Skeptic of Proper Operation So Far! It is nicer looking than my 1st gen Max 360, it is great at identifying K band used on automatic store doors, and I have had a lot of Ka notifications with a police radar never in sight. Yesterday I passed within 75 feet a police officer with a laser gun pointed right at me with no notification. I have had this unit for a rather short time, and right now my confidence is with my old Max 360 to give me true warning.

Be aware of your surroundings. This detector is by far the best I’ve owned in 15 years. The range of detection and settings on the system is amazing. All the features it offers and are customizable to your likings.
Would highly recommend to anyone.

Max 3. This fits my needs and budget exactly!!! Love it. I had my other escort detector for 15 years and my son in law is now using it because it still works great.

Goodbye speeding tickets! Works great! Gives you plenty of heads-up before law enforcement radars your vehicle. Also has arrows that give you a general direction of where they are coming from too. If you have a lead foot… buy this!

Will not connect properly. Won’t show PSL or update database. I was assured by the sales department that the 360c MKII would work with my late model GM vehicle with the 5 G wifi (was a known issue in the past). Received the detector and set it up. It connected to the wifi but would not connect to the server database or DriveSmarter. Still doesn’t show posted speed limits or updates database. Returned it since it was defective and Escort still made me pay to ship it back. Very disappointing that Escort doesn’t try to resolve their issues and misleads customers.

Best Radar Detector on the market hands down. I am very pleased with this Radar Detector and the other two I purchased I have the red line which is the best and I am very pleased. I have never gotten a ticket and it has never lied to me. They are very good top of the line radar detectors. I don’t think there is a better detector out there than Escort, but I think the price could come down. They are very pricey for me, but I guess if you got a ticket without one, your insurance would be a lot more they pay for their self very quickly, especially for someone like me who is never going to do the speed limit ever , also customer service has been excellent with helping me to program out all the bands that we do not have in our area. They are very friendly and easy to work with hope this helps someone

A Great Combination. I have had an Escort detector for over 16 years (9500Xi) and it served me well (and still does) but since I purchased a new sports car, I thought it was time to upgrade…I purchased this Max360CMKII with the Dash Cam M2…to say the least – it is a world of difference…this detector is superior to the older model…the combination of the camera and detector was a great combo…setting it up was not as straight forward as I thought it would be…the camera SD disk needs to be formatted to Escorts own format…took a little doing and a few calls to the service department to get it right…the recording of the video is sharp and crisp…no complaints there…the only caveat is that you need to go to another form of media to get to see the videos…on the phone app (unless you have Apple’s CarPlay installed and it will not work together) or upload it in the cloud, or take out the SD card and put it in a reader on a laptop…a little frustrating…but all in all a great combination and I am looking forward to many years of service from the set…

Pricy. This item is extremely pricey and escorts continuation to jack up prices for loyal customers for over 30 years is not what I would consider good customer service. Also, you have not yet upgraded the power sources to today’s vehicles i.e. USCUSB power ports since no automobiles in the last few years have cigarette lighters. I’ve purchased three 360s in the last week totaling over $1700 with that price should’ve been in half. Please consider a loyalty discount for my purchases.

Loyal Escort Customer. I feel the design and operation of the radar detector is very good in both visually and operationally speaking. I’ve only been using it a couple weeks, so it’s hard to give it a complete review but so far more than satisfied.

Come on Escort no direct wire comes with the detector. After trying a Valentine 1 Gen 2 detector I am selling it and went back to Escort. The Valentine had no learning capabilities, so it went off at all the usual places. Escort learns where these spots are and it will stop sounding off at those locations. Every time I passed one of those signs that tell you how fast your going the Valentine would sound off. The Valentine never learned to not sound off when I went past the sign. I have been using escort radar detectors for the last 50 years. All three of my cars have one permanently installed now.

I’ve been using this radar detector for over six months, and it’s absolutely fantastic! It has become quieter over time and beeps less frequently as it learns specific locations. It has detected signals from up to a mile away with police traveling toward me, effectively giving me a two-mile warning! The only minor issue is that occasionally it loses connection with the app when I have it open in the background, which prevents the speed limit from displaying on the detector screen. However, I can easily reconnect by either switching back to the app or reopening the Drive Smarter app. I prefer using Waze alongside it since it has more users than the Drive Smarter app, but between the detector and Waze, it’s pretty hard to get caught! I’d buy this again in a heartbeat! My friend plans to buy one too after seeing how well mine works compared to his cheaper model. The directional arrows are fantastic; they let you know where the alert is coming from and help you determine if it’s a legitimate threat or multiple alerts in the same area, as the arrows change as you drive past the source. If you’re looking for an excellent detector, look no further—this one is phenomenal! I’m also planning to install it on my motorcycle soon. I just wish the app had an option to relay the beep alerts through my phone’s speakers for louder vehicles or motorcycles, as it does send spoken alerts but not the traditional beep sound that most are used to. Overall, I have no complaints! Get one and enjoy your peace of mind! P.S. I bought mine during the Black Friday sale.

Nice Detector. I’m still learning, but I’m getting more and more familiar with the Drive Smarter app everyday!

As to the app, when you move to another app like GasBuddy, you need to re-click the Drive Smarter app to re-engage it. I got it!

Very reliable product! Very good product. I own 3 and have always trusted Escort!

I recommend investing a little more for this radar. It performs exceptionally well and is highly accurate. It indicates whether the signal is approaching from the front or rear. If you exceed the speed limit by just one mile, it alerts you to slow down. It also notifies you of upcoming speed cameras. The suction mount to the window is effective as well. I’m very pleased with my purchase of this radar.

Instruction books with type face. Instruction books with type face so small I need a magnifying glass to read it. WHY? Why is it important to Escort to make a booklet with print too small for an older customer to read? I paid Escort $600 for a machine & as soon as I opened the box, I had to buy a cable from Amazon. WHY? If the user needs a cable, why would Escort not include that as part of the purchase. These two annoying, dumb decisions are making the experience unfriendly. What does torturing me as a customer do for Escort?

A So So Replacement. Annoying reminder about overspeed even when I use the apps to set the alarm to 20 mph over the limit. On a 75 mph tollway that runs parallel to interstate with 70 mph limit, the voice reminder tells me that I am overspeed. I use Waze so I don’t see a need to use the apps for directions either. This is a replacement for my older 360Max but I I don’t see an improvement.

The best. I’ve used escort products for the last 30 years and decided to do this recent upgrade. It works perfectly. Highly recommend recommended.

This review compares the Valentine One (V1), Escort iX, and Escort Max 360 radar detectors.

When I graduated high school, I saved up for my first radar detector, a Beltronics model. At the time, my options were limited to Beltronics, Uniden, or Cobra. After college, I was finally able to afford the latest on the market, a Valentine One (this was before laser detection became standard). I don’t recall the exact price, but I’ve noticed that their prices have remained fairly stable since laser detectors became the norm over the past 15 years.

For nearly 20 years, I haven’t considered other options. I sold my first non-laser V1 to a friend to purchase a new laser model, and I’ve had my current V1 for over 12 years, upgrading the firmware as needed.

After a recent 1,500-mile road trip from LA to DFW, I decided to explore other options since the V1 proved nearly ineffective. For a couple of hours, a new Escalade in front of us kept triggering K-band alerts, resulting in about 95% false alarms with only a couple of genuine “saves” during our 25 hours on the road. (No, my V1 didn’t have the latest Junk K fighter, but I’ll discuss price differences later.)

The next day, I purchased the top-of-the-line Escort Max 360 with directional arrows, which I assume became available after the V1’s patent expired about a decade ago. A week later, during an 8-hour drive from Dallas to Houston and back, I found the Escort Max 360 to be exceptional and became a convert. Shortly after, I was offered the chance to try an Escort iX through Amazon Vine, and I eagerly accepted. For the first time, I found myself impressed with an Escort.

What’s in the Box:

The Escort clearly outshines with its package, which includes a nice carrying case, a sturdy (Garmin-like) windshield mount, and a SmartCord cigarette adapter featuring a mute button and remote alert display. The iX’s SmartCord even includes a USB slot for accessory charging. Both Escorts automatically mute based on signal strength and come with built-in Bluetooth and a free phone app.

In contrast, the Valentine One provides a sun visor and suction cup mount, along with a cigarette adapter. Additional items like a carrying case, remote display, low-speed auto mute (Savvy), and Bluetooth require extra purchases. While the phone app is free, you must buy the V1Connection to use it (see Pricing section below).

Real-World Pricing (MSRP)

The Escort costs more but includes features that the V1 lacks unless you pay extra. Here’s the breakdown:
Escort Max 360

$649 MSRP
Escort iX

$499 MSRP
Brand New V1

$399 MSRP, but to match the Escort’s offerings, you’ll need to add:
$29 Carrying Case
$69 Savvy low-speed auto-muter
$39 Remote display
$49 V1Connection for your smartphone

Total real-world price: $585 to be comparable to the Escort.

My Actual V1 Costs

$399 – already paid years ago
To upgrade for the Junk K fighter and Traffic Filter, I’d need an additional $269! Then…
$29 Carrying Case
$69 Savvy low-speed auto-muter
$39 Remote display
$49 V1Connection for your smartphone

Total out-of-pocket cost for me: $854! Detractors may argue that the real difference is $269 versus $649; I can either spend $269 to add the Junk K Fighter and Traffic Filter or spend $649 and sell the V1 to recoup costs. However, some just want the best regardless of price, so let’s proceed with that.

Size:

The Escort iX is the winner for its slimmer profile. The Escort Max 360 is quite large! The V1 has remained unchanged since the laser model was introduced roughly 15 years ago. The Max 360 is longer, wider, and taller than the V1.

Performance and Relevance:

The Escort provides a more tranquil and reasonable daily driving experience. Back in the ‘90s, the Valentine One consistently topped magazine tests, drawing many users to it with its superior performance and detection capabilities.

Perhaps I’m just 20 years older now, but I’ve come to realize that detecting a K-band signal 1.3 miles away—about ¾ of a mile sooner than Cobra, Beltronics, or Passport—doesn’t matter much. While 1.3 miles sounds significant, a driver’s attention span is often as fleeting as a stoplight. Ever been in a school zone going 20 mph, only to forget you were there when the light turns green? Many drivers gun it, only to slam on the brakes after spotting the school zone sign again.

The V1’s range and detection can be excessive, leading me to mute it frequently, which often results in me inadvertently speeding again. Both the Escort Max 360 and iX appear nearly identical in performance. Instead of the loud alerts from the V1, the Escorts provide verbal band announcements and clearer strength meters, which are much easier to read than the small dot on the V1, which can be hard to see while driving. The white lettering on the V1 can be difficult to discern in glare, complicating band identification.

Additionally, the Escort quickly auto-mutes itself, while the V1 keeps alarming. The V1 offers a few mute options, but they require additional purchases, such as a remote mute button, remote display, and Savvy. The Escorts come with a remote mute and alert indicator on the SmartCord power adapter. Both detectors track the number of different radar sources.

Features:

If there’s one section to focus on in this lengthy review, it’s this: I would choose the Escort solely for its GPS capabilities and the option to mark known false alarms like grocery stores and stationary “Your Speed Is:” units. Today, the Escort has rendered the V1 technologically outdated; there, I said it! The Escort has outpaced the V1 in terms of technology, offering Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a traffic system database, and filters for traffic monitoring and collision-avoidance systems.

With the V1, I’m one firmware update away from acquiring the “Junk K Fighter and Traffic Filter.” To access it, I’d need to invest another $269. I’ve already spent $399 on the detector and more on accessories. I had to sell my non-laser model because it couldn’t be firmware-updated to the laser version. While I can pay for the Junk K Fighter and Traffic Filter or Bluetooth, they all come at an extra cost.

Some may criticize me for questioning a device I’ve used for 12 years with various firmware upgrades, but I’ve already paid over $200 for an upgrade, and to make it current, it’ll cost me $269 more. The one thing that no V1 upgrade currently provides is the impressive GPS marking found in the Escorts.

In everyday driving, there are grocery stores that will consistently trigger the V1. With both Escorts, I can simply mark and disregard those stores! There’s also a constant “Your Speed Is” radar unit in my neighborhood, which I’ve already marked for ignoring. Just press the mute button three times, and it GPS marks that location as a false alarm, saving it! This ONE FEATURE makes the transition to an Escort worthwhile.

Band Selection:

With the V1, you have to perform a complicated process to turn off X-band. In contrast, the Escorts have a dedicated “Band” button that allows you to choose from various modes like Auto, Auto without X-band, and Highway. It’s much more user-friendly.

Moreover, there’s a crowd-sourced database for Red-Light Cameras, speed traps, and more that can be updated. Even my small town is included, accurately alerting me of Red-Light camera intersections as I approach. The V1 lacks these capabilities because it doesn’t have GPS, so it cannot display my speed or warn me if I exceed a certain limit.

When paired with the Escort app, both models display speed limits on the detector, and the GPS shows your actual speed.

Overall, the standard features on the Escort make it a more user-friendly, peaceful, and less stressful radar/laser detector to own and use daily. During another 8-hour trip to Houston and back, I used the Escort on the way down and the V1 on the return. By the end, I wanted to toss the V1 in the trash. This scenario might resemble the old Subaru STi versus Mitsubishi Evo comparison: the STi (Escort) is the car you want for everyday driving, while the Evo (V1) may have slightly better performance but isn’t as pleasant for daily use.

Phone Apps:

The Escort app is superior. It allows easy configuration of various user settings and preferences, boasting a well-designed interface. You can even set an “overspeed” alert, which helps me stay mindful of my speed.

The V1 app merely serves as an additional display and allows for profile saving. While it shows the exact MHz of the detected radar frequency, it’s unclear how that information is useful. What does it matter to me if it’s 176.131 MHz or 198.314 MHz?

With the V1, you need to hold the control knob while powering it on to change settings, deciphering a small display along the way. The Escort app enables me to change LED colors from blue to amber to match my dashboard, among many other user settings.

Okay, but which Escort is best?

Now that you might have ruled out purchasing a new V1 for $399 or spending $269-289 to upgrade your current V1, should you choose the Escort iX or the Escort Max 360?

Escort Max 360 vs Escort iX – Differences

In my testing, the Escort iX and Max 360 perform almost identically. For instance, when approaching a Red-Light camera intersection, both announced, “There is a Red-Light Camera in 1000 ft,” simultaneously, sounding like a stereo. (Meanwhile, I had to mute the V1 due to its constant alerts from the grocery store I pass daily, while the Escorts stayed quiet because I GPS marked those locations.)

I might argue the Escort iX has slightly longer range, but is that truly significant? Who cares if the iX warns you at 2000 feet while the Max 360 does so at 1800 feet? What matters is which device you prefer to use daily and which one you can rely on without constant muting. Both Escorts are easy to live with.

The key difference is that the Max 360 features directional arrows, while the iX does not. The Max 360 costs about $150 more than the iX ($650 vs $500 MSRP). So, are the Max 360’s arrows worth the extra $150? If they give you more confidence and make your daily commute more manageable, then absolutely. If the arrows help you avoid a ticket due to not knowing where to look, then it’s well worth it.

Just today, while composing this review, I turned left at a light from my neighborhood when the Ka alert sounded, and the Max 360 indicated the threat was coming from behind. In my rearview mirror, I could barely see a black Police Tahoe approaching the stoplight. I was grateful for the Max 360’s arrows; if I had the iX, I would have been unsure of where the cop was located.

Over the course of three weeks, I had all three detectors installed simultaneously in my car, likely causing others to think I was an undercover investigator with all those suction cups on my windshield. It’s challenging to determine which consistently outperformed the others because the V1, iX, and Max 360 each excelled in different situations.

Overall:

If you want the best option without concern for cost or size, then certainly purchase the Max 360.

Based on my nearly 20 years of experience with the V1, I’d rate it a solid 3 stars compared to the Escorts. The Escort iX earns a solid 4 stars, while the Escort Max 360 deserves a 5-star rating. Both Escorts share the same technology and features, with the only distinction being that the Max 360 includes directional arrows for an additional $150.

The Escort Max 360 is the ideal choice for daily driving. The Escort iX is suitable for a secondary vehicle, while the V1 would likely cause marital strife if gifted to a spouse. The only time your partner would prefer an Escort over a Valentine is when it comes to radar detectors.

I really like it; it works wonderfully and is very sensitive. I wasn’t convinced that the arrows were worthwhile, but now I love it!

So far so good. All good except the mounting suction cup
Just does not stay in my windshield no matter how it’s cleaned
Not happy about that I had to purchase a 3rd party mount with double sided tape and now works