In the UK, it’s perfectly legal to use a speed camera detector, although it’s a subject that often comes up for debate in Parliament. Nevertheless, while detectors – units that alert the driver to speed traps – can be used, radar jammers are strictly forbidden. Drivers using a jammer could be charged with perverting the course of justice, a crime that can carry a custodial sentence and/or a large fine. Can I use a speed camera detector abroad? The noise quality was of great importance here too. Too loud and it’ll get annoying and you’d be put off and hate it. The alarm was loud enough to raise attention over music (if not blaring), but subtle and short enough to nudge you without disrupting your driving. We wouldn’t be surprised if this hasn’t gone through some rigorous user testing to get to this stage. If you have the resources to buy a brand new car, you can be sure it will be equipped with the latest infotainment features such as voice command, gesture control, etc. And your brand new car will also have built-in Sat Nav that will notify you of the correct speeding zones and even speed camera detection. However, an OEM speed camera detector is most often an optional extra reserved for top-spec models. Usually at an exorbitant extra cost of course. Suffice to say, if you want built-in speed camera detection in your brand new car, it will always be an eye-watering expensive optional extra. Why pay all that extra money when you can buy speed camera detection technology for the fraction of the price and is also technically superior? And what if you are one of the many people who do not have the available means to buy a new car yet desire to beat those speed camera blues, thus negating the accumulation of fines and penalty points? Like our previous Saphe One+ review, the Saphe Drive Mini adds a screen to help keep you safe while on the road.

If you spot a speed camera, press the blue button on the right, with a camera icon. Simply, this warns others behind you that they should probably slow down. Since driving with the Saphe One+, I’ve felt more aware of my speed and that my licence is safer due to the fixed camera alerts. For the price, I think they’re well worth the money as most speed camera detectors have an ongoing cost associated with them. It is a neat little unit that springs to life when the associated Bluetooth phone with companion app is in proximity. This means just by carrying my phone it will alert as a dedicated unit, vs using Waze I have to ensure the audio is set up correctly for the alerts and have my phone on display.

You can also use the Saphe Link to show you your progress, like Google Maps, or show upcoming warnings. Which I don’t really get, as if you buy the Saphe One+, you’ll be alerted, so why do you also need to see the cameras on your phone? If Saphe could display Waze alerts. Obviously a few commercial and technical options to make happen.

Key specs – Size: 60 x 36 x 15mm; Cameras detected: Fixed and mobile, traffic light, average speed; Updates: OTA; Power source: Rechargeable battery; Accessories supplied: Adhesive pads, mounts You are allowed to use a radar detector under UK law. There were mutterings from the government that they could be banned, but no legislation has been presented so far. A red one, and a blue one. This is how you report incidents, which automatically warns others using the Saphe app – and its mapping system – of where troubles are located. As you drive along, you can press gently on either one of these two buttons. That particular event will then be noted down onto the map in the Saphe app… Mobile speed cameras will often use the same locations, week after week, as they are deemed safe and meet strict criteria for operating.

Where can I get one?

Well, the unit itself is just the physical hardware; think of it as a Bluetooth alarm and button. So the heavy lifting is being done by the Saphe Link app on your phone. I wouldn’t expect my phone to lose such a large amount of battery when sitting relatively idle if it wasn’t using Saphe Link. However, it’s by no means a deal-breaker; just be aware if you have a long drive, then expect to heavily use your phone for the rest of the day. You can use the Saphe Link app to give you either on-screen alerts to upcoming cameras or show you a map of your location as you drive. I’ve never used either, as the whole point in the Drive Mini is to do without needing to use your phone – well, for me it is anyway. The likelihood is that you’ll be using your phone for Google Maps or music or simply using your cars in-built sat-nav, so your phone will just be sitting idle. So while it’s a minor omission at this stage, I feel the mobile camera alerts will get better if the Saphe devices become popular in the UK.

As I mentioned earlier, I have noticed battery usage increase while using the Saphe devices; on my most recent two-hour drive around the edges of London to Sussex, the Saphe Link app used roughly an extra 20% battery, I left home with 100% and got to my destination with around 70%. I have asked Saphe about this data limitation via their support and they answered in about 36 hours. They replied; The Snooper looks like a traditional portable satnav device, and clearly displays your current speed alongside the actual speed limit on its clear, 5in touchscreen; here the emphasis is clearly on prevention. The Saphe Drive Mini does the same thing as the Saphe One+ but adds a small portrait colour LCD screen between the two reporting buttons.The best radar detectors will also detect lasers (but will not jam them). Aside from that, look at the general quality of the product; suspiciously cheap examples will not be as good as reputable ones. Apparently the battery will last around two years, and with the CR2450 being cheap enough to replace, you should have the One+ for several years. On here, it can show you alerts for speed cameras (fixed and mobile), traffic, and possible incidents ahead like accidents. The addition of a screen means it can also show the speed limit for the upcoming camera; this can be handy if you haven’t been paying attention to the speed limits—Tut tut. Therefore, limit the use of your phone and handling of equipment. Look up, be aware of the traffic around you and keep an eye on your speed. We're pleased to hear that the battery exceeded your expectations. We're continually working on improvements to ensure the best possible user experience.

Be mindful that some portable satnav devices have speed camera detection functions that should be disabled before use in countries that prohibit their use. What types of cameras do they detect? As smartphones become more sophisticated, the apps to help you avoid speed traps get better too. This means that separate devices become less necessary, but might be preferred by some drivers. An informed driver is a safe driver. There are lots of ways that you can help to keep yourself informed and safe out on the roads (and keep others safe too). The compact unit takes a feed directly from Highways England to deliver real-time speed limit information across the nation’s smart motorway network – an exceptionally useful feature for the long-distance driver. No less appealing is its ability to calculate your average speed between two average speed cameras, so you can slow down if you’ve inadvertently crept up over the limit. The 2.4in screen is clear and crisp, and it’s possible to tailor the alerts to what’s most important to you, while the mount offers an excellent level of adjustability to ensure the screen is always in view. Unlike the Saphe One+, you’ll need to recharge the Drive Mini, and there’s a small micro USB connector on the underside to do so. No idea on battery life, but after a week of driving, it had used a bar, so potentially you’ll need to charge it once a month, maybe?

How does the Saphe One+ work?

Key specs – Size: N/A; Cameras detected: Fixed and mobile, traffic light, average speed; Updates: Real time; Power source: N/A; Accessories supplied: N/A Our range of speed camera detectors are tested to perform, and all come with our Halfords seal of approval. They’re suitable for cars, vans, LGVs and HGVs and are simple and easy to fit at home. While all of our speed camera detectors can be used in the UK, you should use caution when driving abroad as they may be illegal. To find the best solutions on the market, we tested four dedicated speed camera detectors and four smartphone apps that claim to do the same job. How we tested them Alerts are actually delivered via your mobile smartphone, which uses its GPS to detect your location and speed while the Saphe One+ effectively acts as a Bluetooth speaker with added flashing lights for the app. This makes for very simple operation, and many drivers appreciate not having any additional touch screens to distract them from the road. The basic role of a speed camera detector is to alert you to the presence of upcoming speed cameras so that you can manage your speed effectively (and avoid getting fined). But they also come with a range of other clever features.