Expert Rating

94

The Escort Passport 9500ix is a great little unit for those who want to break into the world of radar detectors, don’t want to start cheap, but don’t want to go for the most expensive model either. The thoroughness of the user manual is refreshing in this regard. It’s always nice to see a company really wanting people to understand their product. Check out our best radar detector list for more great stuff! Don’t miss out on the latest car accessories, welcome to learn more.

Why We Like It – Escort Passport 9500ix

The Escort Passport 9500ix is a fantastic little device that offers all the features you would expect not just from Escort, but from any and all Radar Detectors. Couple that with it’s affordable price of $258, and you’ve got a radar detector that can go the distance without breaking the bank.

Pros
  • A Detected radar signal goes directly to the Cloud for real-time alerts
  • Access to the Defender Database
  • Compatible with the Escort Live App
Cons
  • Lasers are rarely used in today’s society so there will be a lot of false alerts concerning them
  • Not totally expensive, but not the cheapest either

Performance

The Escort Passport 9500ix is the first radar detector/laser detector to connect to your PC or Mac via USB for updating firmware and subscribing to the Defender Database. It also features Traffic Sensor Recognition (TSR) technology to eliminate false alarms. Anyone who’s driven with radar detectors before knows how annoying false alerts can be. Laser detection is a nice feature to have, but lasers are rarely used in today’s society and most of the alarms will be false. But if you do hear it, slow down immediately because there is probably a speed trap or speed camera somewhere very close. Consider the Escort iX Long Range if you want something a little easier to understand and less high-tech.

Design

The Passport 9500ix radar detection system comes with a cool SmartCord that has a blinking red light when a threat is detected. This allows you to run the 9500ix radar laser detector in dark mode for extra discreteness. It also has a mute button for those longer encounters. The unit also allows you to silence certain radar bands from its menu options. This is great if you know your area doesn’t use a specific radar frequency. Check out the Uniden R3DSP if you would like most of the design features offered by the Escort 9500ix with included extra-long range.

Related: If you’re looking for something smaller and more discreet, we recommend the Escort Max360 radar detector.

Value

The Escort 9500ix is compatible with Escort Live and thus can provide real-time updates on speed cameras, red light cameras, and police radar signals all in real time. It also has GPS technology which is a nice, added bonus. Escort has a customer service toll-free number for any problems and a live-chat if you prefer to use your phone or a computer. The 9500iX comes with a thorough user’s manual, a quick-reference card, a windshield mount, four suction cups, and a coiled SmartCord. If you want to go for the best of the best right away, consider the Escort Max360.

Escort Passport 9500ix Wrap Up

You get most of the high-tech bells and whistles with the Escort 9500ix at a slightly, though not entirely cheaper, price when compared to Escort’s other products. If you have some extra money to throw around and want something that will give you a good test drive, the Escort 9500ix is a great decision.

Michael Iaboni Avatar