Comparison

R8 Companion vs Smart Outlet Controller

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

R8 Companion

Enhance your radar detector experience with intelligent alerts, advanced muting, and location-based false silencing. This app optimizes your detector's performance and provides detailed real-time information for a safer drive.

Highlights
  • Location-based false silencing (SpotLocks)
  • Intelligent voice announcements
  • Customizable heads-up display (HUD)
  • Proximity meter for signal source
  • Advanced false muting for K & X bands
  • Remote detector settings adjustment
  • Customizable audio announcements
Read full description

Works with CarPlay! The R8(w) Companion™ app leverages 6+ years of historical data in its acclaimed 'Advanced False Assist' filtering engine, detector optimizations and shared features from the Radar Companion™ series of apps. (Available separately for owners of the V1, R4, R9, & DS1 radar detectors). The filtering engine is updated on a regular basis from accumulated real world usage data for better filtering against falses, and protection against real threats. R8 Companion™ is a feature rich app, designed to give you the most out of your R8, while enhancing your driving experience along the way. It is extremely easy to get up and running. Featuring intelligent alerts and advanced muting! R8 Companion™ is the COMPLETE solution to enjoying your R8. NOTE: R8 Companion™ requires a Uniden R8 or R8w radar detector with US Version 145 (R8) or 143 (R8w) firmware (OR EARLIER) to function correctly. R8 Companion will NOT function correctly without the appropriate firmware for each detector. Enhanced GPS location based 'false muting' via SpotLocks - All future updates to this app are free to purchasers of R8 Companion. R8 Companion's alerting and muting systems are fully optimized for the R8 platform. Intelligent voice announcements and on-screen visuals will always keep you informed and aware of the situation around you. R8 Companion full feature list: • SpotLocks - Location based false silencing has never been this good or easy. Turn on the intelligent location-based learning and let R8 Companion™ do the rest. Or you can manually 'lock' or 'unlock' locations with ease from the main alert screen. • SpotLocks works seamlessly with your R8’s built in 'auto mute memory' locations. If you create or delete a location from the app it will apply the changes to your R8 at the same time. • Option to play detector tones in app. • 'Proximity' meter - leverages the high resolution signal strength and direction information provided by the detector to show you a better representation of the signal's source. • 'K & X falses in area' meter shows you how many possible false alerts exist in the area you are travelling based on the accumulated SpotLock data™. • 'Custom Phrases' for a given threat's audio announcements. • High resolution meter for the priority alert (Not limited to the # of bars on the R8 display). • Customizable heads-up display (HUD). • HUD displays the priority alert's band, signal strength, frequency, & direction. • HUD of the secondary alerts' bands, signal strengths, frequencies, bogey counts & directions. • Mute rear K & X band signals independently. • Advanced BSM/CAS/Ka False Muting (Optimized for the R8 platform). • Ability to set the R8’s internal detector settings from within the app. No need for different apps to modify your detector settings. Do it all from the companion app. • 'Ghost' muting quiets false alerts when you are stuck traveling near a false emitting vehicle. • "Passive Mute™"- Quiets the R8 below user set speeds & during weak K & X signals. • Bogey count display showing total number of threats. • Vehicle speed (MPH or KMH) display. Speed is color coded for each alert type. • Mute status with the ability to manually mute/unmute alerts as you need. • Detailed & intelligent voice announcements of direction, band, frequency, strength, number of alerts, occurrences of mixed signals and more. • Automatic muting of Ka, K, and X bands ('Time before mute' set for each band). • 'Reduce Speed' notification for user set speed. • ‘Urgency Alerts™’ - Unmutes growing threats & announces these alerts via voice & notifications. • ‘Alert History’ - View your past alerts with detailed information about each encounter. • Compass heading. • Imperial/metric units. • Detailed trip summary at the end of your ride including duration, distance, alerts, muting stats, battery, and more. • iPhone & Apple Watch notifications of direction, band, & frequency. • Help system. Speed limit data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

About

Smart Outlet Controller

Features
Read full description

**** For Logmor Cellular (LTE) Controlled Smart Outlet ONLY **** Effortless Control with the Smart Outlet Controller. Take charge of your connected world with the Smart Outlet Controller, a companion app for the Logmor Cellular (LTE) Controlled Smart Outlet. This intuitive app puts the power of seamless control in your hands, wherever you are. Features include remote access to turn appliances on or off from anywhere at any time, real-time monitoring to track energy usage and device status with ease. Whether you're managing home appliances, optimizing energy usage, or overseeing remote operations, the Smart Outlet Controller ensures you're always in control. Download now to elevate convenience and reliability to the next level. NOTE: For use with the Logmor Cellular Controlled Smart Outlet ONLY!

Screenshots

R8 Companion4 screens
Smart Outlet Controller2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart Outlet Controller at none against R8 Companion's 4. Smart Outlet Controller also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99). R8 Companion's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and chart position (#25 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

R8 Companion costs $9.99 and Smart Outlet Controller $4.99 up front. R8 Companion sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Smart Outlet Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

R8 Companion ships an update every 2 weeks, Smart Outlet Controller monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
R8 Companion versus Smart Outlet Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterR8 CompanionSmart Outlet Controller
Price$9.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.8 (1.6K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.6K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#25 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAngela McarthurEdward Juden

Bugs and requests

R8 Companion

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Bluetooth disconnection on mute button press
  • Automatic speed limit setting changes

Requested features

6 requests
  • Option to control push notifications
  • Wireless/Bluetooth firmware updates for R8
  • CarPlay support
  • Background app functionality
  • Home screen widget
Show 1 more
  • Speed camera alerts

Smart Outlet Controller

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

R8 Companion

One-time4
  • Snacks - Contribution$1.99
  • Drinks - Contribution$3.99
  • Lunch - Contribution$6.99
Show 1 more
  • Super Fan - Contribution$9.99
None

Smart Outlet Controller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is R8 Companion free?
R8 Companion costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Smart Outlet Controller free?
Smart Outlet Controller costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do R8 Companion or Smart Outlet Controller have ads?
Neither R8 Companion nor Smart Outlet Controller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, R8 Companion or Smart Outlet Controller?
R8 Companion ships an update every 2 weeks, and Smart Outlet Controller monthly. Most recently, R8 Companion was updated on November 3, 2026 and Smart Outlet Controller on October 28, 2026.

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