x}KJv?Z,>{'haGm7OD]LO_uZ?z.ohz^! This is a great brand. Check Today's Price For Cobra RAD 480i In-store pricing may vary. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Coverage is good as the unit includes a radar antenna and a laser eye that monitor the front of your vehicle, while a separate antenna-eye monitors the rear. This radar detector has a bright OLED display thats easy to read. Best overall: Uniden R7Best connected: Valentine 1 Gen2Best stealth: Escort Redline 360cBest mid-range: Uniden R3Best budget: Cobra RAD 480i How we chose the best radar detectors 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. 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. A radar detector that has Bluetooth connectivity to an app on your smartphone but leaves out a few favorite features in exchange for a friendly price, Sensitivity adjustments cannot be performed individually. Make sure these areas are free of dirt, dust, and corrosion. The app alerts you, in real-time, to things like red light and speed cameras. With DSP, youll be able to know faster if police are targeting the area. No sponsored content. Good coverage. >bj!L#n/[ Even though it has wires, they wont be in your way because theyre strung through your cars interior to stay out of your eyesight. Model: 0180009-1 | SKU: 6404074. 5/5. Its good, does its job but it really scans every laser on the road. To be fair, other radar detectors do the same and you can filter out K band detection, but its confusing nonetheless. The RAD 480i doesn't have award winning range, but gets the job done. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. Show More (5 items) When you think of radar detectors, you . In motion, the RAD 480i delivers alerts that are clear and easily understood. Bonus: Best radar detector mount for motorcycles. 800-964-3138 Option 1 I bet 2/3 of the people who buy this are bros who have tribal arm band tattoos and wear mostly Ed Hardy. Enjoy free shipping on orders $80 and up. We found it best to turn the volume off and simply keep an eye out for visual alerts. LaserEye detects laser signals from both the front and rear of your vehicle. The GPS capabilities are great for displaying the speed limit, your current speed, and warning you of any red light or speed cameras in the area. 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. The 480i can detect X-band, K-band, Ka-band, and laser, but not MultaRadar (MRCD), which is rather new to the United States. There are also no directional arrows to clue you in on where the threat is coming from. endobj Its not fancy, but for about $60, its a good option for an affordable radar detector. Aside from the IVT filter, another shield against false alerts is the adjustable sensitivity settings. The Cobra RAD 480i will alert you to X, K, and Ka radar bands and laser (LiDAR) guns. Lol, I would like to see less false alerts an Ka band on highway use, Works great saved me a lot of times would recommend to anyone. I bought a rear-view mirror mount to anchor this thing in the best possible location for laser signatures (radar experts recommend using your rear-view mirror to mount any radar detector). Shop; Technology; Apps; Cobra Business; Support; Sales: 800-964-3138 Monday - Friday 8am - 9pm EST }y7~6?_NSx.=/= i{Z2z#OacN?_kZ~?}.?~o_k9~i}= eI{HX_S(0j_ 9 See More Details, Les clients internationaux peuvent magasiner au www.bestbuy.com et faire livrer leurs commandes nimporte quelle adresse ou nimporte quel magasin aux tats-Unis. We only received one VG-2 notification during our three-week drive, and we could never visibly see the source. The correct name for the technology that most people refer to as laser is actually LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging. In my opinion, there is little to no point in upgrading to a higher tier system past this, it's not going to eliminate false positives or increase range dramatically, unless you want light statistics, etc. This has worked great so far. William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. Welcome to RatedRadarDetector. Cobra - RAD 480i Radar and Laser Detector, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, CA Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information, Limit Use of My Sensitive Personal Information. Your vehicles cigarette lighter socket or a household outlet work best Using the Drive Smarter App Power up your camera by connecting to constant power source such as your vehicles CLA adapter or a household outlet. Please note: Due to high call volumes, our phone lines may close earlier than posted times in order to accommodate those already waiting in queue. Theyre made for all popular radar detectors and are meant to mount the unit in the best possible place for detection without blocking your view. The GPS lockout feature remembers up to 2,000 individual locations to prevent reoccurring false alerts (like automatic doors in a shopping plaza, construction zones, or digital signage). From performance supercar windshields to ready-to-rumble Jeeps the Premium Mount will hold fast. Have a photo that I took from the app showing nearly 10 readings in a mile distance before arriving to my destination the other night. On top of the device, you have the different buttons like the menu, mute, dim, and SEN for sensitivity settings. 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. In most situations, the device gives enough time to slow down; however, it struggles when there are obstacles in the way. Dwg.g.j+hGZb|0k el[Q\oBar-+d`e_|I;lEN2q0Wvy'uVl\LVP6,r!StlJx:oRB7!r*+}lj Even though we were driving at slightly higher speeds, we were still in Detroit proper or rather, we were still doing city driving. Laser, X Band and many more signals. Find a better advertised price online for any current Cobra product and well match it within 30 days of purchase. The first is a 30-day price match promise. When it comes to the more affordable radar detectors offered by Cobra, there are two to consider: the RAD 480i and the RAD 380. While I do like the iRadar app, the RAD 380 seems to offer better overall performance when compared to the RAD 480i. OLEDs last a long time, which is a perk. Some love it because it doesnt get crazy and loud as soon as it picks up something, while others feel it doesnt always warn early enough about what lies ahead. 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. It comes with a car charger power adapter, so if you only have one charging port in your car I'd highly recommend you get the Car and Driver extension box sold by Best Buy (its Blue) so you can charge your phone at the same time. One possible explanation is a dirty power outlet or cigarette lighter socket. Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and amember of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. I dont own a radar detector, and even though Im lucky enough to test some of the fastest vehicles money can buy, I dont stretch them out on public roads. The advantages of a corded detector are that it remains very portable and never runs out of batteries. The RAD 380 doesnt have these features. Furthermore, AutoLearn and GPS technology, Bluetooth and laser jammer capability, and a multicolor OLED display make the Escort MAX 3 a no-brainer in this price range. Why is it a Best-Seller? 028377107863. Would buy again. It's also easy. Works good. Alerts are easy to read. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. As for the 1080p dashcam, its pretty good, too. 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. Here are five of the best radar detector options for your vehicle. You will still see them for sale, but we dont recommend buying one. Here in Maine, we have digital signage on the highways to communicate road conditions, and the Cobra alerted K band signals for every one of them. By no means would I say its an extended range, especially compared to any other radar detectors Ive used in the past. With its long-range detection and an early-warning system, youll know whats ahead of you on the road. Join the Cobra Nation! The Cobra RAD 480i detects all radar bands and laser guns and alerts you via an easy-to-read OLED display. Q: Whats the difference between the Cobra RAD 480i and the RAD 380? Lets find out in this Cobra RAD 480i review. To answer that, it depends on what apps (if any) you are most likely to use when you drive. We suggest using BlendMounts custom-fit mounts. It also knows the difference between static and LIVE laser signatures. Tax will be calculated at checkout. To address this, the Cobra RAD 480i is equipped with an advanced anti-falsing circuitry to significantly reduce the false alerts that come from blind spot monitoring (BSM) systems and collision avoidance systems. Note: OS compatibility for the Cobra update software is for Windows XP, 7.0, 8.0, 10, 11Cobra Software Update is not yet compatible with Mac OS. International customers can shop on www.bestbuy.com and have orders shipped to any U.S. address or U.S. store. Here is How it Works. To lock out a false alert, no matter where you are driving, hit the MARK button on the top of the unit. Otherwise, the Cobra RAD 480i is designed to be maintenance-free. Please note that road conditions (hills and curves) can affect the range. The RAD 480i, on the other hand, seemed to struggle with false alerts, especially in Auto Sensitivity mode. It uses Cobras LaserEye technology to provide front and rear protection, and the iRadar app gives you real-time alerts for everything from speed cameras to police activity crowdsourced from a community of more than three million other users. The p7500 detector also lets you to have your own custom . Does Bluetooth make your radar detector more feature-rich? Like the Redline 360c, the MAX 3 is also covered by Escorts ticket-free guarantee program for one year after purchase. . Beyond that, the Cobra RAD 480i is an affordable radar detector with a sleek display and tremendous long-range detection to match. It still costs a chunk, but it is on the far lower end of the price spectrum in the grand scheme of radar detectors. Though it doesnt match some of the more expensive units on this list in terms of performance, this is still a great option. Setting your detector to Low or Medium sensitivity delays the audio alerts for weak X band and K band signals until they become stronger. The software will notify you if your RAD 480i is up to date. Just plug it in, download the app, and sync the device to your smartphone. To experiment, we ran through the same area (both north and southbound) in Low sensitivity. The DualPro 360 features an easy-to-read four-color OLED display, and you can choose the display color you prefer from green, copper, blue, and red. Users have mixed feelings about it. The laser detection and range are pretty good, and the false alarms are minimal, thanks to four different filter settings. The 480i comes equipped with X-band, K-band, Ka-band, and laser detection but cannot detect MultaRadar. From there, a black warning bar serves as a count down of sorts, working from right to left. Firmware update available for Rad 480i (R10 1/5/2023). The Cobra iRadar app is available for free from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (Apple). Cobra recommends installing the unit as close to the center of the windshield as possible, which may be difficult in some vehicles, depending on the location of the power outlet. 4.3 (462 Reviews) . Even if you are connected to the iRadar app, you can still manually change the sensitivity. If youve been using radar detectors for a while now, you know all too well how annoying false alerts are. The Cobra RAD 480i has twice the range of other radar detectors in its class. Unfortunately, the RAD 480i does not come with a carrying case, so Igrabbed this oneon Amazon (as an Amazon associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases). This way, you wont be bombarded by false alerts and you get the performance you expect. Run (double click on Cobra_RAD_480i_Update_Installer_V1.0.exe) to install onto your PC and follow the InstallShield Wizard instructions. To ensure that you only hear the alerts you need to hear, the Cobra RAD 480i has a sensitivity button so you can adjust the sensitivity and filtering modes according to the situation. Or are you better off with another model? The Cobra RAD 480i is one of Cobra's newest upgrades in their radar/laser detector family. Affiliate Disclosure:Automoblog and its partners may earn a commission when you purchase the products featured in this review. Useful apps are available on both iOS and Android to add functionalities like voice announcements, logging alerts, and automatic lockouts. When compared side by side to others in our test, the RAD 480i lagged very far behind our top performers. On the screen, youd find band identification icons and a numeric signal strength meter so you know how near or far away the police radar gun is. $149.95 $149.95. Get all speed and red light camera notifications plus real-time shared alerts from the Cobra community. 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. A: Inside the box, youget the Cobra RAD 480i, the windshield mounting bracket, and a power adapter. It offers great detection range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and access to the iRadar app. All of the radar detectors on our list detect all of the most popular radar bands, as well as offering laser detection. Earlier warnings provide greater protection against all radar and laser guns in use on the road. Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm EST This radar detector is one of the most advanced on the market, equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, Digital Signal Processing (DSP), and artificial intelligence (to better protect against false alerts). You may be driving on the highway, around town, or within the city. Increased awareness and ultimate road coverage. Connect to smoother driving with this Cobra detector. Bluetooth connectivity isnt essential, but its a handy feature to have. LiDAR operates much like radar. Are radar detectors worth it? However, if you want the best of the best, and your budget will allow it, the Redline 360c is worth every penny. Verified Purchase | Posted 3 months ago. I think having the real-time alerts and reporting them for other drivers to see is worth the extra $50. Cobra RAD 480i and Uniden R3 Detections. A cordless radar detector gets rid of the annoying cable and remains highly portable. The most obvious reason is to avoid a speeding ticket. GPS also allows you to monitor your speed more precisely and makes it so you can mark red light cameras and other hazards that you notice along your route. A desktop icon (Cobra RAD 480i Update) will be created on your desktop. Using the GPS, you can also mark speed traps and other hazards using theiRadar app(similar to Waze). And if you buy this it does have an app you have to have. For one, most radar detectors are mounted on the windshield, so theyre easily visible. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials. The amount of tax charged on your order is contingent on your state. More Detail is the factory setting, and its the setting we prefer. The Cobra RAD 480i went from making a lot of racket to nothing. 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). Thats why we created this guide to the best radar detectors on the market in 2023, so you dont waste your hard-earned money on a high-tech, glorified paperweight. When we searched for the best deal on a Uniden R7, Amazon was the clear winner at around $450. Radar detectors are also illegal in any commercial vehicle weighing over 10,000 lbs. Cobra - RAD 480i Radar and Laser Detector. Although we dont often recommend radar detectors under $100, this one is an exception. While driving in Auto mode, especially on roads like I-94 and M-10 through Detroit, we would often receive a barrage of false alerts. IMO it makes you a better driver. The R3 tops our list of the best radar detectors under $300, but there are a lot of great options in this price range. To update the firmware, connect RAD 480i to your PC using a standard USB-A to USB-micro cable. My main issue aside from the false alerts would have to be that its supposed to block out/eliminate blind spot mirrors and vehicle avoidance systems. As an Amazon Associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases, including the radar detectors featured in this article. This manual comes under the category Detectors and has been rated by 7 people with an average of a 9. Select "RAD 480i" from the list In the iRadar app, the RAD 480i entry will display "Connected" when it has paired. CES 2023: The Biggest Trends for Pros; Best iPhone models; Best note-taking apps for iPad; Brightest flashlights; Best home battery and backup systems It has an ultra-fast long range protection, voice alerts, Bluetooth connectivity, and next-level IVT filtering for significantly less false alerts on the road. Valentine recommends this mode for city driving. $199.95. Some models continue to serve power through the 12V outlet (where most portable radar detectors and other accessories plug in) even though the car is turned off. With the iRadar app, you can either report or receive real-time alerts as generated by an entire network of users. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Plus, how comfortable do you feel knowing the only thing between you and that huge speeding ticket is a AA battery? Many things could potentially set a radar detector off in that particular area, most notably Henry Ford Hospital and a police precinct (no joke; Detroits 3rd precinct is right there on West Grand Boulevard). You can toggle through them by hitting the SEN button on top of the unit. 8 0 obj <>/XObject<>>>/BBox[ 0 0 633.58 812.86] /Matrix[ 0.11364 0 0 0.088576 0 0] /Filter/FlateDecode/Length 112154>> The Uniden R7 offers 360-degree coverage, meaning it will alert you to potential threats from any direction. What more can I say? 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. We reviewed the best radar detectors on the market, and here are our top picks. However, the RAD 480i does not give off this signal, making it invisible to radar detector detectors (which likely explains why the default factory setting for VG-2 is off). Its not that the RAD 480i is a bad unit, but if you drive through a lot of road construction zones by where you live, you might want to consider another unit. Our response to COVID-19, Sign up for exclusive offers and the latest news. Installation usually comes in one of three flavors: A corded radar detector is the most common and comes with (you guessed it!) Most likely, there is a patrol car waiting on the other side. If an update is available the software update button will turn green. Is it as powerful and robust as the Uniden R7? And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. As with most things in life, it depends. Just change the brightness settings via the DIM button on the top of the unit, based on your preferences (Bright, Dim, and Dimmer). This model maintains the aesthetic of the Cobra radar detector line,and thats not a bad thing because the products look sleek and modern. The latest devices do more than just alert you to the presence of law enforcement and may even be able to help you or your teen driver stay safe. Ram Magnetic Plate III. This guide toradar detector lawsin the United States will help if you have additional questions. For the most part, yes. Like its big brother, the R7, the Uniden R3 offers aGPS lockout featureto prevent any reoccurring false alerts. Best Radar Detector For $300: Uniden R3. Ultra-high performance digital radar/laser detector (15 pages), Supercharged long-range radar/laser detectors (14 pages), 2-in-1 radar detector and dash camera (19 pages), 15 band ultra performance digital radar/laser detector with xtreme range superheterodyne technology (21 pages), 14 band Integrated Bluetooth and an open API make this a versatile option that you can use with other devices, apps, and accessories. A solid and effective radar detector for under $300 is rare indeed, but one for $150 was almost inconceivable before the Cobra RAD 480i showed up. Specific details. Plus, get access the nationwide database of red light and speed cameras. The Cobra RAD 480i has no trouble detecting LiDAR. 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. This is only intended for international users where this type of radar is used. Range is okay. UU. Bonus: Best laser jammer. Having them bundled like this will save you money over buying them individually. And with a retail price of $149.95, its easy to justify the cost of the Cobra RAD 480i. Page 4: Product Service And Support View the manual for the Cobra RAD 480i here, for free. FEATURES OF THE COBRA RAD 480i I then assembled a wide range that covered the gamut of prices out there . Cobra RAD 480i $149.95 Premium Mount $29.95 $179.90 The Premium Mount offers the best all-around mounting solution for the RAD 480i radar detector across a wide range of windshields. This allows you to get real-time alerts from over 3 million drivers who are using a Cobra device. endobj Buy Cobra RAD 480i Laser Radar Detector . They should be easy to understand while driving and play the role of copilot seamlessly. That said, there are multiple display adjustments to cope with this, including an auto setting that adjusts to the ambient light. Any good radar detector with built-in GPS will alert you to speed cameras, red light cameras, and speed traps. Great Unit On High mode goes off a lot which is explained in directions but definitely Lights the Ka band up from around corners and far distances. Radar detectors are illegal only in Virginia, Washington DC, and most parts of Canada. The new Cobra RAD 480i is definitely one of the best radar detectors on the market today. In flat, open conditions the range is at least 2 miles. Model RAD 480i Master Pack Qty. What the Cobra RAD 480i lacks in range and accuracy it makes up for in features. And with LaserEye technology, the Cobra RAD 480i is able to detect radar and laser signals from the front and rear of the vehicle. A lot can get in the way of radars, like buildings, trees, winding roads, and hills. Multiple sensitivity modes, location marking, and compatibility with Cobras iRadar app help make the RAD 480i a well-rounded radar detector for something in this price range. If an update is available the software update button will turn green. Get 2x the range plus enhanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for rapid warnings. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. New Technology Alerts You When One of Your Wheels is Loose. Cobra SC 200D. It picks up X, K, Ka, Laser, Spectre, VG-42. There are even some apps that work with the Apple Watch, so you can mute alerts just by moving your wrist. Ensure the unit is as low as possible but not obstructing its view, either to the front or rear. No, really, leave this for professionals to install because it requires wiring the unit directly into your cars electrical system.