Just how fast do you think you were going? If you do not know the answer to that question, chances are the police officer writing the ticket will. There is one sure way to get out of that ticket, however, and that is to never have gotten pulled over in the first place! With radar detectors like those featured in this Uniden R3 review, including the competitive models here, this is definitely possible.Before you set out on your next road trip, we encourage you to find out how this specific radar detector might help save you headaches and money, and what other options are out there. We will compare a few for you to help you in your search.
To kick off this Uniden R3 review, we’ll note that this unit is a lightweight, nearly undetectable, long-range radar and lidar detector. It sits on the dash of your vehicle and warns you when your vehicle’s speed is being monitored by police, sending you a signal to slow down.This detector also offers lots of useful information about your driving speed, location, and radar frequencies that help you get from point A to point B without needing to worry about pesky traffic stops. With its built-in GPS, the Uniden R3 reviewed here also has the ability to disregard stationary radar systems, such as those in school zones, to minimize driver disturbance.
Image by pixabay
Out of the box, you will know that your hard-earned money was well spent. The Uniden R3 carrying case is sturdy and capable of carrying everything that comes with the detector. And there are a lot of things besides the detector in the box. Let’s run through some of the attachments and accessories included.
Image by pixabay
You have two separate mounts to choose from for the Uniden R3 reviewed here. The first is a mounting bracket with a sticky cup-and-ball-type head. This offers plenty of options for positions and angles. The R3 also comes with dual suction cup brackets that are more traditional, and some feel these are more stable.To power the device, there is a coiled cigarette-lighter adapter. This includes a button to push for muting alerts and locations. The adapter also has a USB power port so you can also charge your cellphone or another device at the same time.
Image by pixabay
The real fun begins when you plug in the Uniden R3. The first thing that you will notice is the very bright OLED display. It is a color display, which makes the small screen easy to read. However, if you want the screen to go dark, there is a setting for that, too. If you put the device into its dark mode, the screen will not light up until radar is detected. When an alert is necessary, the Uniden R3 reviewed here will turn the screen back on and give you the information you need. If you would like audio alerts only, then we recommend trying the off-display mode. The screen will stay completely dark even when an alert sounds.The information available from this wonderful little screen is about as useful as it can get. The Uniden R3 reviewed here has built-in GPS functionality, so the unit can show you your current speed and the direction in which you are traveling. The time is also available on the display, as well as which police radar bands and frequencies the device is currently monitoring. This device can monitor three different bands at once, a capability that leads the product category.The sound alerts from the Uniden R3 reviewed here are useful as well. The voice and alert volumes are easy to hear clearly. The sound is easily adjustable, and the alert tones are free of distortion. The voice used is very natural, instead of sounding robotic.
Image by pixabay
The sensitivity of the Uniden R3 reviewed here is important to consider because this is an extremely long range detector. There are three modes to choose from: City, City 2, and Highway. “Highway” is, of course, the most powerful setting, offering the longest range of detection. For City and City 2 settings, the sensitivity is augmented to filter out unwanted radar detection from automatic doors and other such devicesConfiguring these settings is very easy. For many devices, the menu can be difficult to navigate, but the Uniden R3 reviewed here makes programming a breeze with its menu button.
The Uniden R3 reviewed here costs around $$$, which may seem expensive, but it is actually a solid value for a device with so many features.
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
One of the easiest menus to navigate earn this system 5 out of 5 stars
The added GPS features make this a fully loaded unit. We assigned it 5 out of 5 stars.
The size of this unit and the display are perfect, in our reviewers’ estimation. There are a couple of things we’d like to see changed involving the alerts, but overall, we rated design quality for this unit a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
There is a standard 1-year limited warranty for the Uniden R3 reviewed here. Save your receipt.
- Compact without being too small
- Monitors up to 3 police radar bands simultaneously
- Easy to configure
- GPS-enabled
- The flashing light while in Dark mode is too fast
- Some alerts are a little jarring for the driver
The Uniden R1 is another lightweight, nearly undetectable long-range radar and lidar detector in the Uniden line. It sits on the dash of your vehicle and warns you when your driving speed is being monitored by police, sending you a signal to slow down. The R1 is essentially a “little brother” to the R3, and it does not offer GPS or many other features included with the pricier unit. However, its radar and laser detection technologies are top-notch, just like the R3.
We found the same ease of use we enjoyed with the R3 device’s menu. For ease of use, we assigned this product 5 out of 5 stars.
We really noticed the difference between the GPS capabilities in the R3 and the lack of GPS here. That represents a big step down in overall functionality.
The R1 detector offers many of the same great design features as the R3, and it has the same minor, sound-related flaws.
Uniden provides a standard 1-year limited warranty for the Uniden R1.
- Compact without being too small
- Easy to configure
- The flashing light while in Dark mode is too fast
- Some alerts are a little jarring
- No GPS capabilities
This radar detector from Escort is strictly a radar warning system. While it can detect long-range beams and includes filtering capability for city driving, it does not offer options comparable to those of the R3, nor does it have GPS capabilities. The display is a high-intensity red, which can be harsh for nighttime driving, and it offers minimal information. This model lacks the band receptivity of its competitors, which can make false alerts a big issue.
The best thing about this detector is probably its price, in our view. It is available for about half the cost of a Uniden R1, but be aware that you will really notice the difference between today’s more advanced detectors and this stripped-down model.
The screen shows very little information, and false alerts are a big issue for some users. We assigned a rating 2 out of 5 stars in this category.
This Escort detector lacks many features that make the more expensive models worth their price.
In terms of overall design, this model pales in comparison to the Uniden models. The biggest drawbacks are the harsh red display and lack of options for configuration by the user. We assigned the S55 just 2 out of 5 stars for its design.
The manufacturer provides a standard 1-year limited warranty.
- Lower price than other radar detectors
- Glaring lack of options
- Harsh display
- False alerts
ESCORT MAX360 Laser Radar Detector – GPS, Directional Alerts, Dual Antenna Front and Rear, Bluetooth Connectivity, Voice Alerts, OLED Display, Escort Live
- Escort raises the bar once again by adding directional indication to its award-winning Max detector line. The all-new Escort Max 360 provides drivers with extreme range, state of the art response time, pinpoint precision and directional alert display
- Unmatched detection – Escort Max 360’s front and rear antennas scan rapidly in all directions harnessing the lightening-fast focus of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to find threats faster and more accurately than any other detector.
- Rich data plus the power of community – Escort Max 360 protects drivers beyond conventional radar and laser threats by preloading our Defender Database of thousands of red light and speed camera locations in North America.
This laser radar detector is physically larger than most in its class, but it comes packed full of features. This is one of just a few devices on the market that can stand up against the Uniden R3 reviewed above, and it’s a close call on which is the clear winner.
The Escort Max 360 is the first detector to offer full 360-degree radar awareness, which bypasses and blocks out your newer vehicle’s “smart” collision-avoidance technologies. The screen is clearly readable and fully adjustable with its range of brightness and dark mode options. This detector provides GPS features as well, including speed monitoring and alerts to known speed traps.
This device is easy to set up, but the menu screen takes some practice to use proficiently.
This unit offers useful features that even the R3 doesn’t have. We assigned it our maximum 5 out of 5 stars in this category.
The Max 360 Design is great overall. We found a similar look to the R3, but the unit is much larger overall.
There is a standard 1-year limited warranty. Remember to save your receipt for your own protection.
- 360-degree radar detection
- GPS technology
- Nice screen layout
- Large body
- Menu could use some tweaking
Our likely conclusions for this review seemed clear until we set about evaluating the Escort Max 360. After considering the Escort Passport S55 only, we did not hold must esteem for the Escort brand, but the Max 360 knocks it out of the park with its technology. The screen rivals that of the Uniden R3 reviewed here, even offering much the same information. Side by side, these two match up well for readability.
As for the technologies used for radar detection, we give the edge to the Uniden R3 reviewed here by a nose. The Escort Max 360 monitors radar and laser detection across a full 360-degree spectrum, offering extra safety and double-checks for police hiding from view. The Uniden R3 model, however, is capable of monitoring up to 3 different police radar bands simultaneously, making catching that signal in the first place a more reliable bet. Both models offer driving mode settings.
Both models have GPS capabilities, which means that they can monitor your direction of travel as well as your speed. The other major benefit of GPS is that you can program your course to avoid known speed traps or known radar-detection areas such as school zones. For us, the two differences that ultimately allow the Uniden R3 reviewed model to pull ahead of the Escort Max 360 are its price and compact size. Considering the Uniden R3’s extra band tracking capabilities, we feel that the Uniden will offer better protection overall, even considering the Escort Max unit’s 360-degree coverage. The Uniden R3 reviewed here is also a much smaller device, which will help prevent it from being noticed when sitting on your dash.
In the end, which model you choose is up to you, of course. Among the models we tested, we definitely believe in pursuing the added GPS technology. However, if you are not inclined to program your radar detector to take full advantage of the GPS features, then the Uniden R1 may work out just fine for you.
Ultimately, for our money, the Uniden R3 reviewed here is the way to go. It offers the most advanced detection in a sleek, useful design, earning it our four-star rating overall.
Featured Image via Pixabay