Radar detectors are of great benefit to drivers overall, with the ability to enhance your situational awareness as you drive in both familiar and unfamiliar environments. This makes for a safer and less stressful driving experience overall. Choosing a radar detector can be tricky though, with a multitude of options available that all have different features.
Uniden and Escort are both reputable brands for radar detectors, having been around for decades. Let’s discuss the Uniden R4 vs Escort Max 360 (>>> Check the current price on Amazon).
Uniden R4 vs Escort Max 360 Side by Side:
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Uniden R4 | Escort Max 360 | |
| Range | Extreme Long | Extreme Range |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Display | Full-color OLED | Graphic multi-color OLED |
| False Alert Filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Red Light & Speed Camera Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Speed-based Auto Mute | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth connectivity | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Find on Amazon Find on Uniden.com | Find on Amazon |
Detection Range
Both radar detectors offer good range. While it is hard to test range and say for sure how well it will work, as the real world contains many more signals, variations, and false alarms than a testing environment, it appears that the Uniden R4 has better range overall than the Escort Max 360.
For example, while the Escort Max 360 averaged a detection range of around 1,500 feet, the average for the Uniden R4 exceeded 2,000 feet. Of course, these are both respectable ranges that will work well for most drivers, but the Uniden does prove superior.
Greater Range: Uniden R4
Filtering Capabilities
Once again, both radar detectors offer great filtering capabilities, able to differentiate between real and fake signals. Technology like the automatic door openers are grocery stores can set off a radar detector, and this would be a false alarm because obviously this is not a real police signal. Other things like the security systems on many of today’s cars can also trigger a radar detector to go off, so many detectors are graded on how well they are able to filter out this noise and not go off all the time.
If they were unable to filter out these false signals, then your radar detector would literally be going off all the time if not near constantly. This would make the devices useless. Luckily, both products use good filtering systems, and are able to block false alerts with good success.
The Uniden is able to run in city and highway modes, and also run based on speed sensitivity, meaning it will not go off and give alerts on the highway at 70mph as much as it would in city mode. Some have reported that while the Escort Max 360 does filter well, sometimes it is hindered by the presence of blind-spot monitors from other cars on the road, going off to alert you of them. In fact, users reports you cannot run the Escort Max 360 if you drive a Honda or Acura due to it being constantly triggered by its blind-spot monitoring system.
Best Filtering: Uniden R4
Smartphone Compatibility
Many radar detectors offer additional information and/or features when you pair it with a smartphone. An important feature for many of today’s driver is how well a radar detector works with a phone, and if it has an app with a good user interface.
The Escort Max 360 offers an app experience via Bluetooth that connects drivers to a live network with real-time updates and information. The Uniden R4, on the other hand, has Bluetooth capability but no app. The company says they plan to come out with an app for the radar detector, but this is still in the works.
This gives the Escort Max 360 an obvious advantage as the Uniden R4 simply does not have an app on offer for consumers.
Best app experience: Escort Max 360
Uniden R4
The Uniden R4 comes with everything you need to set it up out of the box. It features multiple modes, so you can quiet the detector at highway speeds, for instance. It also has detectors specifically for red lights and speed cameras, helping alert you to the specific signals in your environment.
You can also set it up to automatically mute known locations for false alerts. This can also be disabled if you are concerned a real signal might be in that location in the future.
It has GPS on-board and a large, easy-to-read multi-color display. For our more in-depth Uniden R4 review, follow the link: https://garagegeektips.com/uniden-r4-review/
Pros
- Integrated GPS
- Multiple sensitivity modes
- Minimal setup needed
- Undetectable by radar detector detectors
- Red light and speed camera detectors
- Wide range
- Easy to read display
Cons
- No app
Escort Max 360
The Escort Max 360 comes with a lot of features, and this can be overwhelming to new users, especially those who are new to radar detectors altogether. If this sounds like you, you can enable novice mode to get started using it without having to learn everything about the detector.
Escort offers an app that adds a lot to the experience, too. It connects drivers to others on the network, and alerts can be shared.
The radar detector also offers the ability to learn, via the onboard GPS, the routes you take and automatically silent known false alerts. Like the Uniden R4, this detector also offers speed camera and red-light alerts, so you know what is coming ahead of time.
Pros
- Integrated GPS
- Directional alerts
- Available app with many features
- Undetectable by radar detector detectors
- Red light and speed camera detectors
- Wide range
- Easy to read display
Cons
- More expensive than Uniden R4
- Not a good choice for Honda or Acura vehicles equipped with blind-spot monitoring
In Sum
Both radar detectors offer good value for the money. However, if you drive a newer Honda or Acura with blind-spot monitoring, you should avoid the Escort Max 360 as it is likely to be consistently triggered by the system.
Otherwise, both choices are good ones for most drivers. If you prioritize having an app to pair with your smartphone, the Max 360 is the better choice as Uniden has yet to release their app. On the other hand, if you want the furthest range and do not mind having all the bells and whistles, the R4 is the winner (>>> Find on Uniden.com).
It’s really up to you to decide which features are most important to you in choosing which of the two is for you.