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If you’re in the market for a radar detector and doing your research, you’ve probably come across the name Uniden. The brand is one of the leaders in the industry, and its products are well-known and trusted by motorists.
With sturdy construction, superior functionality, and sleek designs, Uniden radar detectors hold their own against more expensive brands.
Here’s a quick review of the top four best radar detectors Uniden has to offer to help you avoid your next speeding ticket.
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Uniden R7
Uniden R7 EXTREME LONG RANGE Laser/Radar Detector
2 used from $499.00
Features
- UNSURPASSED RANGE & SENSITIVITY - Industry Leading Performance with Advanced False Alert Filtering is THE choice for drivers who demand the highest level of protection against speeding tickets.
- DUAL ANTENNA'S WITH DIRECTIONAL ARROWS - allows the R7 to detect threats from all 4 directions 360° protection, with Arrows displaying the direction of the threat, it even shows the band & signal strength for each. Perfect just got better!
- GPS TECHNOLOGY - Using GPS the R7 can remember and mute common false alerts (such as retail store automatic doors) along your regularly driven routes so you never have to listen to the same false alert twice.
- RED LIGHT AND SPEED CAMERA ALERTS - Preloaded Red Light and Speed Camera locations with Free Database and Firmware updates ensures your detector will never be out of date.
- LARGE MULTI-COLOR OLED DISPLAY - is easy-to-Read and allows for more useful information to be displayed at once, including up to 4 signals simultaneously. This improves your overall situational awareness.
The Uniden R7 laser radar detector is one of the brand’s higher-end models, and it’s loaded with features that keep you alert while driving. This model has industry-leading performance with unsurpassed sensitivity and range.
The R7 has dual antennas that provide 360-degree protection, picking up on police radar and laser no matter where it’s coming from. The display screen shows the signal strength and the direction the threat is coming from, giving you plenty of time to adjust your driving style accordingly.
A large multi-colored OLED display is easy to read and shows you all the information you need to improve your situational awareness while on the road. GPS technology lets the R7 recognize and mute frequent false alarms along the routes you travel most, an extremely useful feature that keeps your ride as quiet as possible so you can focus on the road ahead.
The GPS also lets you mark your own points for customized warnings. For example, if you know the location of a common speed trap or red light camera, you can add a geographical mark, and the R7 will announce when you’re approaching using voice notification.
The R7 also comes with preloaded locations for known red light and speed cameras, and you get free database and firmware updates so it always has the most current information.
You can customize the alert tones to your tastes and aren’t forced to deal with the same annoying noises that you get from other brands. Since you can use voice alerts, you also have the option to dim the OLED display without having to worry about missing anything.
The Uniden R7 comes with everything you need to get started, including a DC power adapter, double suction cup brackets for windshield mounting, programming cables, and a travel case.
To learn more, you can read the full review here.
Pros:
- Voice alerts
- Detects all bands and police laser
- Front and rear antenna for 360-degree coverage
- Impressive range
- Customizable tones
- GPS enabled
- Free database and firmware updated
Cons:
- Pricey
- No Bluetooth
Uniden R3
Uniden R3 EXTREME LONG RANGE Laser/Radar Detector
4 used from $239.99
Features
- UNSURPASSED RANGE & SENSITIVITY - Industry Leading Performance with Advanced False Alert Filtering is THE choice for drivers who demand the highest level of protection against speeding tickets.
- GPS TECHNOLOGY - Using GPS the R3 can remember and mute common false alerts (such as retail store automatic doors) along your regularly driven routes so you never have to listen to the same false alert twice.
- RED LIGHT AND SPEED CAMERA ALERTS - Preloaded Red Light and Speed Camera locations with Free Database and Firmware updates ensures your detector will never be out of date.
- MULTI-COLOR OLED DISPLAY - is easy-to-Read and allows for more useful information to be displayed at once. This improves your overall situational awareness.
- VOICE ALERTS - Voice warnings allow for hands-free operation and provide clear communication. Voice Alerts are programable to fit your driving style so you can keep your eyes on the road with no distractions.
The Uniden R3 radar and laser detector is more affordable than the R7, and still comes with many of the same features. With the R3, you get excellent range and sensitivity. The multi-colored OLED display is easy to read and displays everything you need to know, including the band type and signal strength of up to four bands at once.
One of the great things about this one is the advanced false alert filtering, meaning you don’t have to worry about other vehicle’s blind-spot monitoring or collision avoidance systems causing an alert.
The Uniden R3 radar detector is also equipped with GPS, meaning it can remember and mute common false alerts along your most-traveled routes. Like the R7, the R3 is also pre-loaded with red light and speed camera locations, which is extremely important when driving along unfamiliar roads. Like the R7, you can also add user marks to customize your notifications.
We also like that the R3 has voice alerts, allowing for hands-free operation so you can stay focused on the road.
You get a nice amount of accessories with the R3, including a single suction-cup and dual suction-cup brackets to mount it on the windshield, a power adapter that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter, and a handy carrying case.
Pros:
- Excellent range
- Voice alerts
- Good false alert filtering
- Includes 2 mounting options
- Scans up to 4 bands at once
- GPS capabilities
- Detects all bands and police laser
Cons:
- No Bluetooth
- Performs better on open roads than in the city
- Single antenna
Comparing the R7 and R3
Before moving on to other Uniden models, we want to compare the R7 and R3. On the surface, they seem to share many of the same features, but the R7 is significantly more expensive. It’s important to understand why that is.
If you look at these two radar detectors side-by-side, you’ll see noticeable differences in their designs. The R7 has a much larger display screen, and the controls are oriented a little differently, but the two models are roughly the same size.
The biggest difference between the OLED screens is that the R7 displays directional arrows. The R3 does not. Plus, you can adjust the settings of the R7 so that each band shows up as a different color arrow so you always know what you’re dealing with.
The R3 has a button to control the brightness of the display, while the R7 uses an ambient light sensor to adjust it automatically. This feature comes in extremely handy if you frequently travel for long periods, leaving the house when it’s still dark or driving from dusk well into the night. You don’t have to worry about changing the brightness as the sun goes up or down. The R7 will do it for you.
While both radar detectors allow you to create user marks for customized alerts, the R7 holds up to 2000 while the R3 holds only 200.
Now, as far as radar detection goes, the R7 has wider scanning capabilities than the R3, which makes the R7 more sensitive. Whether you need something more sensitive is up to you. Obviously, it’s a good feature if you want the most accurate alerts to what’s around you, but increased sensitivity can also lead to more false alerts.
Perhaps the biggest difference and the one that contributes to performance differences the most is that the R7 has a front and rear antenna. The R3 only has a single antenna in the front.
So, which one should you choose?
It depends on how much coverage you want. With the R7’s dual antenna and other features, it’s more effective against police radar guns. But that’s not to say the R3 isn’t a good performer. If you don’t have the budget for the R7, the R3 is a great piece of equipment that will serve you well.
Read a full comparison between the Uniden R7 vs. R3 here.
Uniden DFR9
Uniden DFR9 Super Long Range Laser and Radar Detection, Built-In GPS for Red Light Cameras and Speed Camera Alerts, Easy to Read Full Color OLED Display
$224.90 in stock
Features
- SUPER LONG RANGE SENSITIVITY - Uniden Industry Leading Performance with Advanced False Alert Filtering and the Power of GPS technology.
- GPS TECHNOLOGY - Using GPS the DFR9 can remember and mute common false alerts (such as retail store automatic doors) along your regularly driven routes so you never have to listen to the same false alert twice.
- FRONT & REAR DETECTION – Uniden's Eagle Eye Laser Detection Technology provides you all-around 360° Protection.
- RED LIGHT AND SPEED CAMERA ALERTS - Preloaded Red Light and Speed Camera locations with Free Database and Firmware updates ensures your detector will never be out of date.
- VOICE ALERTS - Voice warnings allow for hands-free operation and provide clear communication. Voice Alerts are programable to fit your driving style so you can keep your eyes on the road with no distractions.
If you’re looking for a more affordable mid-range model, take a look at the Uniden DFR9.
This model features a large full-color OLED display that’s nearly identical to that of the R3. It’s bright and easy to read, even in bright sun, and it has a manual dimmer. The screen shows you all the information you need to know, including your current speed, altitude, and the frequency of the band it’s picking up.
The DFR9 has long-range front and rear detection, and with built-in GPS, you get a quieter ride. It remembers the locations where you muted alarms, so you don’t have to hear them day after day, and it learns to ignore things like digital billboards and automatic doors that can set off an alarm. That said, the range of the DFR9 is not quite as good as those of the R3 and R7.
Unlike many models in this price range, the DFR9 comes preloaded with alerts for speed and redlight cameras, and you can use voice notifications for hands-free operation.
While this Uniden radar detector may not be as capable as the R3 or R7, it’s also significantly more affordable and one of the best in its class.
Pros:
- Long range
- Voice alerts
- Front and rear antenna
- GPS capabilities
- Remembers muted alarms
- Preloaded with hazard alerts
Uniden DFR1
Uniden DFR1 Long Range Laser and Radar Detection, 360° Protection, City and Highway Modes, Easy-to-Read Color Icon Display with Signal Strength Meter Bars,Black
Features
- LONG RANGE SENSITIVITY - Wide Band Protection from Radar and Laser Guns with False Alert Filtering technology.
- FRONT & REAR DETECTION – Uniden's Eagle Eye Laser Detection Technology provides you all-around 360° Protection.
- HIGHWAY/CITY/CITY 1 - Three modes for driving in Urban and Rural environments, with Audible & Visual Signal Strength Alerts, and Volume control.
- MEMORY FEATURE - Conveniently saves your last settings (except Mute) when the unit is powered down or disconnected from power.
- INVISIBLE - The DFR1 is invisible to VG-2 and Spectre I/IV/IV+ radar detectors.
The Uniden DFR1 is the brand’s most affordable radar detector, and while it has a basic design, it’s still very effective compared to other options in this price range.
One of the things that stands about this radar detector is that it has front and rear detection, providing you with 360 degrees of protection. It has three modes to choose from for rural and urban environments, and the bright display shows you what signal it’s detecting and the signal strength.
This model also has false alert filtering technology to give you a quieter ride. If you’re worried about detection, the DFR1 is invisible to many types of radar detector detectors.
Everything you need is included. You get a 12V vehicle power cord, hook and loop fastener to mount it to the dashboard, a dual suction-cup mount for the windshield, and a space fuse for the power cord.
Pros:
- Bargain price
- Front and rear radar for 360-degree protection
- 3 modes
- False alert filtering
- Invisible to most radar detector detectors
Cons:
- No GPS
- No Bluetooth
- Frequent false alerts
Final Words
As you can see, there are several great Uniden models to choose from. The R7 stands out as the best-of-the-best, but if it’s a little out of your price range, the R3, DFR9, and DFR1 are all great options at different price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Uniden Radar Detectors Good?
Yes, we believe Uniden’s radar detectors keep up with the bigger brand names like Escort and Valentine One, at a generally lower cost. They have great build quality, tons of features, and are highly rated by their customers.
What is the Best Uniden Radar Detector?
The best Uniden radar detector is the R7. It has all the features you need – dual antennas, extremely long-range protection, directional arrows, built-in GPS, red light & speed camera alerts, a large colorful OLED display, and it just looks plain cool. The R7 is our favorite radar detector under $500 and has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Amazon.
Who Owns Uniden?
Uniden is a publicly traded company founded by Hidero Fujimoto in Tokyo, Japan in 1966.
Where Can You Buy Uniden Radar Detectors?
You can buy Uniden radar detectors on their Amazon store.
Where Can I Find Uniden’s Manuals & Firmware Updates?
You can find Uniden radar detectors’ manuals, support, and firmware upgrades on their support website here.
