Best Speed Camera Detector Comparison & Buyer’s Guide

It goes without saying that traffic law offences are beyond the pale. However, any driver may unintentionally exceed the speed limit from time to time, especially when being on an unfamiliar road. In such cases, a camera detector helps the motorists to avoid costly fines and advice of permissible speed limit, by alerting them of any speed detection hardware like fixed cameras, police laser guns or traffic light cameras. Thus, the device to be chosen should detect the maximum number of different types of radars and operate within various applicable frequency bands. We’ve reviewed the most awesome models available on the current market which can fit any budget.

What is the best speed camera detector? This device should be designed to detect various types of speed measuring equipment, including stationary and movable tools. Compatibility with different frequency bands applied by law enforcement radars, including laser guns, is another advantage of the best models. Tuning of sensitivity levels which allows enhancing resistance to noises and interferences is an obligatory feature of such speed camera detectors. Combination of GPS, video recording, and Wi-Fi technologies proves their excellence in comparison with traditional speed camera locators.

Best Speed Camera Detectors Compared

Types of speed camera detectors: GPS, Radar, Laser & Hybrid radar detectors

A speed camera detector is a compact electronic device which detects signals and informs its user about radar presence on the way of a vehicle. The radars radiate radio waves or emit laser beams which are recognized by the device. In general, the speed camera detector is a passive receiver of signals which doesn’t blanket them.

Radar detectors are designed to warn a driver of speed detection systems on the road. They are in-car devices which can also feature a dash camera, GPS or a combination of them. In order to have a clear understanding of differences between various models, let’s specify the most common types below.

GPS-based detectors. These devices use a database of fixed camera locations and blackspot areas, and alert you as soon as you approach them (provided that they are included in the database). This class of detectors is considered to be outdated and rare type on the current market. This fact is not surprising as the majority of modern speed camera detectors feature GPS databases or its embedded module.

Overall, GPS based detectors underperform in functionality in comparison with the modern models; however, they will advise you of current driving speed and appropriate speed limitations. So, it’s up to you to decide whether to get the device without a radar/laser scanning system or not. For instance, the SNOOPER MY-SPEED XL G2 - SPEED CAMERA DETECTOR uses GPS technology and the enlarged databases of the appropriate apps to inform you of the current speed limits on the majority of roads across Europe.

Radar and laser speed camera detectors. This class of detectors is the most common and demanded nowadays. Such models come with an integrated detector of radar and laser radiation emitted by law enforcement hardware. Commonly, they are equipped with GPS modules which also allow detecting speed cameras and similar units. It is recommended to check the appropriate updates from the manufacturer, if any. However, this issue is not as crucial as in the case with GPS based detectors which fully rely on their database.

Some laser speed camera detectors are capable of alerting you up to 3 miles before location of a speed measuring device. The ROAD ANGEL SPEED CAMERA DETECTOR is a bright example of an advanced speed camera capture system based on laser and GPS technologies. One of the main downsides of these detectors refers to a high probability of false warnings receipt from the oncoming vehicles, petrol stations, etc.

Hybrid devices. The development of electronic technology contributes to the ability of combination of different devices in a single housing. Designers’ creativity is unlimited, thus you can purchase a dash camera combined with a radar detector, or a sat nav device integrated in a speed camera detector. There is no doubt that this idea is highly worthy for many users.

Nevertheless, such comprehensive systems are quite pricey. And in particular cases some of their extra features might be useless at all. Unlike the SNOOPER DVR-4HD G3 which comes with exclusively useful on-road features for commercial- and residential-grade applications.

Top-3 Speed Camera Detectors

ROAD ANGEL PURE AWARD WINNING SPEED CAMERA DETECTOR

Road Angel Group Ltd. provides automotive products throughout the United Kingdom. The company manufactures dash cameras, speed camera detectors, navigation systems, and GPS systems for motor vehicles. Their primary goal is to design cutting-edge technologies which will help to improve speed awareness and the entire driving safety.

This advanced speed camera alert detector system provides its user with live speed limit updates depending on GPS location. It features an integrated laser gun detection system which will always alert you in case of presence of law enforcement tracking tools, like fixed or mobile speed cameras, while being on even the most remote roads. The live data updates are received every 60 seconds. Besides, this device is connected to smart motorways utilities to warn you about current speed limits in real-time whenever you are traveling on one of such road systems. This detector fits all types of motor vehicles. This feature grounds its versatility and mobility.

The Road Angel has a bright and clear readable LCD screen. Also, it comes with the Wi-Fi technology which allows connecting to your iOS or Android smartphone in order to vary settings depending on your needs. More than that, this model is offered with a dash mount for wire-free charging. It becomes possible thanks to the innovative magnetic base technology applied.

Features

• Technology: USB, laser
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (mm): 75 x 40 x 60

This smart device enables the drivers to make informed and speed-aware decisions while being on any road.

ROAD ANGEL PURE: Check the current price

SNOOPER DVR-4HD G3 1080P HD GPS DASH CAMERA WITH SPEED ALERTS

Snooper is a well-known UK manufacturer of aftermarket auto electronic products like GPS navigation devices, dash cameras, and speed camera detectors for different types of vehicles. The company belongs to Phase International Ltd., the large distributor of mobile electronics and related services.

The company introduces this cordless device which is the 3rd generation of DVR-4HD products. Featuring 1080p full HD dash camera with a 152° viewing angle, this multifunctioning device comes with built-in GPS-based camera speed detector. For improved recording the front camera rotates to a maximum of 360°. Besides, it provides continuous loop recording after power-on with an auto registration of time, location and speed shown on the 3.0” LCD display screen.

Also, this model comes with an embedded 3 Axis G-sensor which enhances its sensitivity and recognizes multiple outside impacts like motions and vibrations. Thus, you can be sure that nothing happens with your vehicle when unattended (additional hardware is required). The SNOOPER DVR-4HD G3 is offered with Wi-Fi enabled, thus you can easily connect to your smart device to use the dedicated App or alter settings, if needed.

Features

• Technology: USB, laser
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (mm): 23 x 16.2 x 6.6

This awesome device combines multiple useful on-road features making it suitable for both commercial and domestic purposes.

SNOOPER DVR-4HD G3: Check the current price

SNOOPER MY-SPEED XL G2 - SPEED CAMERA DETECTOR AND SPEED LIMIT INFORMATION SYSTEM

The Snooper My-Speed XL comes with an integrated GPS technology. Also, it uses AURA and HERE databases which ensure achievement of audio and visual info on the actual speed limits on the majority of roads throughout Europe including UK, DE, NL, BE, FR, ES, IE, PT, IT. This model is offered with free speed limit data which is renewed once per year, and speed limit updates which can be loaded whenever needed absolutely free of charge. This speed camera detector can be successfully used in all vehicles by entering appropriate settings for each type. The convenience of its use is proved by a large 4.3-in colour display with clear visible alerts.

The snooper features windscreen mounting bracket, 12V-24V power supply, and USB cable included in the scope of its supply.

Features

• Technology: USB
• Dimensions (L x W x H) (mm): 118 x 90 x 12

The Snooper My-Speed XL G2 will warn you of any changes in the speed limit on every road you drive on. Nevertheless, you should remember that GPS technology always requires the live link to get its free updates.

SNOOPER MY-SPEED XL G2: Check the current price

Low-budget models

As a rule, mid-range and low-budget camera speed detectors are deemed as an optimum choice for those who drive mainly on motorways. They are primarily designed to detect signals from mobile traps but not for fixed speed cameras. Besides, they could have particular issues when detecting laser speed guns. Besides, cheap models have fewer features, offering just basic technologies and components. Commonly they are too sensitive to outside signals, thus provoking many false alarms.

Nevertheless, detectors like MASO 2019 New Car Speed Radar Detector are decent and affordable devices, indeed. This model is an auto speed detector capable of eliminating the majority of false alerts. It doesn’t feature an LCD display, but comes with a digital signal strength indicator. Besides this model has a voice alert and it is compatible with LX, K, KA, KU, K bands, and VG-2 systems.

Besides it has an integrated 360-degree Iaser detector. The latter serves to detect mobile speed radars, but it is not suitable for fixed speed tracking hardware.

In addition, I would like to mention one manual speed measuring device which can be used for a big variety of purposes. In particular, the Bushnell - Velocity Speed Gun – 101911 which is suitable for different sport activities like baseball, softball, tennis, etc., with measuring capacity within 10-110 MPH (up to 90 feet). Besides, this model can be used in auto racing to capture the speed ranges of 10-200 MPH (up to 1,500 feet). This tool will display the fastest speed with the +/- one MPH tolerance, as soon as its trigger is released. Although it is not a budget-friendly option, it has plenty positive reviews regarding high efficiency, precision and convenience in use.

How do speed camera detectors work?

It’s worth noting that the majority of speed cameras use the radar technology. In the UK and Europe they operate within X, K, Ka, and Ku frequency bands. That is why you should always pay attention to the capability of a particular model to work within the range of certain bands. Otherwise, its efficiency would be considerably reduced.

In general the principle of work of a detecting device comprises the following:

The speed camera receives radiation reflected from a vehicle in order to measure its speed. At the same time your speed camera detector receives direct radiation, thus it is capable of detecting tracking hardware before it will have measured your speed. It is possible to spot the radar within 3 miles (under favorable weather and terrain conditions), while detailed video and images of drivers can be taken from up to 400 meters away. However, advanced speed cameras are upgraded in the way to take images and videos of drivers from up to 1 kilometer away. So, in any case usage of the decent speed camera detector will help you to avoid a speeding ticket. Besides, it will enhance your speed awareness, thus improving driving habits to make the roads safer for everyone.

Radar/laser jammers. First, you should not mix these scramblers up with speed camera detectors. They are primarily designated for generating radio frequency signals which interfere with the operation of radar/laser or other speed measuring systems. Thus the latter are obstructed with high levels of noise or false information. This causes inability of a tracking device to measure the current speed of a motor vehicle. For this reason radar/laser jammers are prohibited in the UK and the biggest part of Europe.

It is worth mentioning here that some European countries consider speed camera detectors to be illegal, as well. Thus their use may result in traffic tickets and/or seizure of the devices. So, if you are going to travel by car there to one of such places, you should better switch your detector off and secret it away.

All speed camera detectors can be classified in terms of power supply. In particular, there are corded and cordless devices. Corded models are usually arranged on a dashboard or a windscreen and plugged into the DC socket of a vehicle. They have to remain connected to the power output during operation, unless they accept a battery, as an alternative power supply. Usually corded models have additional advanced features. They are equipped with powerful processors which enhance the performance and resistance to interferences. However, you will have to pay extra for such capabilities.

Cordless detectors may be installed in a more discreet manner to remain unnoticed. They are battery powered devices recharging of which is usually carried out through a cigarette lighter in a car or a standard wall socket. The average capacity of a detector battery makes 3-4 hours, and then it has to be recharged. The high cost and lack of accuracy during operation of cordless detectors are the main downsides of these devices.

Best-Selling Speed Camera Detectors | Comparison Table