Cobra RAD 700i Radar Detector ReviewDoug Newcomb"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."Even with just its one front-facing antenna, when most radar detectors have two, the RAD 700i gives sufficient warnings of speed-measuring equipment up to a mile away.The RAD 700i has voice alerts in English and Spanish and an organic light-emitting diode display to provide clear warnings and better contrast than the LED screens found on many other detectors.The radar detector has an app, Drive Smarter, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allows for easier adjustments to settings versus using the small buttons on the device, and it adds the convenience of turn-by-turn GPS navigation.Buying a radar detector may seem like overkill, but even if you’re driving just 10 or 15 mph above the speed limit, the warning you get of speed-measuring equipment ahead can save you a costly ticket and potential points on your license. Based on several models I’ve recently tested, the Cobra RAD 700i is the most affordable radar detector ($259) that’s worth your money.While the 700i doesn’t have the same long-distance detection of pricier models, which is typically up to 2 miles, I found it gives alerts within ample time for you to slow down. It also has features some of the pricier radar detectors leave out. For example, the RAD 700i has a smartphone app, something our best radar detector for most people, the Uniden R7, is missing. The RAD 700i also displays alerts and other information on a car’s dashboard display, something that the Valentine V1 Gen 2, our best long-range detector, doesn’t have, as it only displays alerts on the device itself.AdvertisementAdvertisementMost modern radar detectors like the Escort Max 4 and Escort Redline 360c add an extra layer of protection by sharing crowdsourced, real-time information on speed traps and red-light and speed-camera locations via a companion smartphone app. The Cobra offers this as well, which is a decent perk for the price.How I TestedI tested the Cobra RAD 700i in regular speed-trap locations in San Diego and also evaluated this radar detector while driving on the Interstate between Southern California and Oregon.When the RAD 700i sensed radar or laser signals and red-light cameras and speed cameras, I determined its approximate detection range by checking the vehicle’s odometer and gauged its effectiveness based on the amount of time it gave me to react to a warning.Depending on my speed and the type and location of the speed-measuring equipment, the detection range varied from more than a mile to about 100 yards, and warning time fluctuated from more than a minute to less than 30 seconds.AdvertisementAdvertisementI also assessed the quality of the device’s visual and audible alerts and how clear and intuitive they were. Finally, I evaluated how well the RAD 700i ignored false alerts, how its features compared to competitors, and whether the controls were easy to use while driving.The Cobra RAD 700i detected Oregon State Police using Ka-band radar about a half mile away.Doug NewcombAmple Range and WarningOne reason for the RAD 700i’s relatively low price is that it has only one forward-facing antenna. Higher-end detectors, typically those that are $600 and up, have at least two, with a second antenna pointing rearward. This means the RAD 700i doesn’t provide 360-degree coverage and isn’t as effective at detecting speed-measuring signals coming from behind, plus it doesn’t have directional arrows within the display to show where the signal is coming from.But like all single-antenna detectors, it can still pick up police radar from the rear when it’s reflected off surfaces like the road, traffic signs, and other vehicles and then bounced back toward the front-facing antenna. During testing, I found the RAD 700i’s maximum detection range is about one mile ahead and a half mile behind.I didn’t encounter active police radar in San Diego during my evaluations, but I had ample opportunity to test the detector during a 1,000-mile drive between Southern California and the Oregon–Washington border on Interstate 5. In two separate instances, it detected Ka-band radar and delivered a warning a little more than a half mile away. Each time I passed a motorist who had already been pulled over.AdvertisementAdvertisementI did test the RAD 700i’s effectiveness at detecting red-light cameras, which capture photos of vehicles illegally entering an intersection after a traffic signal has turned red. The RAD 700i gave me sufficient advance warning, with a maximum detection range of about 100 yards and a minimum of about 25 yards.The RAD 700i also detected stationary speed-measuring equipment along my routes. These devices, usually found in construction zones and neighborhoods, use stationary K-band radar and are signs that display a vehicle’s speed when approaching. The detection range for these varied from about a half mile to 50 yards.More Features for LessThe RAD 700i has a comprehensive feature set. Its large single suction-cup mount secures the device to the windshield better than the two small suction cups used in some higher-end detectors. I also like the magnetic windshield mount attachment rather than the lock style found on other models because it’s more convenient to detach to take with you or to put it in the glove box when you park.Except for a larger control at the front to silence alerts, the RAD 700i’s top-mounted control buttons for things like dimming the OLED display and changing the radar sensitivity are small and a bit difficult to use while driving. Adjusting the menu settings on the device is cumbersome, but fortunately, some can be controlled through Cobra’s Apple- and Android-compatible app and displayed on your smartphone screen. For an even larger display, I connected the RAD 700i to my aftermarket car stereo’s 6.75-inch screen via Apple CarPlay (it’s also compatible with Android Auto).AdvertisementAdvertisementThrough the app, I accessed built-in GPS for turn-by-turn directions and a crowdsourced database feature that evaluates and remembers a radar source’s location and frequency to determine if it’s genuine or false.However, even with all of these extras, I found that the RAD 700i issued slightly more false alerts than more expensive devices, but that’s typical of detectors in the price range. And whereas higher-end detectors show arrows to identify the direction of a signal, the RAD 700i only shows that the signal is being detected, not the direction from which it is coming.The Verdict: Best Protection and Features for BeginnersFor the cost-conscious, the Cobra RAD 700i is the option I recommend, as it provides sufficient detection range for a variety of speed-measuring equipment at less than half the price of the most expensive detectors I’ve tested. It’s ideal for novices who are just experimenting with radar detectors and figuring out what works best for them.If you’re a road warrior who wants the ultimate in radar detector protection and range and has a bigger budget, you’ll want to check out the Uniden R7 or Valentine V1 Gen 2. Even among its lower-priced competitors, such as the Uniden DFR7 and the Uniden R3, the Cobra RAD 700i has features like GPS-based false-alert location lockout and Bluetooth that they don’t. The bottom line: You won’t find a radar detector that offers the protection and features of the Cobra RAD 700i at this price.AdvertisementAdvertisementShop NowUniden R7 Radar DetectorValentine One V1 Gen2 Radar DetectorEscort Max 4 Radar DetectorYou Might Also Like20 Cars That Were Massively Improved by a RedesignGoing on Vacation? These Appliances Need to Be Unplugged Before You Leave the HouseRoborock Reigns Supreme for Robot Vacuums, but We Also Loved These Other Models