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It is almost impossible to meet somebody who hasn’t received a speeding fine, or several! Even when we take the most amount of care possible to watch our speed and look out for cameras, there are still police radar guns that are out of our control.
That is unless you invest in a radar detector. A radar detector is a small unit that will alert you of a number of threats while you are driving. Although at first, you might think they are expensive, they will save you a fortune in speeding tickets.
We are going to look at the ins and outs of two top range radar detectors; the Uniden R3 and the Escort Max 360. We will cover their specifications, their similarities, and differences and the pros and cons of each.
Let’s start with how the Uniden R3 and the Escort Max 360 are similar, if not identical.
Uniden R3 vs Escort Max 360 – Similarities
Quick Glance
GPS Technology
As both the Uniden R3 and the Escort Max 360 have GPS technology, they will both remember any false alerts that you pass by. This is a great solution for regular trips. For example, to work or taking the kids to school. Free software is available for both.
Advanced Filtration
The Uniden R3 has advanced K and Ka filtration and the Escort Max 360 has Intelligent Filtering. Both technologies reduce the number of false alerts you receive from other vehicles, like collision avoidance systems, or lane changing systems.
360º Protection
As technology improves, so do the radar guns that police use. It’s not just the road ahead of us that we need to be aware of. If you choose the Uniden R3 or the Escort Max 360, you know that you will have all-round protection. In fact, the Escort Max 360 has front and rear antennas.
Programming your Routes
While Uniden calls it “User Mark Ahead” and Escort has named it the “Defender Database”, the two functions are the same. You can program in hot spots where you often find traffic lights or speed cameras.
OLED Display
With the Uniden R3 and the Escort Max 360, the multi-color OLED displays keep you informed of all of the radar detections. It will also show your speed. The Uniden R3 will alert you when you are driving too fast. The Escort Max 360 will tailor alerts depending on your speed. You are able to adjust the brightness of both the OLED displays. The Uniden R3 has the added advantage of displaying the time and altitude, whereas the Escort Max 360 has 4 directional alerts.
Voice Alerts
It is crucial that you are not distracted while you are driving. For this reason, you will receive voice alerts from the Uniden R3 and the Escort Max 360. You can mute the alerts on the both of the radar detectors.
Warranty
When you buy the Uniden R3 or the Escort Max 360, you will receive a one-year limited warranty.
There are still quite a few differences to look at, so let’s cover them now.
Differences Between Uniden R3 and Escort Max 360
Appearance
These radar detectors look like standard detectors, they are small and black with the OLED displays on the front.
Uniden R3
This radar detector is 8.3 x 7.6 x 3.2 inches. It weighs 1.4 pounds. Overall the Uniden R3 looks tidy, with large, easy to use buttons.
Escort Max 360
It is smaller than the Uniden R3 at 1.4 x 5.4 x 3.6 inches and it weighs just 1.76 ounces. It is more modern looking, especially the OLED display.
The Winner Is- The Escort Max 360
The Detection Range
You need a radar detector with an excellent range, far more than that of a police radar gun so that you have plenty of time to adjust your speed.
Uniden R3
It is difficult to beat the range of the Uniden R3 as it has one of the best detection ranges on the market. It has extreme long-range detection that functions up to 12 times the range of a police radar gun.
Escort Max 360
The exact range isn’t advertised, but people can use it with precision at about a mile away over flat terrain.
The Winner Is- The Uniden R3
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Detection Type
The most common bands are K, Ka, and X, but the more your unit can pick up the better.
Uniden R3
It will detect K Band, Ka Band, X Ban, KPOP, Laser, MRCD, and K Narrow/Wide. It also has K filter, Ka filter, and Traffic Sensor Filter.
Escort Max 360
As well as the K Band, Ka Band and X Band, it will pick up Laser, Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO and Digital Signal Processing (DSP).
The Winner Is- A Tie
Unique Features
When comparing different brands, not every feature will be comparable. Here are two features that are individual to each of the radar detectors.
Uniden R3
Radar detectors are not legal in all states. The Uniden R3 comes with Spectre Elite Undetectable. It is invisible to VG2, Spectre I, Spectre IV, and Spectre IV+. On top of this, it is Spectre I and Spectre IV undetectable. You can use the Uniden R3 across the US without fear of being caught or even having it confiscated.
Escort Max 360
It is great that the Escort Max 360 has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. There is also an app called Escort Live which is crowd-sourced and connects you to the Escort community for further updates and alerts.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Pros and Cons
It might still be a difficult choice between the two radar detectors, the following pros and cons should help to clear up any doubts.
Uniden R3
Pros:
- The range is truly exceptional, even when the terrain isn’t flat
- You can mount it on the dashboard or the windshield
- It comes at a very attractive price
Cons:
- You need to learn how to use the settings correctly in order to reduce the number of false alerts
Escort Max 360
Pros:
- We loved the arrows on the display that tell you which direction the alert is coming from
- You are alerted very quickly
- The new firmware upgrade is much better
Cons:
- It’s pricey
The Final Verdict
It’s a very difficult choice but we have narrowed down the numerous features and found a couple of things that helped with our decision. The Escort Max 360 has one major advantage and that it can be connected to your mobile via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which is a feature most of us are going to appreciate.
There are a number of things that are similar and didn’t really affect our decision. The Uniden R3 and the Escort Max 360 have 360ª protection with advanced filtration. You can program them both in order to reduce the number of false alerts you receive and there is a mute option. The appearance, setup and uses are also very similar.
Finally, we felt that the Uniden R3 was the better radar detector. In the first place, the range is so much further than the Escort Max 360, giving you more warning time. We also liked that it was undetectable. Last but not least, the Escort Max 360 is around $200 more than the Uniden R3. So the Uniden R3 is excellent value for money.
Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
