting here is based on real-world driving experience rather than formal testing. Several high-end and budget-friendly detectors are identified as the best currently available in their classes, and subtle differences between them are explained.
by Editors of 007 Radar Detectors
This is another retailer site that tests the radar detectors they sell under "real-world" driving conditions. However, there is scant documentation about how they test, and there is little detailed… discussion of individual models. Instead, each is given a rating for performance and additional considerations, such as features and build quality. No ratings are given for X-band, POP radar or laser performance.
by Wayne Cunningham
by Editors of Popular Mechanics
by Glenn Derene
by Glenn Derene
by Contributors to RadarDetector.net
by Craig Peterson
by Editors of LaserJammerTests.com
The testers at Laser Jammer Tests identify themselves only as John and Chris, two laser-jammer enthusiasts. They say they don't accept freebies from companies, instead either buying the jammers they test or… inviting readers who own jammers to have them tested. Testing methods are explained, but not in detail. Chris and John make no bones about which brands they hate, and some posters on car and laser-jammer forums say Laser Jammer Tests appears to be biased in favor of the LaserStar, a model that does not perform well in the respected Guys of Lidar tests.
by Contributors to Epinions
Though Epinions sometimes lags behind retailer sites when it comes to review volume, radar detectors actually get a fair amount of feedback. Some of the reviews reflect months and sometimes a year or more… of use, something few professional reviewers can do. Still, this is a better site to visit after you've narrowed your choices down somewhat, as many radar detectors rate similarly. In addition, many radar detectors remain listed long after they've been discontinued. Some models are clear favorites here. Four score at least 4.5 of five stars with at least nine reviews (some have far more): the Escort Passport 9500i, Valentine One, Escort Passport 8500 and Whistler DE-1730.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Amazon.com is another good spot to read owner-written reviews of radar detectors. Navigation is easy, since the landing page displays both average ratings and the number of reviews each product has… received. Clicking through to the reviews themselves, Amazon.com displays the review breakdown (i.e. how many five-star reviews, how many four-star reviews, etc. the product has received), along with the most helpful positive and negative reviews based on reader feedback. Of course, review quality is variable -- some are just a line or two -- and some radar detectors have received only a few ratings.
|
This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.
Read more about our Ratings Criteria by clicking the link at the top of the page.
|
||
 Escort Passport 9500i Radar and Laser Detector  from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
||
|
|
 Beltronics RX65 RED Professional Series Radar (Black/Silver) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
 Whistler XTR-695 Laser/Radar Detector with Radar Signature ID, Laser Signature ID, 7-Color Display, Real Voice Alerts and External Audio Jack from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
 Beltronics STi Driver Radar Detector (Black/Silver) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
