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?

That is where the Road Angel and Saphe’s live-updating databases establish their value (a value which Road Angel are not shy about charging for). The Alpha X allows users to update their database by connecting to a Windows computer via USB lead, but that’s not a tempting option for Apple devotees. Here the GTX80’s addition of Bluetooth, from which iPhone users can make free database updates whenever they choose, makes a convincing case for this option over its competitors. As you drive along, you can report incidents so that other drivers could see them. But instead of having to tap clumsily at your phone, Saphe makes this process a whole lot easier. This, I think, is where its USP can be found compared to mapping software or your satnav screen. On the Saphe Drive Mini, you ought to see two buttons flanking its small, yet crisp, display. You can spot the outlines. Like our previous Saphe One+ review, the Saphe Drive Mini adds a screen to help keep you safe while on the road. 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. On the surface, it looks adorable, no? Physically, its appearance doesn’t aim to shout, and it’s mostly a simple machine inside. But buried deep in its software, this unassumingly cute device is the sort of live-saver that could get you out of some serious trouble. Their so-called “traffic alarm” has already helped hundreds of thousands of people so far. It could help you out, too. Seamless Synching And NotificationsIt can’t be helped as your phone is the one doing the monitoring of your location and sending the alerts through to the Saphe One+. At the other end of the scale is the Road Angel Pure One. This neat bit of road safety tech includes too many features to list (many available via subscription), but some of our favourites are the bright LCD display, live speed camera information, traffic and roadwork alerts, modem, over-the-air updates, a smart motorways feed and access to a road speed library. That person is you, yes you, the one who is reading this. There is hope for you, new car owner, and you the many who make up the used car market where the technology transfer has yet to make an impact, if at all. You the many, used car owners, can now beat the hidden profit generators, otherwise known as speed cameras, by outwitting them with a relatively affordable technically advanced speed camera detector. What it can't do well at all however, as least in the UK, is mobile speed traps. It relies on other users pressing a button to record the location of a speed trap in much the same way that Waze relies on other Waze users to report them. The difference is that Waze has absolutely loads of users and Saphe seemingly has very few. So in reality Waze almost always knows about a mobile speed trap and Saphe almost never does. If only Saphe could tap in to Waze's data.

Key specs – Size: ‎75 x 40 x 60mm; Cameras detected: Fixed and mobile, traffic light, variable and average speed; Updates: OTA; Power source: Rechargeable battery; Accessories supplied: Mains plug, USB adapter, USB cable, dash mount The Saphe brand of speed camera detectors are particularly compact and unobtrusive, which means you can easily position them in a convenient place. The Saphe Drive Mini Speed Camera Detector is palm-sized and provides a safe and reliable way to get real-time information on road accidents, speed cameras and obstacles that could obstruct your journey.

How does the Saphe Drive Mini work?

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. 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. Well, Saphe’s Drive Mini doesn’t work without one key aspect – you. That’s not to mention its rapidly growing community with more than 11,000,000 users. 700,000 of whom have Saphe Drive Minis, just like you. It’s from all of these people – including yourself – is how the Drive Mini’s databank is filled to the brim with where certain accidents, speed cameras, or troubles lie. It works sort of like Waze. A low battery usage means no trailing wire just an infrequent charge, and that also helps it be ultra-portable for use across multiple vehicles.

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. To help, we’ve broken down our review to some key areas that we feel would be important to drivers. I never used the Saphe Link app to give me on-screen phone alerts, so I can’t vouch for how well it works. The reason I proceeded, in the Q&A another UK user claims Saphe uses Waze data, and they verified by reporting a ghost speed camera on Waze, and then passing the location a few minutes later and alerted on the Saphe. I tried the same, and I am sad to report that doesn't happen.

Special offers and product promotions

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 I have since switched to using CamSam PLUS (an Android app), which works flawlessly and costs very little. In fact I think Saphe bought their UK speed camera database from CamSam so you get the exact same speed cameras! Interestingly I still get warned about the same camera on the parallel road, but CamSam handles it correctly and doesn't crash. I'm finding CamSam (on the phone screen) plus Waze (on the car screen via Android Auto) to be a good combination. They don't conflict with each other and I get warned about all fixed cameras (through CamSam and optionally Waze) and mobile cameras (through Waze). The reason for not using Waze alone is that it only warns about cameras if you're actively speeding, so it's theoretically possible to accidentally speed up and go through one without having been warned. 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%.