If you have ever been pulled over by the police for speeding, you will know just how high the penalties can be and just how unyielding some officers may act. This is not to say that you should over speed and use a radar detector not to get caught, but we all know that, sometimes, you are in a hurry and you need to drive that little bit faster. The problem is that radar detectors have been around for ages and the police officers have kept up with the times and are using radars that cannot easily be detected. However, there is an upshot to that, because, since radar detectors have been around for ages, there are plenty of manufacturers on the market and that has driven the prices down. So we were able to test several devices, asked around some of our experts who work with the police, and have come up with the following list of the best radar detectors under $100 available on the market. Make sure to scroll pass the list to get to the in depth reviews we have prepared for each product.
| Preview | Name | Rating | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 
| Cobra XRS 9745 Voice Alert 15 Band Radar Detector
| 3.8 / 5 | $$ | Click Here! |
 
| Cobra XRS9570 Voice Alert 14 Band Radar Detector
| 3.9 / 5 | $$ | Click Here! |
 
| WHISTLER XTR-580 Radar Detector
| 4.2 / 5 | $$ | Click Here! |
 
| Cobra XRS9370 High-Performance Radar Detector
| 3.9 / 5 | $ | Click Here! |
 
| Whistler XTR-130 Laser Detector with High Gains Lens
| 4.0 / 5 | $ | Click Here! |
1. Cobra XRS 9745 Voice Alert 15 Band Radar Detector
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There are cheaper radar detectors on the market and we are going to get to them, but if you want the very best and are willing to spend just under $100 for it, then the Cobra XRS 9745 is the only chance you have. It uses a 15 band detection system and is able to detect 7 different radar signals, 6 laser signals with a 360 degree range and 2 safety signals. It has an easy to read and to notice digital display, but it also has a voice alert so you can just set it up and forget about it. Radars are allowed in all states except Virginia and Washington DC. However, the Cobra XRS 9745 is capable to neutralize the 2 most important radar detectors detector systems used by the police. It is capable of completely neutralizing the VG-2 system and it is able to detect ahead of time the Specter I to IV, and it automatically shuts down. Of course you are still in danger of the police officers actually seeing the detector, but setting it up in a more discreet position will definitely help.
2. Cobra XRS9570 Voice Alert 14 Band Radar Detector
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If we were to pick an alternative to the Cobra XRS 9745 we would choose the Cobra XRS9570. It is just a little bit cheaper than the Cobra XRS 9745, and its only disadvantage is that it can only detect 1 safety signal. For the rest, it has the same 15 band detection system, it can detect 7 different radar signals, which include the X Band, K Band, Ka Superwide, Ku Band, VG-2, Spectre I and Spectre IV+. It can detect 6 laser systems including the LTI 20-20, Ultra Lyte, ProLaser, ProLaser III, Stalker LIDAR and Speedlaser, with a 360 degree coverage. It is also undetectable to VG-2 radar-detectors detectors, and it can “play dead” when detecting anyone of the Specter system. The only problem is that it is only a couple of dollars cheaper than the Cobra XRS 9745, so your only reason for buying it would be that it has earned a 3.9 star rating on Amazon whereas the Cobra XRS 9745 has a 3.8 rating.
3. WHISTLER XTR-580 Radar Detector
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Not all police cars can afford to switch to the newer technologies, in fact just a few actually use them, so, if you want to risk it, you can buy a cheaper radar detector in the form of the Whistler XTR-580. It can only detect 3 radar bands, the X, K and Ka, but the good news is that these are the bands most used by the police anyway. The Whistler XTR-580 has immunity from VG-2 systems but it can still be detected by the Specter systems. Ultimately, though, if you drive in just one particular area, you probably know all the police cars and you can tell how old or new their radar system is. In fact, if they pull you over for speeding, you can ask to see the technical specifications of their radar system and make an informed decision from there.
4. Cobra XRS9370 High-Performance Radar Detector
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If you want a cheap radar detector, the best solution would be to go with the Cobra XRS9370. It has the same radar detection capabilities as the XRS9570, but it does not have a voice alert. It will still beep when it detects a radar, so you do not have to worry about constantly keeping an eye on it. It is undetectable to VG-2 systems, but it can only detect and guard against Specter I systems.
5. Whistler XTR-130 Laser Detector with High Gains Lens
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The cheapest system that you can buy, and that we deemed good enough to be on our list of the best radar detectors under $100 is the Whistler XTR-130. It can only detect X, K, and Ka bands so it will not provide a full protection against radars, but it can detect any type of radar signal, regardless of the direction. It is really not the radar we would recommend, but if you know the area in which you are driving, the Whistler XTR-130 may be all the protection you need.
