Radar Roy’s Top Radar Detector Picks

Radar Roy’s Top Radar Detector Picks

The question you should be asking yourself is NOT what the best radar detector is, but what is the best radar detector based upon your driving conditions – Radar Roy

Now that you have a basic understanding of radar detectors, I will offer you my top picks:

Under $200 Category:


If you’re looking to spend under $200 for a radar detector here are my two recommendations:

  1. Save up a little more money and come back
  2. Go to another website, because I will not sell you one

The reason for this is that I have not found a radar detector in this class that I would recommend.

Sure I could include a few of the cheap Cobra radar detectors or even sell you on the Beltronics 100.

However my #1 rule since I began my journey in the speed counter measurement community way back in 1996 is to NEVER promote any product that I wouldn’t use myself!

Under $250 Category


In the under $250 category there is currently only one radar detector that I would stake my reputation on and that is the Beltronics Pro 200.

The design and construction of the Bel Pro 200 is on par with the higher end Beltronics and Escort units.

The Pro 200 has a Red LED display, good range and good filtering.

Under $300 Category


The Escort 8500 X50 & Beltronics Pro 300:

My top pick for the under $300 category is a tie between the Escort 8500 X50 and the Beltronics Pro 300.

The main reasons for this tie is that they are basically are the same radar detector.

A number of years ago Escort bought out the Beltronics company, so now both companies are the same, with different divisions.

They share the same office complex, their radar detectors are made in the same plant, and they share the technology.

The Escort X50 is available in either a red display or blue display for $299.95 and the Bel Pro is only available with a red display.

The Escort has a slanted display window that is designed to give a better view to the driver when placed in the middle of the windshield.

The Beltronics PRO 300 has a straight forward facing display and is slightly smaller in length then the Escort.

As far as performance, they are all identical.

When trying to decide which model is right for you I comment;

"Think of the Escort 8500 X50 as a luxury car such as a Jaguar with all the bells, whistles and performance and the Beltronics Pro 300 as a muscle car like the Shelby"

Under $400 Category

The only corded, dash mounted radar detector I would recommend in this price category is the Beltronics Pro 500.

The Pro 500 is similar to the more expensive Escort 9500ix detector except that the:

  1. The Beltronics Pro has a red LED display instead of blue
  2. The Pro 500 utilizes what Beltronics calls its “AutoLock” feature to block out known false alert locations, which is done manually instead of automatically as the 9500ix does.
  3. The Pro 500 is $50 cheaper


Under $450 Category


Escort 9500ix:


The Escort 9500ix tops the list in the under $450 category and is my #1 choice in the dash mounted category for the typical North American driver.

The Escort 9500ix is a GPS based device that is loaded with all the fixed photo enforcement cameras in the North America, has the AutoLearn feature that automatically filters out known false alert locations and also has variable speed sensitivity.

Escort SmartRadar:


Next we have Escort’s SmartRadar Radar Detector.

The one main benefit I find with Escort’s SmartRadar is that it doesn’t look like a radar detector at all when it’s mounted to your windshield.

This substantially reduces the risk of having some crack head breaking into your car to steal your detector.

Another benefit is that the SmartRadar is designed to integrate with your iPhone or Android device and Escort Live.

Under $500 Category:


Beltronics STi Magnum & Escort Redline


In the under $500 dollar category we have the Escort Redline, Beltronics STi Magnum which would be classified as extreme range radar detectors that are both stealth to all RDD’s (radar detector detectors) and the Passport IQ radar detector which is basically a 9500ix jammed into a fully functional GPS.

Both the Beltronics STi Magnum and Escort’s Redline would be the detector of choice for professional drivers and road warriors who spend most of their driving on the open road.

The main difference between these two detectors is that the STi Magnum has a magnesium housing while the Redline case is made of a polycarbonate material.

Passport IQ Radar Detector


To best describe the Passport IQ is the engineers at Escort have figured out a way to stuff the Escort 9500ix radar detector into a fully featured dash mounted GPS.

The result is a long range radar detector with a GPS which also alerts you to fixed photo enforcement cameras, AutoLock to filter out known false alert locations and variable speed sensing to which automatically adjusts the sensitivity of your detector as you’re driving.

Under $550 category


Passport Max:


The Passport Max without question is the best dash mounted radar detector that I have ever laid my hands on!

The main benefits of the Passport Max are its extreme range, the ability to filter out those annoying false alerts and super fast response rate to detect even the slightest radar threats.

The Passport Max is also a GPS radar detector which will alert you to fixed photo enforcement cameras, has the AutoLearn feature to filter out known false alert locations, and variable speed sensing to automatically adjust its sensitivity based upon your driving.

Escort 8500ci Radar Detector:


The Escort 8500ci is basically a remote version of the Escort 8500 x50 radar detector.

It is a long-range radar detector with good filtering capabilities.

The main benefit of the 8500ci is that it is a remote mounted detector and is very easy to install.

Under $1300 Category


Beltronics STiR Plus:


The Beltronics STiR Plus is designed for professional drivers and road warriors who need a stealth radar detector that is both stealth to all RDDs (radar detector detectors) and to the eye.

The Beltronics STiR Plus is basically the same radar detector as the more expensive Escort 9500ci, without the Laser ShifterPro laser jammers.

Under $2000 Category:


Escort 9500ci:


For those who demand the best in both radar detection and laser jamming we have the Escort 9500ci with the Laser ShifterPro.

The 9500ci radar detector is a remote mounted radar detector which is both stealth to the eye and all RDDs (Radar Detector Detectors).

The newest version of the 9500ci also includes a pair of Escort’s new Laser ShifterPro, which is based upon the design of the proven Laser Interceptor laser jamming system.