Radar detector manufacturers are constantly playing a game of catch-up with new technologies designed to nab the lead-footed, some of the critical factors when buying a Radar Detector are :
False Alarms : The case when too many false alarms occur. If your Radar Detector constantly falses than you'll start to ignore it eventually - and then in a case of a real radar trap it will be too late.
x/k Radar Sensitivity : These frequencies have been used already in the 60 and 70, therefore the radar detectors manufacturers already know how to detect them from miles.
KA Radar Sensitivity : More expensive components are required for this type of frequency, most manufacturers prefer not to include this feature to save money on the development of the device.
Gatso Sensitivity: usually used in Speed Cameras, this the most widely used worldwide frequency - only very good K-Band sensitivity will help you here...
"Pop" Radar Technology : A relatively new instant-on technology that may make a whole generation of radar detectors obsolete. These radar guns operate at low frequency until they are switched on to determine a driver's speed with lightning-fast accuracy. This leaves a radar detector little opportunity to scan and detect the radar signal.
Pop radar may sound ominous, but a new crop of radar detectors offer Pop radar detection. Sometimes Pop detection is not enabled by default in the radar detector, however; users must turn it on in the settings menu.
Manufacturers probably chose to disable Pop detection by default because its increased sensitivity also increases false alerts. However, first-time radar detector users might be in for a surprise if they neglect to turn it on. Choose from a selection that includes cordless radar detector or laser jammer from Bel, Cobra, Escort, Rocky Mountain, and Phantom. Usually online merchants have great customer service policies as well as great deals on radar detectors.
Tim Robinson is the author of various Radar Detector Articles, his Radar Detector website : http://www.radar-detector-tips.com offers unique, no BS information, for free.