Uniden R3 vs R7

Which is the Better Uniden Radar Detector?

If you’re trying to avoid speeding tickets and have an early warning of upcoming speed traps, these are two of the best radar detectors to do just that.  Uniden has done a great job of offering consumers two amazing options in the R3 and R7 models.  They’re similar and both widely popular.  It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally finished our Uniden R3 vs R7 comparison.  Before we talk about the differences between them in detail and tell you when you should buy one versus the other, let’s take a look at the stats for both Uniden radar detectors.

Uniden R3 vs R7 Review:

Uniden makes some great radar detectors, and many of their models provide consumers with some of the earliest warnings and more features than many others on the market today.  Both the R3 and the R7 detectors have been a couple of the best since their release a couple years back.  Below we’ll cover the similarities and differences and discuss whether or not the R7 is worth the extra $$$ when you’re getting ready to buy.

Similarities:   

There are tons of great features that both of these Uniden radar detectors have in common.  Both have the same “extreme long range”, 360-degree detection of all the common bands (X, K, Ka, and Laser) as well as a nice OLED display with an auto-dim feature.  They also both have GPS lockout so you can disregard false warnings, but they aren’t exactly the same in this aspect.  More on this below.

If any of the above are the features you’re looking for, either the R3 or the R7 would be a great choice for you!

Differences: 

Okay, this is what you came for.  You probably want to know, what’s the difference between the Uniden R3 and R7?  There are several, and a few that really set them apart if they’re features you’re looking for in a radar detector.  We’ve listed and detailed the major differences below.

Uniden R7 Automatic GPS Lockout

Both the Uniden R3 and R7 have a GPS lockout feature, setting it apart from many lower-end radar detectors.  As we alluded to above, there is a difference in GPS lockout between the R3 and R7 however.  The R3 model requires a manual GPS lockout, meaning it relies on you to manually set all of the locations stationary false alerts.  This is a nice feature, but it’s a manual process.

By contrast, the Uniden R7 now as the ability for automatic GPS lockout.  It still has manual GPS lockout just like the R3, but it can also learn the areas where there are false alerts and will start to filter them out for you automatically.  The best part of this feature is that it’s hands-free for the driver!

Directional Arrows

As we mentioned above, the R3 has an extremely long detection range, but another feature the R7 has implemented is directional arrows on the display, warning the driver where it believes the radar source is coming from.  This is made possible by the dual antennas in the R7.  This is very useful information, especially at night when you can’t easily see where an officer might be located.  

In addition to having the arrows and the additional information, the arrows can be customized.  You can change the color of the arrows per band  (i.e. change K band to blue, Ka band to green, X band to orange, etc.).  In the past, this kind of information required a 3rd party device.

These arrows can provide lots of additional situational awareness that you don’t get in older or lower-end radar detectors.  It can help you understand if you’ve already passed the source or if it’s still off to the side or in front of you.  It may not be necessary for all, but that’s why we’re having this discussion.  You’ll have to decide if they’re worth the extra cost for your needs or not. 

Single vs. Dual Antennas

Another major difference between these radar detector is the amount of antennas present.  The Uniden R3 has just a single antenna.  It works, great, but as you’ve already seen above, adding a 2nd antenna makes a difference.  It affords you the ability to know where the source of an alert is coming from.  The R7 model has one antenna in the front and one in the back, helping it identify the direction of the radar from the vehicle.  

What’s more is that it gives the R7 just a bit more signal sensitivity and improves its performance, particularly from the rear of the vehicle.  As you already know, this could be the difference in an alert coming across to save you, or one not coming and you getting a speeding ticket.

Price Difference

There is a price difference between these two radar detectors, which at the time of this writing is roughly $150-$200.  This equates to the R7 being around 50% more costly than the R3.  There’s a big debate on if it’s worth that much more.  Here are the pros and cons of both models so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth the extra money or not.

Conclusion: 

We hope our R3 vs R7 comparison has helped you in your search for the radar detector that fits your needs best.  Both models have amazing early warning detection and many of the features you’d expect in a great detector.  There are just a few added features in the R7.  

If these features resonate with you as something you have to have, then by all means, the Uniden R7 is probably worth the extra money to you.  Things like dual antennas, directional arrows, and automatic GPS lockout just aren’t features you’ll find on mid-range radar detectors.  The are advanced features.  

However, if you find that these are “nice-to-haves” and not something that is completely necessary, we’ve felt for a long time that the Uniden R3 is a top-rated radar detector at an affordable price.  You really can’t go wrong with this pick!