Every year a large amount of money changes hands in traffic courts, by drivers paying the fines associated with speeding tickets. Add to that amount the cost of increased insurance premiums and it is easy to see why smart drivers decide to invest in a top-notch radar detector.
If you are going to purchase a radar detector, you need one that will enable you to avoid your day in traffic court. That is where two of the better radar detectors on the market, the Uniden R7 and the Escort Max 3, come into play. Let’s take a detailed look at each of these detectors to see which one may be best for you.
Uniden R7 vs Escort Max 3 Side by Side:
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Uniden R7 | Escort Max 3 | |
| Range | Insane Long Range | Extreme long range |
| Built-in GPS | No | Yes |
| Display | Multi-color OLED | Multi-color OLED |
| False Filter | Advanced K /KA Band Filter | In-Vehicle Filtering Technology |
| Red Light & Speed Camera Alerts | No | Yes |
| Speed-based Auto Mute | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth connectivity | No | Yes |
| Price | Find on Uniden.com Find on Amazon | Find on EscortRadar Find on Amazon |
Uniden R7
Display – The size of the R7’s display (perhaps the largest of any radar detector on the market) is angled to the left, making it easy for the driver to see. The display has a full-color, OLED screen with large fonts and graphics. There are five brightness levels: BRIGHT, DIM, DIMMER, DARK, OFF, and AUTO. While four are rather self-explanatory, DARK mode is designed for driving at night without the display lit up. All that is seen is a small flashing dot until a threat is detected. At that time, the display lights up to give the driver all the pertinent threat information. Once the threat disappears, the display goes back to just the flashing dot. The one downside to the OLED display is that it can be hard to see in bright sunlight. So if you own a convertible and are driving with the top down on a sunny day, making out the display can become difficult. The OFF mode leaves the display off entirely, even when a threat is detected.
Sensitivity – The R7 can detect radar signals at an unbelievable range, up to 5 miles depending on terrain conditions. It has dual antennas that will detect signals across all 360°. There are three sensitivity setting: HIGHWAY, CITY, and ADVANCED. Highway puts the detector in its most sensitive mode. CITY reduces K and X-band sensitivity to help limit false alerting from stationary radars like door opening systems. ADVANCED mode allows you to adjust sensitivities by percentages, allowing you to “fine tune” the detector to account for your usual driving routes. If alerting range is number one for you, the R7 is a great choice.
GPS – The R7’s GPS easily finds and quickly connects to satellite for information about your current location and changing speed limits. The GPS function gives you the ability to lockout stationary radars that you pass by on a regular basis, eliminating aggravating false alerts.
Quite-Ride – This feature allows you to select a speed at which the detector mutes any alert when you are driving below the selected speed. This is another way that you can keep the R7 from sounding out alerts when you don’t need them.
Radar Detector Detector (RDD) Immunity – Although almost no radar detectors are completely immune to RDD, this Uniden model comes close. Click here for our full review of the Uniden R7
Pros
- Extreme range detection
- Signal Strength and threat direction arrow indicators
- GPS capability with false alert lockouts
- Almost invisible to RDDs
- Includes MicroUSB and USB cables
Cons
- Display subject to washout in bright sunlight
- Large size – weighs 7 ounces
Escort Max 3 Laser/Radar Detector
Sensitivity – The Max 3 has excellent range detection and it is great at detecting red light and speed cameras. It has the ability to filter out alerts from BSM and CAS systems in newer vehicles. It has four sensitivity settings: Auto, AutoNoX, AutoLoX, and Highway
GPS – The GPS has the ability to “Auto Learn” the locations of stationary radars once they have been passed two or three times. You don’t have to manually program these false alerts into the unit. Once “learned” the Max 3 automatically mutes the alert, displays a “Stored” message, and keeps the display grayed-out.
Magnetic Mounting – Attach the suction-cup mount to your windshield, the Max 3 will then magnetically attach itself to the mount. This is great for when you want to quickly remove the unit and store it out of sight. Only Escort offers this type of magnetic mount.
Connects to the Cloud – This is one place where the Max 3 differentiates itself from other competitors. It can be connected via Bluetooth to an Escort database or other navigation apps, like Waze, that will alert you to upcoming speed cameras, red light cameras, traffic hazards, and real-time police radar locations. It also allows you to further fine tune the Max 3’s sensitivity settings.
Display – The Max features a colored OLED display screen. The display will inform you of the band detected, the distance to the source of the radar, signal strength and the speed you are going. The only issue with the display is that it can be affected by bright sunlight. Click here for our full review of the Escort Max 3
Pros
- Excellent range detection
- Exceptional filtering of BSM systems
- Built-in GPS
- Bluetooth connection
- Magnetic mount
Cons
- Slow at detecting instant-on radar
- Display washes out in bright sunlight
- Can be overly sensitive to Ka-band radar signals
- No signal direction arrows to pinpoint direction of threat
Our Pick
Even though the Uniden R7 has slightly better detection range, we like the Escort Max 3 for its GPS and its Bluetooth capability. It is important to be able to be kept updated in real-time as to road conditions as they change and this can be done by connecting the Max 3 to your Smartphone or tablet as you drive. The “Auto Learn” feature of the GPS is a handy little add-on that will keep you from having to always manually input known stationary radars that cause your detector to false alert. (>>> Buy Directly from EscortRadar)