When in the market for a radar detector, it only makes sense to look at some of the most popular and reputable ones out there. Two of the top names in radar detectors are Escort and Valentine One. With that being said, we are going to compare the Escort Max 360c MKII vs Valentine One Gen 2 in particular.
Escort Max 360c MKII vs Valentine One Gen 2 Side by Side:
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Escort MAX 360c MKII | Valentine One Gen 2 | |
| Range | 50% improved range | Long Range, 360° Protection |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Display | OLED | Multi-color OLED |
| False Alert Filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Red Light & Speed Camera Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Find on Amazon Find on EscortRadar | Find on Amazon |
Range Detection
To be a quality radar detector, it must consistently identify warnings in advance so that the driver can respond accordingly. Both the Escort and Valentine One models offer some of the longest ranges on the market.
In fact, direct comparisons of the Valentine One Gen 2 to an older Escort model, the Redline 360c, revealed very similar results. In that case, the Valentine One slightly outperformed the Escort, albeit by a small margin (as little as 30 feet at some points). Escort claims their newer Max 360c MKII greatly increases range.
Other claims made by Escort about their newer radar detector have panned out as true, so it is likely the Escort would outperform the Valentine One, at least marginally, in a series of range testing. With that being said, the performance between the two is very close.
Best range: Escort Max 360c MKII
Filtering
Naturally, you want your radar detector to go off when there’s a genuine alert and stay silent for false alarms. Unfortunately, the roads are full of signals that can set off a radar detector, including safety systems on many vehicles and even the store doors that automatically open. The Escort and Valentine One detectors each use an advanced filtering system, called BSM filtering, to minimize the number of false alarms.
The Escort Max 360c MKII edges out the Valentine One Gen 2, however, with its ability to learn false alert locations over time and mute them. It does via its onboard GPS.
Best filtering: Escort Max 360c MKII
Smartphone Compatibility
Many radar detectors have companion apps to enhance the user’s experience. Escort and Valentine One offer multiple apps. Escort’s newer app is the one you have to use with the Max 360c MKII, and is unfortunately plagued with a lot of bugs at this time. It’s expected this will eventually be remedied, but as right now it is not the most reliable or enjoyable experience.
Valentine One has unique apps for iPhone and Android users, respectively. The Android app is the better one, with more features and customization options than the iPhone version. One of the biggest perks is that installation of the app gets you GPS, which the Gen 2 doesn’t come with out of the box.
Best for smartphones: Valentine One Gen 2
Escort Max 360c MKII
Pros
- Integrated GPS
- Wide range
- Minimal setup needed
- Easy to read display
- AI learning for fewer false alerts
Cons
- Worse app experience than Valentine One Gen 2
- More expensive than Valentine One Gen 2
The Escort Max 360c MKII is a feature-rich radar detector, including wide range, smartphone compatibility, onboard GPS, multi-direction alerts, and more. Those familiar with the previous Max 360 model should know this is essentially an improved upon version of that already high-quality radar detector.
The only major downside is the state of its app, but it’s expected that bugs will be removed and performance improved over time. >>> Check related comparison vs. Uniden R8
Valentine One Gen 2
Pros
- Wide range
- Undetectable by radar detector detectors
- Easy to read display
- Cheaper than Escort Max 360c MKII
Cons
- No onboard GPS
- Requires Android app to access all features
The Valentine One Gen 2 is a good radar detector out of the box that can offer much more when paired with the Android app. The iPhone, or IOS, app also gives you more features, but only the Android app provides the full experience.
Like its Escort competitor, the Valentine One Gen 2 offers an easy to read display with directional alerts, long range, and excellent filtering capabilities, making it one of the most premium radar detectors currently on the market. Check our full Valentine One Gen 2 review.
Conclusion
Both radar detectors are among the best ones you can buy. They each offer excellent filtering and long range, but they have their own pros and cons.
The Valentine One Gen 2 is simply not as good on its own as the Escort Max 360c MKII. You really need the Android app to unlock all of the Gen 2’s features and have it truly be on par with the 360c MKII. The 360c MKII, for example, has onboard GPS while the Gen 2 requires app pairing to access GPS.
If you want a radar detector you can use with minimal setup, the Escort model is the way to go (>>> Find on Amazon). While it does have an app experience that adds to the total features, the most important ones are included with the detector.
On the other hand, if you’re interested in having a radar detector you can customize to your liking, and enjoy (or at least don’t mind) the technical process of app pairing and dialing in your settings, the Valentine One Gen 2 is the best option.