Cobra RAD 380 vs 480i - What's the difference? Everything you need to know!
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- čas přidán 9. 06. 2024
- The Cobra RAD 380 and Cobra RAD 480i are two of the more affordable radar detectors on the market, but what's the difference? Will the basic RAD 380 be enough, or should you spend the extra $50 to upgrade to the RAD 480i? In this video, our editor Carl Anthony explains the similarities and differences between these two radar detectors. #radardetectors
💡Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases. Commissions from Amazon and other affiliate partners we work with, like Cobra Electronics, come to us at NO additional cost to you. Links we may earn a commission from are marked as "Paid" below. The radar detectors in this video were supplied by Cobra Electronics for this review.
Get the Cobra RAD 380: amzn.to/3NVt7nk ⬅️ (Paid Link)
Get the Cobra RAD 480I: amzn.to/3rgAYTq ⬅️ (Paid Link)
Cobra RAD 380 Review: bit.ly/3DKxtWx
Cobra RAD 480i Review: bit.ly/3DK3KNj
Escort MAX 360c Review: bit.ly/3mUXH1D
Carrying case mentioned in this video: 👍
amzn.to/3PCNjLS (Paid Link)
Skip to section:
0:00 - Intro
0:24 - Each unit side by side
1:20 - RAD 380
5:46 - RAD 480i
13:30 - iRadar App
16:09 - Carrying case
16:58 - RAD 380 vs 480i verdict
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That windshield mount is meant to be “bendable” so you can get the unit to mount level with the road ahead yours is pointing towards the sky
Thank you Jimmy. I wondered if it was meant to be bendable, but didn't want to run the risk of breaking it. I am certain I will get better performance out of these units with them being level. I am have learned a great deal about radar detectors over this last year since doing these reviews, but nobody had ever mentioned anything to me about them being level. Thank you for the heads up. 🙏😀
😮
12:06
Uniden dfr1
It's trash. Bought an aftermarket with single large suction cup and pivot joint.
RAD 350 was 60 dollars open box at Walmart and that was 3 years ago. Never gotten a ticket since then. It's saved my ass a lot as I live in a big state of Texas.
Darn It, Now I'm Gonna Be 2nd Guessing Myself, LOL. Just Purchased The Cobra 480i 02/05/23 Not a Huge App Person Myself, No Speeding Infractions In 21 Years, But I Must Admit You Got To Clean That Old Carbon Out, Make Sure Tires Are Good At Get Er Done. If, I Don't Like The 480i After Experimenting With It, I'll Simply Take It Back Before 30 Days.
what if i'm just trying to dodge police in general? I don't speed but I drive at night and police seem to pull over people for anything in my texas town. I am also generally observant of them.
I have had this radar detector for aa few years now. I am not a big user of the app services, but I do use some of the other functions regularly. I really like the Quiet Drive function, and leaving my sensitivity on High. This has allowed me to always have maximum protection, but it is necessary to become familiar with the different radar bands and how they are used. The Quiet Drive function alerts twice, with an individualized tone for each radar band, and then goes silent. The strength of the signal will continue to be displayed until the threat has left the area. This has proven very useful when my wife and kids are in the car, as they don't complain about the beeping, especially around store entrances. I occasionally use the medium sensitivity setting in heavy traffic on the interstate, because it cuts out a lot of the collision detection radar from other vehicles which can create false alerts.
I just bought one. Does the quiet drive not make any audible alerts or only if it’s strong?
. 😅😊⁰
You get what you pay for gentlemen I’ve always been taught not cheap out on yourselves if you can afford it go for it nothing but the best for us Kings
Great video, helped me make my decision as well as understand the functionality of the units, keep it up brother
Which did you get? Im still unsure
The video was very knowable, taught me some stuff i did not know, the Radar comes with a quick hook guide, but no details on functions, this video was helpful and gave me clarity. .
Thank you, Ricky. . . see if this link will work for you:
www.manualowl.com/m/Cobra/RAD-380/Manual/525098
That should be the complete owner's manual.
Awesome Review. Really helped me decide between the two! Keep up the good work!👍
Thank you, Chris. Glad it was helpful.
@@carlanthony7906 hi, I intend to use the RAD 480i outside USA, in East Africa, do you think it can be helpful? Or useless outside USA?
😢
Take it off auto mood when your around alot of road and traffic signs put it on low when in traffic...this radar detector is best in class with super long range.
No it wasn't a user error most construction zones, school zones has a radar to detect and show how fast your going on the signs that's what's making it go off is the speed limit sign that shows you your speed cause it's a type of laser or ka band that transmits it on the sign.
Great review, helped me decide ! Thanks
Glad it was helpful, thank you for watching!
Great review! Very informative; exactly what I was looking for. I couldn't decide which one to buy so this was very helpful.
if you dont mind me asking, what are you getting?
Thank you Lucinda. Let us know if you have any other questions. I have been driving with these units for about seven months now. Glad the review was helpful for you.
I decided to go with the 380. So far so good. I do miss the directional arrows my Escort 360 had. However, the Escort 360 picked up way more false X band alerts than the 380. I still can’t gauge the distance before the 380 picks up a CHP’s radar. I feel like by the time I hear the alert the CHP is too close. I’m going to test it for a bit longer before I decide to keep it.
thank you and thank u wife foe the feedback. cuz I used the Waze as well so I'm gonna buy the cheep one , wish u all the best in ur channel
It’s nice to have the speed limit but when you have an alert it disappears when you need it to match your speed… so if you don’t keep an eye on it.
I use to own a X50 escort and this i version puts me in the mind of it
Question. My Rad 480i started to emit a very week BEEP alert. This was without changing volume or sensitivity settings. Now its not beeping at all with alerts, but her voice still lets me know about the bands. Any ideas?
I just bought one awhile back and it works here and there. I think it does incredibly well on the highway at night especially on long road trips. It’s picked up several hidden police cars in the dead of night off highway ramps. I would recommend the 480 if your on a budget or for something simple, but if you have a bunch of money to burn I’d buy something higher class!
Well said. . . and to be honest with you, the more I use my Uniden radar detectors, the more I like them. I currently have an R3 and R4, along with the R7 and R8. In the near future, we will have videos up on those units.
This video I did last year, before I really used another brand outside of Cobra. So yeah, after doing more research and looking at other radar detectors, I agree there are higher class units.
hi guys, i have a question? i bought a cobra rad 380 but it doesn't respond to the fixed radars on the traffic lights, does anyone know?
Does anyone know what’s the subscription for on cobra 50 bucks for the year? Pros and con
One feature you touched on then kind of ignored with the 480i is the GPS functionality you get when you connect to your phone through Bluetooth. You can't get that added feature with the RAD 380. Anyway I just ordered the 480i prior to watching your video as an update to my two older Cobras a 12 band and 14 band Laser 360s.They were both great detectors for the money with my preference being the 12 band but I get too many false alerts with so many cars now coming out with collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control. I have a late model Chevy with Android Auto and I'm hoping I'll be able to use Waze and the iRadar apps simultaneously on long trips like the one I'm planning to take shortly after receiving my new detector. Thank you for your video and opinions they were helpful in confirming I likely made the best decision for my personal use.
Good catch and I did skip over that, I will know now for the next video - good feedback . . . thank you still for watching our channel and video and I'm glad it was helpful. Safe travels and enjoy your new RAD 480i. ~ Carl
I just bought the cobra 480i it works great!
Worth the money ?
@@anthonyaranda8775 I’ve had it for a year now, it is definitely worth it
Just got it 3 days ago and it's already paid for itself.
Great video bro i just recently bought Cobra RAD 480i can this model be hard wired to the car. Please reply if you have time thanks.
Thank you, Ganesh. Yes, the 480i can be hardwired with an additional writing kit. Here is what you will need I believe: www.cobra.com/products/rapscb
Does feel app give alerts to the radar itself or does it require the app to be open?
Hi Jon . . . In my experience, the app has to be open. Otherwise you will see the alert on just the radar detector and not your phone.
i like the 480i. i will come with you but im in NC. love the video
Great Best Review, Just Bought The 480i , Haven't Had Much Time To Play With It, Is it Really Worth DL The QR Code With Sharing With Others, As The App Tells You When Curves Are Up Coming, Haven't Got A Speeding Infraction In 20 Years, After Getting Two Tickets Ovwr 120MPH. The App Also Gives Driving Directions, Heck My Vehicle Already Has That Installed, If Turned On. Again Should I Actually DL The App? When Road Sings Are Up Road Work, I Instantly Slow Down. I Really Loved My Old Bel 2 , That Actually Has KR Detection And What 480i Has, Boy I Sure Miss Radio Shack & Circuit City. Thanks For The Great Review, I'll Just Use My Old Leather Case To Protect My 480i, If I like It, If I Don't Like It, I'll Be Taking It Back Within 28 Days.
iRadar stopped connecting to my 480i. Any suggestions??
Just ordered my 480i. I used to have a 380 back in the day and it actually saved me a handful of times from some speeding tickets
Awesome! Thank you for watching and enjoy your new 480i!
@@Automoblog thank you
Someone purchased the I480 for me. I turned off all bands except for KA and Laser. The KA band goes off all the time. No cops around, highway driving, but KA almost all the time. I don't get this unit either. I have a more expensive detector in my Porsche and it works amazing. This thing is always making noise. There is not a lot of K band in NY so I need that less than KA and Laser. Maybe it's user error but I haven't been able to figure it out.
Hi Pat. . . since we filmed this video, I've been able to spend more time with the 480i. There have been a few times where my 480i has gone crazy, but there are no patrol cars around. A couple of weeks ago, I dove from Downriver here in the Detroit area, up I-275. At first I thought the alerts might be from the airport as you drive right by it on I-275, but as I passed the airport my 480i kept giving me a Ka alert with a single square on the alert display. And that happened for close to 30 miles. It started getting on my nerves. It was later at night, not a lot of traffic, and not a single cop car around.
I just bought a cobra 🐍 radar detector.i personally never owned one but I am sure they are great 😃👍
Excellent review thank you
I got the i version for 75 off of ebay and it is like new very excited to use it
How do you like it so far?
@@carlanthony7906 I like it so far. I have not been able to test it by seeing a police officer yet.
I turnt off xband spectre
I only run k band ka band laser to
That will eliminate a lot of alerts you don't need atleast where I am from.
I do get a lot of k alerts on high sensitivity so in the city I run low range mode
Overall I like it and the app is nice if you have time to use it.
I bought Rad 480i and used it for 3 weeks in the Canadian highway in Alberta, and honestly, I'm returning it back cause it does make enough sound to slow me down all the way to my destination and never saw a cop 👮♂️ but seriously I saw 2 cops on side off the highway with speed detection cameras at 2 different locations and this crap never beeped to allert me.
Thank you for the feedback. The new RAD 700i has been better in our experience: www.automoblog.net/cobra-rad-700i-review/
They may not be running radar.
I have the 480i, and it's notified me multiple times here in the states to police, ka and live ka alerts
I'm going to buy a cobra 480i.
Is it possible in Korea, too?
Well I’m sure no one just gave you that 480i lol
Great review my man!!!!
Thank you, Paris!
I am planning to buy a 480i, but the police in the city where I live almost all use laser speed detectors. Can the 480i receive the laser signal also?😅
Hi Carl ! I'm living in Germany and just bought the 380 RAD. There are very few real world tests on youtube especially Vortex doesn't talk about it. What is your experience with the detector so far ? In practice my detector is very quiet and doesn't detect much BSM false alerts as my V1 Gen 1. My conclusion : If you don't talk about it it seems quoiet good in comparison to the big units ;-)
Great question and we actually have had good luck with our RAD 380 and like it better than the 480i. The RAD 380 is good if you are looking for something on a budget, so that said, the false alert filtering won't be as good as something from Escort (the premium brand from Cedar Electronics, the parent company of Escort and Cobra).
The one thing we see is that digital speed limit signs off to the side of the road will still cause a false alert with the RAD 380, false alerts that you were less likely to get with a higher and radar detector. But otherwise yes, I would agree that it's a really good unit for the money ~ Carl
I’m going to mount it above and BEHIND me because I drive a Slingshot and I’m putting it next to the vertical fin for good targeting in front and to the rear and I don’t want it visible to the cops in Virginia should I cross over from my state of Tennessee. I need to know if both have VG2 protection.
Yes, both offer V2G protection. You will get a notification on the display screen if you get hit with VG2.
The Rad 380 unit doesnt show an L for laser? how do you know if they are using the laser radar? Thx
Hi Walter. . . I don't think I have ever received a laser alert with the 380, but I think it flashes the whole word "Laser" on the screen. While making this video, we had a laser alert with the 480i and it took over the entire screen and spelled out 'LASER." I am guessing it's the same/similar on the 380.
Absolutely Love this man!!! You make it very easy for a 56 year old Mom to decide what she is purchasing for her 20 year old son for Christmas! Thank you so much for your explanation of both Radar Detectors.
How much heads up on the highway does the 380 give you? I wanna turn my beast loose occasionally
Hi Todd. . . it's pretty good on the open road and in the highway setting. Here in Detroit, I have to get out of the city as a lot of the industrial areas and auto plants will give me false alerts, but away from the city, the range on the 380 is pretty good in the highway setting.
According to Cobra when we made this video, maximum range is up to two miles on the open highway.
I just got the 480i for my birthday but use waz when I drive. I'm new to the radar and I don't if I'm use it wrong but I have been close to cops even had pull up next to me and my radar does even pick it up
I'll let you know a secret. Cops are trained to not use radar. Specially driving in the city they keep them off so your radar is not faulty just not picking them up unless they turn there signals on.
Any Cobra Model had many nice thought to the user, but lacks the Performance and Selectivity. The 480i functions are nice to the user, but does not perform as it should in the real world. If they can address the BT group interaction with others, the False Blind Spot Vehicle Alerts, will maybe thing unit for the price works... but like lower cost units, fail to combat the real threat unless open roads.
Yes, well said. These Cobra units are good for what they are and they do a good job if you don't want to spend a ton of money. But I must admit, I like the Uniden R3 better than both of these. Granted, it is more money, but it gives off way less false alerts and has longer range.
You have mentioned over and over the $50 difference between the two radars. Is using the app "FREE"? You might not be forthcoming on the extra monthly app user's fee - approx $30.
Thank you for the comment . . . Let me look into this. I am still learning a great deal about radar detectors as I do these reviews.
Thank you. I bought the rad 480i, actually two of them for each of my SUVs. I realized that the map was not that good. I rather use my SUV's map on a 12" screen, or my Samsung Note 10+ Google map, or Android Auto. If I want to go further, I'll use Waze. The idea behind it is similar to Waze in that you try to engage by glancing at the map while driving. Looking for where the police are, or an accident which isn't there any longer. All three maps are free. Using the radar on my smartphone is very distracting while driving, because of how the map is set up. There are many more to say. It turns out not better than my Cobra XRS 9840 Ultra Performance 12 Band Radar/Laser Detector it replaced. On the positive side, I like the swiping scanner. It indicates the radar is powered on. I could have gone to the 380i, but it doesn't matter, I like the form factor. I overpaid but I'm content.
The false alerts might be coming from the new servaying tools. They use lazers and gps to cordinate elevation and location for constrution works, could be completly wrong but just random thought
That's a good point . . . thank you!!
On false alerts that you mark in a certain spot. Like you said on the 380 that it displayed the false but also displayed the trooper as well as you kept driving away. So my question is, will it still alert you for a real band in a spot you marked as a false read?
Hi Jensen . . . I may not have been totally clear in the video . . . But on the RAD 380 you cannot mark a location. You can on the 480i but not the 380.
What I meant to say is that I got a false alert with the RAD 380 at the CVS - but right after, I got a real alert. Basically, it was a false alert, followed immediately by a real alert from a patrol car. But with the RAD 380, I could not "mark" the CVS. But it makes me be more careful in that area of Detroit because it makes me pay more attention to any notifications I get with the RAD 380. I don't want to just dismiss it as a false alert and then end up getting a ticket. I hope that helps.
@@carlanthony7906 yeah I heard that. I was just wondering if on the 480i if you mark a spot as a false, will it still alert a positive if there is one in the area? Like will it kind of override the false if there is a different frequency?
@@jensenthurgood5723that is a good question. Yes, in my experience, the 480i will show both. You see this when connected to the iRadar app sometimes. You might get a "Live Ka Alert" from the app, but another alert (false or not) at the same time. The screen sort of divides at that point. So on the right side of the screen you get the alert as reported by the iRadar app - and a black bar moves to the left to indicate how close you are to it.
On the left side of the screen then is the alert you just picked up that was not reported in the iRadar app. That might be a false alert or that might be a real alert. But either way, you will see a series of square bars that move from left to right to indicate how close you are to that alert. In my review, I have a picture of the unit doing this. It's detecting a "Live Ka" alert and a K alert (which ended up being false) at the same time.
So in essence, yes. The RAD 480i will mute something you have locked out on purpose, but if a real alert is in the area, it will show you that too (and make a sound). As a rule of thumb with radar detectors, any new frequency or band will still alert, even if you have locked out something in that area before. The real alert will override (as you said) the false one. And this is the case with the 480i too.
On higher end units like the Escort MAX 360c, you have a setting called "Spec FR2." That divides things up nicely on the screen to show you how many alerts you are getting at the same time, their bands, intensity, location, and if they are false or not.
@@carlanthony7906 thanks so much! That might just help me make the decision on which one I’m gonna buy!
@@jensenthurgood5723 you are welcome. And feel free to comment back here if you notice something about your new Cobra unit that I should be paying attention to.
Can you turn off k band or x band alerts on the 380 or 480i?
I have the 480i and you can
What are the alerts and what do they mean?
Do you know where I can get the speaker replaced, mine busted after a year & I have the 480i
Unfortunately, no . . . I think you might have to get a new unit. You might try reaching out to Cobra customer service however and seeing if they can do anything for you: www.cobra.com/pages/contact-us
Man all that sens crap. I shut off K and X and just run KA with the Waze app and I never get pulled over.
What do numbers at far right of screen mean?
That's the signal strength indicator. On the Cobra RAD 380, it is on a scale of 1 to 5. If you see a 1, it means the radar source is farther away from you, whereas a 4 or 5 means you are very close to the radar source.
So all in all which one do u recommend
The RAD 380 . . . save the money and go for the RAD 380. The 480i is okay but very prone to false alerts.
Please explain what these mean? K, Ka, X?
Ka band 9 times out of 10 are usually troopers
Ths is exactly what I need to know because I’m poor but need a detector
what does the speed alert function do
Are your perhaps referring to the companion app (Drive Smarter)? If so, the speed alert function there will alert you to things like speed traps and red light cameras, provided other users of the app have reported them (basically, user generated alerts). It's been a bit since we drove with our RAD 480i, so might have to dig it back out and drive with it again to see more about what you mean.
does it work in europe?
Have had the 480 for several years. I drive city alot. I put it on medium and leave the volume off. I know where the cops like to hide if i get an alert ill slow down. I can see it out of the corner of my eye if the display goes white ill scan around for wolves/cops too. It is set to ignore x band. I also like it displays charging voltage during startup. I can keep an eye on alterntor health. I dont use the app btw.
Its a nice detector for the price. I do wish it had a digital compass though. My last detector had it.
Weird how the only review ever to fully answer all my questions to detail was in the radar detector category.. 😅😭
Thank you for watching and I am glad the video was helpful.
Hold the mute button down and it drastically lowers the beep noises.
Will these work in the uk
Yes, radar detectors are legal in the UK.
I bought the RAD 480i a while back just for fun and to test... I also own a Stalker DSR 2X (the primary radar the highway patrol uses in OK). All I can say is this detector is probably the worst one I’ve tested so far as far as reaction to the radar.
From the time you turn the radar on, THE DETECTOR TAKES 5 SECONDS TO ALERT!! Lol... Thus making it 100% defeatable by pretty much any modern police radar. My DSR 2X you can get the speed of the vehicle from around a half a mile or more in an average of 0.250 sec (average from test). So if you do the quick trigger on the radar this detector will never go off lol...
Get a valentine gen 2... It detects the Stalker every single time no matter how fast you shoot it. From the tests the valentine consistently alerts at around 0.150 sec (incredibly fast) and has very good range.
Haven’t tested the range on this cobra yet however it does work with constant on which only some police use so it would work for that...
My old cobra (XRS 888) is much better. It alerts at 0.5 sec which is pretty good however still easily defeated with quick triggers
But yeah I would get a more expensive one if possible for sure (valentine, beltronics, escort etc)
But anyways kinda hard to know this unless you spent $2,000 on a super solid radar unit like me but passing it on to folks that aren’t aware!
Nice review, cheers!
Won't matter if they zap you with pop instant or even worse pace.
Good point. . . although I read that POP radar isn't used so much anymore because(as I understand it) it's not as reliable since it's such a short burst.
Instant On is a different story, which I have seen them do with Ka and laser here in the Detroit area. There are a couple of spots where they sit and wait. If I am being honest, my Unidiens and Escorts are faster at picking up instant on than my Cobras.
POP can't be used in court so that doesn't really matter
@@carlanthony7906And a Corvette is faster than a Chevette. ✌️
You don't pay the fifty dollars for the app if you have a cobra radar detector it's free...
I just bought an 480i on Facebook marketplace used for 55 I guess I saved the 50 extra bucks from the 380i.
I say the extra 50 cause I’m counting taxes
Hi Samuel . . . How do you like the 480i so far?
Well...I have a RAD 450 with all the same stuff as iCobra wifi app which I dont see much Downriver Detroit.
The only radar cops are allowed to use is Ka (34.4-36.0 ghz) According to MSP they do not use K band. X are always garbage...I switch X, K off. VG-2 hasnt been used in years...Spectrum is what they use now...so far unbeatable.
The car companies first used K band for their blind spot, lane changing systems. But it was messing with Radar Detectors so they now have a special band from the FCC...the Cobra cant receive it..no cloaking about it. Also the 450 has voice alerts
Thank you Mark for the observations. I had wondered the same as the only alerts I can visually confirm are Ka around the Detroit area. I need to get an RAD 450 and drive with it.
Be cool 😎 🤩
Great information but videos are much too long!!
Thank you for the feedback!
That does not work for a policies car
General Motors, Chevy vehicles set my radar detector off.
The early GM models with blind spot etc were using K band radar...
Now the auto companies filed with the FCC and have their own frequencies for that stuff..Cobra cant see it.
Switch off K band
radar detectors should be mounted horizontal. not at an angle like you have them mounted in your video.
Yes, thank you . . . we know. This was one of our early videos when we were still getting onto radar detectors.
Crap
Schrott gegen Schrott
Detr0it
Go Lions!!!!
WE KNOW IT'S "HERE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP: SAYING "SO" & HERE"
Yes good point . . . thank you for watching and for the feedback. I will make a note of that for my next video. 🙂
🤣 He hit you with the nice card. Now you look like a douche bag. 🤣🤣🤣
Leave the man alone. He can say what he wants, we’re American!
I actually wouldn't call either of these "good performance"...
I'll ride with you for a free cup of coffee, but can we drive somewhere other than Detroit ?? 🤣