At times many of us have a heavy foot when we drive. This
can translate into expensive speeding tickets. This is where radar detectors
can help. Just hearing that beep from your radar detector can be a simple
reminder to watch your speed. One of the
best-known manufacturers for radar detectors is Cobra. Up for review is their brand-new
model RAD 390. MSRP is a fair $119.95.
Features and specs:
Product Specs
Unit Dimensions: 4.25” L x 2.75” W x 1.25” H
(107.95mm x 69.85mm x 31.75mm)
Unit Weight (lbs.): 4.8 oz. (136.1 g.)
Individual Box Weight: 12.8 oz. (362.9 g.)
Power:
USB-C power input draws 500ma max. RAD 390 is compatible
with all standard passenger vehicles and installs easily via your vehicle’s 12V
power outlet or USB Type C connection.
The Cobra RAD 390 came in a nice-looking color printed box,
with photos and specs printed on the box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected
product held in place by custom cardboard. Materials used in the construction
was mostly plastic. Quality of materials used, we well as fit and finish, was
very good. Also included was the power cord, windshield mount, cigarette
lighter adapter, USB-C power cable, and QR for manual.
I really like the design of the Cobra RAD 390. It’s more
towards the lower end of the product line, but it still has some great
features. There’s a Next-Gen IVT Filter for fewer false alerts. The USB-C
connection works for both power and data, and is firmware update capable. It
even has Extreme Mode for faster response times with higher sensitivity.
The layout of the Cobra RAD 390 also makes it very simple to
use. The 7 segment LED display makes it easy to see the status and what’s
happening. Buttons for dimmer, sensitivity, and mute are easy to reach on the
top. The volume slide is on the left side, which makes it easy to increase or
decrease the volume. It’s also numbered 1–10, so you can also see how high the
volume is set.
I also really like the new mounting system. In the past, a
large suction cup was used to keep the radar detector attached to the glass
windshield. But over time, suction can be lost. The suction cup can get dirty,
so the suction strength is reduced. But now, they are using an adhesive mount.
This seems to be a nice longer-term solution.
All-in-all, Cobra seems to have done things right with the
Cobra RAD 390. It sits at a very economical price point; however, it still
manages to get some nicer features. The Extreme Mode gets the most performance
it can muster. Being firmware update capability also helps to increase its
lifecycle. Cobra seems to provide a lot of bang for the buck. Now let’s see how
it performs.
Installation proved to be very simple with the adhesive
mount. Using USB-C for both power and
ground was also convenient. Being a
newer vehicle, my 2023 Chevy Bolt had a front USB-C port, but I also liked the
included 12-volt adapter, just in case you have an older vehicle with a
cigarette lighter. With it installed, it was time to do some driving, and I did
quite a bit over a few weeks. All was
quiet for over a week until I came across an officer who had pulled someone
over. It went off with strong signals. That was when I realized it had been quiet,
and did great without any false alarms.
After that was when I came across a couple highway patrols who had
people pulled over, and it was going off just before they were in my
sight. Yep, that’s what it’s designed to
do!
The Cobra RAD 390 proved to be a great performer. The
buttons are well laid of for ease of use. The display is easy to read. It’s
well made to provide years of use. It also ended up performing better than
expected. It’s not very flashy in its design, build quality, or looks, the way
their top-of-the-line models tend to be more of. But it does what it is supposed to do, and
did it well. Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the Cobra
RAD 390 has earned our Highly Recommended Award. For more info and complete
specs, check out their website at www.cobra.com.
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