Cobra iRadar IRAD 200 radar detector
For families split along the Android-iOS divide or multivehicle households, the Cobra iRadar is the high-tech radar detection unit of choice. Its simple, portable design allows it to be easily transported from vehicle to vehicle; smartphone app integration gives drivers a heads-up on speed traps and road hazards before reaching them; and dual-mode operation lets users switch from compatibility with Apple or Google devices with the flip of a switch.
The good: The Cobra iRadar works with or without a connected Android or iOS smartphone. Its car charger has a powered USB port for the paired smartphone. A free app helps you fine-tune the iRadar's sensitivity and discern between actual alerts and false positives, as well as monitor for traffic cameras and speed traps.
The bad: We still ran into a number of false positives during our testing, requiring quite a bit of interaction with the app for the first few days.
The bottom line: The Cobra iRadar justifies its entry-level price as a good radar/laser detector. And when paired with a smartphone running the iRadar app, it becomes a much more flexible and useful speed management tool.
October 31, 2012 2:40 PM PDT
Photo by: Antuan Goodwin/CNET
