Uniden R3 vs Uniden DFR7
The Uniden R3 and DFR7 are high performing radar detectors from the staples of Uniden.
The R3 is an upgrade of the DFR3 and as such, it offers more value, improved features and streamlined performance. Both detectors come loaded with GPS functionality to enable you seive out false alerts and lock them out. The GPS feature is also handy in low speed muting.
Both detectors share a few features in common which are natives to the Uniden series of radar detectors. But in this review of both detectors, we’ll compare both the common features and how one beats the other to the game of keeping you away from the those radars of the police on the highway.
Let’s start with the advantages of both radar detectors.
- Unmatched long range performance
- RDD immunity
- Voice alerts for hands-free operation
- Improved BSM filtering
- Portable and lightweight
- 360° laser coverage
- Brightly colored OLED display
- GPS lockout feature
- RLC database updates at no charges
- Frequent firmware updates
- Dual antenna for directional alerts
- Voice alerts for hands-free operation
- Built-in GPS for low speed muting and false alert lockouts
- Dual antenna for directional alerts
- OLED display
- Free RLC updates
- Free firmware updates
- Red light and speed camera alerts
- RDD immunity
- Relatively affordable
Features of Both Radar Detectors
In this section, we compare the features of both radar detectors and highlight their differences.
Voice Alerts
Both radar detectors come with a voice alert feature that alerts you on what’s been detected. It makes room for a hands-free operation while you stay focused on your ride.
Colored OLED Display
Both radar detectors have OLED display screens that are easy to read and display all the information you need to know. From band frequency, speed warnings and battery voltage, you have it clearly displayed right before you.
However, the Uniden R3 beats its counterpart DFR7 on this with an OLED screen display that can be set into different colors. This improved visibility and it’s less likely to fade.
GPS Lockouts
False alerts are terrible. Thankfully, the Uniden R3 and DFR7 come with this feature. They can recognize false alert locations and lock them out for the subsequent plying of same route.
The Uniden R3 offers 200 lockouts while the DFR7 offers 100 lockouts. Now that’s a limitation on the DFR7 considering the fact that if ride alot downtown, you can use them up quickly even though you might want to manage that figure by using low speed muting.
Also, the lockouts were designed to cover a specific area and long stretches of roads will demand you using up more lockouts than you bargained for. With 200 lockouts on the R3, it’s not substantial enough but better than 100.
Alert Priority
Both radar detectors are able to prioritize signals based on their strengths. But that hardly solves the problem.
A strong K band signal indicates proximity but that could be a negligible signal like a grocery store nearby. A weak signal on the Ka band might be legitimate but since it’s weak, it’s likely to be overlooked.
With the DFR7, you have the regular alert priority according to their strengths but with the R3 comes band priority which is more efficient. It’s called Ka priority and displays the alert priority in the sequence Laser-Ka-K-X. This way, the driver can identify legitimate alerts.
Red Light Camera Filtering on Highways
Both radar detectors come with RLC filtering.
With the DFR7, you can’t filter red light alerts individually. This leaves you with no choice than disabling the entire RLC alert feature to get rid of nearby city red light cameras [1] in most situations.
However, wth the Uniden R3, deleting red light camera alerts individually is possible with the provision of high speed muting feature. With this feature in play, when you drive in certain high speed ranges on the highway, RLC alerts are filtered off and that includes the nearby ones, this doesn’t have to be done at the expense of the entire RLC alert function like the DFR7.
RLC updates are available for both radar detectors and are free.
Long Range Detection
The Unidens are now renowned for their long range performance and that’s laudable while being healthy for competition.
While the Uniden DFR7 is super strong on one Ka band (34.7), the R3 is super on all 3 Ka bands (34.7, 33.8 and 35.5) making it one hell of a radar detector from miles away.
Both radar detectors will comfortably beat almost all their peers in the radar detector market. The DFR7 is a monster long range device but the R3 surpasses it with the long range detection across all 3 Ka bands.
Pricing
Both detectors are relatively affordable. The DFR7 is quite affordable than the Uniden R3 and is not a bad detector for it’s price considering how powerful it performs when it comes to fishing out radars from distances.
Uniden R3 vs DFR7: Performance
Clearly, the Uniden R3 is truly an upgrade and a better representative for competition in the radar detector market. It outperforms the DFR7 with a lot of improvements in features.
Although it looks like the DFR7 is undermined to a glaring degree in the Uniden R3 vs DFR7 review and comparison, it’s not really the case. The DFR7 is a fantastic detector for its price and beats most of its predecessors in performance and features.
So if you are serious driver who plies the highway often, both detectors are perfect.
If you are however an insanely serious driver with more demands and a fat budget the Uniden R3 is your kind.
Conclusion: Uniden R3 or Uniden DFR7
From the comparison you can see that the Uniden R3 is a top of the line detector with a higher price tag and beats the DFR7 to the game. The R3 is a streamlined brand and so much is expected and that’s what we see here.
But this is what we recommend.
The Uniden R3 is best if you have the funds for it.
The DFR7 is best if you are on a tight budget that can’t buy you an R3 but you need a top class long range performer.
Read some more comparisons of these products:
Escort iX Against Uniden R3 2020
Radenso Pro M Against Uniden R3 2020
William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market.
