The best radar detectors to ensure you’re legal and informed of obstacles on the road 2024

The Co-Driver No.2 is the new and improved radar detector from innovative brand, OOONO. The Co-Driver No.1 was quite popular in its time, but the No.2 comes fresh with improvements. It works by giving you a subtle light dance and sound when there is a detected hazard ahead, such as a speed camera or other obstructions. It also networks with other OOONO detectors to learn new information constantly about the roads and where things are. The most notable update to the Co-Driver No.2 over the No.1 is the compatibility of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - allowing for alerts to be sent to your car's infotainment system or other display screen.

It also has a new USB-C port, so you can charge up the Co-Driver while on the go. It also has new LED lights, a new light dance, and sounds, but these are minor updates to what was already a standout radar detector. The only real downside is the magnetic mount that fits into the air vent to hold the device, isn't included and will set you back an extra £9.

The Co-Driver No.1 is the predecessor of the No.2, and naturally, is a bit older with less clever features. However, the basic function is still the same and especially now, represents better value. This really small radar detector will quite happily sit on a dashboard minding its own business most of the time, before providing a little light and audible chime when a speed camera or obstacle is nearby.

If you spot a roadside speed camera or obstacle, you can feed it into the app by pressing the device, once for a camera and twice for the obstacle. Connected to an app via Bluetooth, this device is continuously updated for live reports and is a very clever device for your car. However, the magnetic holder is still a separate purchase in the No1's case, which is slightly annoying.

The Co-Drivers above aren't sold with the magnetic phone and device holder that's best suited for the things. At £9, it's pretty good value, and because it's magnetic and fits into your car's air vent, it can be used as a normal phone holder as well, should you need it for that purpose.

It measures just 4.4cm in width and height, making it a wonderfully compact device that won't intrude too much space on your dashboard.

The Saphe Drive Mini is a simple and stylish radar detector. Connect your phone to the device using an app,

and it will flash up relevant information as you drive, letting you know about changing traffic conditions. All the information is supplied by the network of users,

and this little device can inform you of more than just nearby speed cameras. It can also warn you of accidents and dangerous conditions ahead. It may not be quite as reliable as the Ooono example, but it's certainly worth considering for the excellent display.

The DriveSmart 65 MT-S combines smart technology and navigation to become your in-car control device as well as the navigator and radar detector. Through Garmin's Drive app, you can launch Alexa and get the sat nav to provide not only speed camera information but also play music, make hands-free calls, and give you updates on the weather.

The Saphe One+ is a compact radar detector and the best budget option. Connect your phone to the device using the app, and it will beep to inform you of changing traffic conditions. All information is supplied by the network of users and can inform you of more than just nearby speed cameras.

It can also warn you of accidents and dangerous conditions ahead. You can also get an official mount so you can fit it on one of your car’s air vents.

With the ability to connect to Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto, the Drive Pro is continuously smart and warns you of upcoming speed cameras with both sound and on-screen warning.

You also get a free 12-month Saphe premium subscription included in your purchase, as well as a GPS-accurate digital speedometer. It works throughout Europe (where you're legally entitled to use it) and even warns you of upcoming traffic jams as well as accidents, red lights and much more. It really is a comprehensive piece of kit for the money.

For long-range detection, Cobra's RAD 480i is a great shout. It can be paired with Bluetooth to the Drive Smarter App, which gives you access to speed camera locations and red light signals. We believe the red light spotter is a bit of a far stretch, but perhaps it's nice to have if you're in an unfamiliar area.

You can also adjust the sensitivity settings. Cobra say that the range of the device is circa two miles, but this can be affected by hills and curves - something which the UK has a lot of. The Drive Smarter App can also be used to pair a Cobra dash cam, so it's quite multi-use if you happen to have an SC400D model or similar.

One handy feature of the R7 is a user marking mode. Essentially, if you spot a hazard zone, you can input it into the R7, and it'll remember it if you ever happen to drive back through. This can be useful if you're travelling somewhere new and you'd like to make a note of speed camera zones and the like.

It also has a voice notification feature as well as an automatic learning mode. The range is reportedly not as great as the Cobra 480i (some report around a mile, tops). Still, it's a reportedly very accurate and handy device for detecting speed cameras and zones where they are regularly placed.