Cobra RAD 490i Laser Radar Detector – New Model with Long
Cobra RAD 490i Laser Radar Detector – New Model with Long Range Detection, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatible, LaserEye Front and Rear Detection, DSP, Firmware Updatable
- Long Range Detection – Next generation updateable IVT Filter and advanced anti-falsing circuitry intelligently reduces false alerts from blind spot monitoring systems and other vehicle avoidance systems.
- Front and Rear LIDAR Detection – Cobra’s LaserEye technology detects laser signals from both the front and rear of your vehicle, giving you all-around protection wherever the road takes you.
- Exclusive Shared Alerts – Connect to the Drive Smarter community to get live alerts from other drivers across the country. With Apple CarPlay & Android Auto compatibility, you can view your route and interact with alerts on your vehicle's display.
- Earlier Warnings – Digital Signal Processing provides faster processing for all incoming signals and rapidly provides accurate alerts, making you aware of a threat before it is right in front of you.
- Adjustable Sensitivity Modes – Tailor your radar detector to your liking with Adjustable Sensitivity and Filtering Modes to control how many notifications you receive while on the go. Toggle Extreme Mode for no-compromises coverage and range.
- Everything You Need – The Cobra RAD 490i radar detector comes with a USB-C power cord, USB-C to cigarette lighter adapter, and adhesive windshield mount with static cling film for easy installation.
- Updated Mounting System – Secure adhesive mount with detachable bracket and adjustable angle for best visibility, security, and performance on the road.
- Firmware Updates – Take advantage of ongoing firmware updates to provide software support for improved longevity, keeping your detector up to date and capable on the road.
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| SKU: | B0GS3VVPPR |
| Weight: | 4.8 ounces |
| Dimensions: | 4.25"L x 2.75"W x 1.25"H |
| Brand: | COBRA |
| Model: | 0180020-1 |
| Manufacture: | Cedar Electronics |
From the brand
Solid detector with great tech features
picked up the Cobra RAD 490i recently to help with my daily highway commute. The physical setup took only a few minutes. The included adhesive mount stuck firmly to my windshield. I really like that Cobra uses a USB-C power cord now. It makes the device feel up to date.
The radar detection works extremely well on the road. The unit spots threats from a long distance. It gives me plenty of time to adjust my speed safely. I also feel covered knowing the system scans both the front and the back of my car. The best part is the Apple CarPlay integration. I can see live alerts right on my car navigation screen. This keeps my eyes off the small device display and on the road ahead. The physical buttons on top of the unit are easy to reach and the digital screen clearly shows the specific radar band you are hitting.
I rated this four stars instead of five because the false alerts can be annoying at first. The detector picks up blind spot monitors from other cars pretty often right out of the box. You definitely need to spend some time adjusting the sensitivity settings.
Really dependent on your use case, but works well for long drives
After installing this device on my vehicle’s windshield and connecting it to my truck’s display using Android Auto, I was able to set it up in approximately 10 minutes using the adhesive mount and USB-C adapter. It successfully detects radar and laser signals from both front and rear locations. The display is bright enough so that I can read it in bright sunlight, and the app provides different sensitivity levels that I can enable depending on the road conditions I’m driving on.
One drawback of the device is that I continue to receive false alerts because of my vehicle’s blind spot monitoring system, even though the manufacturer has included circuitry to manage false alerts. I have had to reduce the sensitivity setting as a result.
The quality of detection depends heavily on the environment you’re driving in. On rural highway travel, it is able to detect radar and laser signals from considerable distances, providing enough reaction time to avoid potential traffic violations.
However, in urban and suburban travel areas that have ongoing shopping and residential traffic, false alerts occur frequently, resulting in a large volume of alerts being issued. While the shared alerts feature allows for data to be collected from a number of community users on major roads, it provides very limited value for users who are driving through town or on local roads.
While the product is adequate for its price point, the most direct indicator of whether it will produce any detection results in your area is whether PDs in your area use certain bands.
This new model from Cobra is an update of its 480i detector. It is difficult to ascertain precisely how it differs, though the description says it has up to a 15% improvement in range and provides 22% quieter ride than the previous generation. As of this writing Cobra doesn’t acknowledge the existence of this product on its website, much less provide any support or updates. Cobra says, however, that this unit has updateable firmware.
This unit, like its predecessor, lacks built-in GPS. For those who have and always carry a smartphone, and always have it turned on, and have an ample data plan, it can sync with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and also with a proprietary Drive Smarter app, and through them get community radar alerts.
I also own a much more expensive Uniden DFR9 detector, bought about 6 years ago. I found it difficult to set its many options in any way that wasn’t overly intrusive and annoying, while still being effective, so I mostly stopped using it.
This unit is probably simpler, and I hope will wind up being less annoying. It’s not the best available radar detector, nor even the best Cobra detector, but the sensitivity is probably adequate for a driver who is not an extreme speeder. It’s a question of how much one is willing to spend.
Only one mount is included, an adhesive type. I’m ok with that: every suction-type mount I’ve ever used has let the item fall from from the windshield every now and then, raising concerns about potential damage.
Cobra has never failed me; now I just upgraded
I’ve had an older model of the Cobra RAD line for several years. It’s one of the few products on Amazon that I can say with reverence, “It has saved me a lot of money!”
My old one has served me well for several years but it’s time to pass it down to the boyfriend. What I love about this one is it not only looks a lot sleeker but it has some added features that the old one didn’t have. But the first thing I have to tell you if you get this… The QR code is not updated. I had to call customer service who admitted they needed to fix their website but they gave me the information I needed to get it installed. The main part of that, which is not required but is helpful… Is downloading their app called DriveSmarter. That helps incorporate the data that the detector gets into your navigation mapping system and you can report various traffic elements like you can on Google maps directly from the radar detector itself. It also has an adhesive mount which I think is far more stable than the suction cup one that I had on the last one. It’s the little things…
This entire product line is so easy to use. It has minimal buttons, very simple controls and easy-to-understand alerts. Seriously, if you look at the pricing of some other brands, they can’t touch the accuracy of this, in my opinion, at three times the cost. It’s very easy to discern the alerts for building alarms, other vehicles sonar, and actual LE alerts. Don’t waste your money on something that will cost you $$$; look at this Cobra and I think you will be very, very happy that you did.