Best Golf GPS Watches & Handheld Devices: Top 14 in 2023 Reviewed

Color Touchscreen Display

The 1.2-inch color touchscreen display is easy to read and very stylish. Scrolling through the many apps and widgets on the watch is simple and fun to use.

Another outstanding feature of the S42 is the backlight display. Even in the most blinding sun imaginable, you’ll still be able to see the numbers on the screen with color and clarity. 

Green View

One of the best features of the watch is Green View. As you get closer to the hole, the watch displays the actual shape of the green, allowing you to drag and drop a pin to provide accurate distances from your ball. 

If you like to play a strategic game, the Green View is a priceless feature for helping you hit the zones on the green for the best putting opportunities.

Along with the Green View, the watch also displays the front, center, and back distances of the green, providing plenty of data to help you choose the right club for your upcoming shot.

While the S42 might not reach the heights of its big brother, the S62, and its flashy features, the S42 remains the best overall option for amateurs looking to get into the golf GPS game at an affordable price.

Auto Course Recognition

Along with the lack of subscription fees, the ULT-G also instantly recognizes the course you are playing on with its internal golf GPS tracker. Once you step on the first tee and engage the display, the watch uploads the course information providing crisp, clear readings that offer wonderfully accurate data.

The watch also offers premium water-resistant performance, allowing you to get the yardages you need, even in light or heavy rain. Very reliable, this watch offers enough battery power to last for up to 2.5 rounds without the need for a recharge.

38,000 Preloaded Courses

Working with the auto-recognition feature, the watch comes preloaded with 38,000 courses. The TecTecTec course database is routinely updated with new courses and redesigns, giving you the latest layout data for accurate distance reading that help you choose the correct club every time.

With all of these features, the TecTecTec remains one of the best value purchases for golfers looking for a low-priced GPS device for the course. Great for beginning golfers and high handicappers, the ULT-G watch delivers exceptional accuracy along with a clean display that gives you the essential information you need to stick your next shot close to the cup.

Color Display

Easily the most eye-popping feature on the S62 is the 1.3-inch color touchscreen. Larger than previous Approach models, the new touchscreen allows you to focus on the distance and upcoming hole with startling accuracy.

Another cool benefit to the touchscreen is that Garmin has loaded their Connect IQ Store with custom watch faces, apps, and widgets to help you customize your S62 to best help your life.

Virtual Caddie

Garmin’s Virtual Caddie software comes with the Approach S62, offering golfers the ability to get assistance with every shot based upon their previous history. After five rounds with the S62, the Virtual Caddie will gain a dynamic understanding of how you play the game.

The software accumulates data from these previous rounds including your distance with each club, then takes that information and looks at the upcoming shot as it calculates wind, elevation, and hole location to provide you with the ideal club.

Featuring a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 20 hours, the Approach S62 delivers a first-rate luxury golfing experience that you carry on your wrist to your next tee time.

Bushnell Golf App

The Neo Ion 2 works in unison with the Bushnell Golf App (just like the Bushnell Wingman GPS Speaker). This application is an advanced app that gives you such amenities as a 3D flyover of holes as well as an overhead angle that provides yardage distances to all areas. 

The app also gives you wireless updates of new or updated pre-loaded courses and sends them to the watch via your Bluetooth connection.

Large Display

Once we were on the course, we were impressed with the Neo Ion 2’s bright and very accurate readout featuring large numbers and easy to cycle through information. Not only is your shot distance just a click away, but you also get precise yardage to the front, center, and back of the green, along with the distance to any upcoming hazards for a complete view of the hole in front of you.

When using the app, you should have a full view of what lies ahead on the hole and what club you’ll need to use to get there.

Advanced Display

A golfer might look at the X40’s display and immediately think that it is too small. But they’d be missing how the company has maximized the space on the screen to provide a tremendous amount of information. 

Golfers have instant access to yardages from anywhere on the hole as well as a look at the shape of the green.

A Touchscreen that Pairs with Smartphone

The display also pairs with your smartphone to provide email, text messages, and other critical alerts so you’ll never miss a chance to respond. 

The X40’s screen utilizes a touchscreen so you can get information faster so you’ll never hold up your playing group as you look over your next shot.

Preloaded Courses

The X40 comes with thousands of pre loaded courses, and through the Garmin Connect system, the golf GPS watch will continue to get lifetime updates for free. 

Each course you play will give you the opportunity to see yardages from a variety of tee locations as well as a glimpse into the shape and break on the green.

Full Color Display

A clear, crisp 2.3-inch color touchscreen display rests at the heart of this device. Allowing you to see the entire upcoming hole, the screen quickly responds to your commands to help you see the green, get yardage, and become aware of any upcoming hazards that you need to avoid.

The small display makes the device easy to store in your pocket while playing. Its lightweight frame won’t disturb you and a variety of mounting options makes sure you won’t lose it while you are on the course. 

Preloaded with 40,000 Courses

Garmin’s expansive course database finds its way to the Approach S30 with over 41,000 preloaded courses already on the device when you first open the box. With new courses being updated daily, you’ll never miss a major update to any course you play, wherever in the world you may be at the time.

Green View

When it comes time to finish out the hole, the G30’s Green View will help you find your way to the cup. This detailed feature allows golfers to place the pin in the correct position for accurate fairway readings and shorter shots.

This small, comfortable handheld GPS device relies on its touchscreen display to quickly get you the data you need to help you decide your strategy for the next shot.

Great for taking along on your golf trips, the Approach S30 delivers outstanding results and works with your smartphone to make sure you never miss an important call, text, or email on the links.

38,000 Preloaded Courses

The technology incorporated in the Phantom 2 is entertaining and helpful for your game. The device comes preloaded with over 38,000 courses, and when paired with the Bushnell Golf App, you can quickly track your round and find the distances for every shot you’ll face on the links.

The Phantom 2 also comes with auto course recognition that immediately finds your course and assists with auto hole advance so you are always on the right hole.

A shot distance calculator is also installed to provide accurate readings for your drives and entry shots into the green.

Advanced Data Readings

The Phantom 2 can also provide up to six yardage readings for hazards and layup zones on the hole. These quick distances help you craft your strategy for the upcoming shot.

The same holds true for the green as the device also features greenview with movable pin placement. If you are wanting to land the ball in certain locations on the green, the pin can provide accurate distances to help you choose the right club.

With over 18 hours of battery life, the Phantom 2 will last several rounds before you need to recharge, making it a great GPS device for golfers that are on a budget and need to maximize value with their equipment.

Easy-To-Use Interface

The Voice 2 is remarkably easy to set up and use. The Golf Buddy devices provide automatic course and hole recognition once you choose a male or female voice to guide your round. 

We recommend that you show up early to allow the device to load the course you are playing, but overall, the Voice 2 is painless and straightforward to operate.

Multiple Yardage Readouts

Not only will you get the distance of each shot after it happens, but the Voice 2 will get you ready for your upcoming shot with accurate yardage to various areas of the green. 

You shouldn’t have a problem picking the right club when you see how precise the yardage is using the Voice 2.

Dynamic Green View Technology

Once you are close to the green, the Voice 2 is going to give you a complete look at the shape and slope of the surface. You’ll be able to see where you need to play your shot for the easiest birdie putt. 

Beginning golfers who use the Voice 2 commonly see their average improve dramatically in the following rounds after using this golf GPS device.

Detailed Green View

One of the best features of the G80 is the precision yardage to the green through the manual pin placement. All you need to do on the course is spot the location of the pin and adjust the screen to match. After you finish placing the pin, the G80 will automatically recalculate the yardage and give you a new reading.

Although yardage to the pin is important, the Garmin G80 also provides the measurement to the front, center, and back of the green. This feature is handy when trying to avoid a green ridge that might cause a tough putt.

Accurate Yardage to Green and Hazards 

One of the most essential features of any golf GPS is the accuracy of the measurement it gives to the golfer. The last thing a golfer wants is a poor reading that costs them a precious shot by hitting too far or too short.

The G80 not only provides outstanding accuracy on shots to the green but also performs well when judging the distance to hazards. If you are worried your drive might reach the bunker, then you give the G80 a look right before the shot for very precise yardage to help you avoid trouble. The same goes for water as the Approach G80 GPS from Garmin helps you steer clear of losing a golf ball by giving you an accurate reading.

Advanced Readouts of Greens and Fairway

The 6000 does a terrific job of providing the distance to the front, back, and center of the green. It also gives the golfer a precise location of upcoming hazards and doglegs to help the user avoid trouble.

The advanced color display is clear for easy reading and detailed enough to get a sense of where the trouble lies on each hole.

New Course-Specific Technology

Although the Swami doesn’t have the app integration that we love with our golf GPS devices, the 6000 does have a very simple to use interface that provides on the spot shot distance, distance to the pin, and allows you to keep score for your last ten rounds upon your device for later analysis.

Simple Audio Golf GPS Device

One of the largest charms of the Voice 2 is how small yet smart it is for the beginning golfer. The automatic hole recognition makes it a simple device to learn and use. 

For older golfers who have trouble seeing smaller letters and numbers, the Voice 2’s audio feature will come in very handy during your round.

Water Resistant

One of the highlights of the Voice 2 durability is the fact that it is water-resistant. If you are a young player participating in tournaments, the Voice 2 is ideal because it can withstand wet weather during a round.

Precise Yardage Readouts

The Voice 2 also provides multiple yardages on each hole so you can avoid water hazards, bunkers, and flying the green with your second shot. 

We found that the large yardage numbers contrasted well within the display. Also after each drive, you’ll be able to see your shot distance for immediate feedback during the round.

Sunlight-readable High-Definition Display

What stands out the most with the S12 is its simplicity. This watch offers a clean appearance via its sunlight-readable high-resolution display. Once you hit the course, the S12’s preloaded courses search through their massive collection to preload the layout you are about to face based on your location. Once the course loads on the watch, you’ll be greeted by a welcoming message that lets you know the GPS device is ready to roll.

As you play your round, the S12 tracks your location, giving you accurate yardage readings to upcoming hazards and doglegs, helping you pick the right club. Once you stand over your entry shot into the green, the watch shows the distance to the front, center, and back of the green. 

Stylish Look with Sophistication

If you want more data, the S12 pairs with Garmin’s Approach CT10 clips that go into the end of your clubs. The sensor clips help detect swing speed, club speed, and a host of other important facts.

When evaluating the design, the S12 offers an athletic, rounded look that won’t stand out as a GPS device. Garmin has put some thought into how to make this watch look stylish while functioning in the way that golfers need. With the S12, they’ve been successful at accomplishing the intended look for golfers who like to match clothing and accessories.

Large Color Touchscreen

One of the highlights of the S40 is the sizable color touchscreen display. Even if the sun looms large over your head, the display offers clean readability. Yardages are also large and distinct, making sure you won’t be squinting at the screen.

Once you get in range of the green, the screen will show you the entire shape of the putting surface so you can get a sense of where you need to hit your shot. Great for golfers that like to play courses for the first time, the S40 is like having a seasoned caddie on your wrist, helping you navigate the unfamiliar layout.

AutoShot Game Tracking

Another fun feature on the S40 is the AutoShot game tracking software. Collecting the distance of drives and entry shots, the watch also provides an easy scorecard app that helps you track all of your strokes as you walk off the green.

When you pair Garmin’s CT10 sensors to your clubs, the S40 becomes superpowered with the ability to collect data such as swing speed, ball speed, launch angle, and many more important stats that can help you improve.

With a host of fun, engaging features, the S40 remains one of Garmin’s most sophisticated and enjoyable GPS devices.

Accurate Yardage Readings

If you are a stickler for accurate yardage when it comes to GPS devices, the Approach S10 should satisfy those demands. On the course, the S10 provides yardages to the front, center, and back of the green, along with hazards and doglegs.

Also once you complete a hole, the watch automatically transitions to the next hole, helping you prepare your strategy as you walk to the next tee box.

Integration with Garmin Golf App

Once you complete your round, you can upload your scorecard to Garmin Express to help keep track of every round you play and your progress. Along with the Garmin Golf smartphone app, you can enjoy a full suite of Garmin software that helps pinpoint where you need to improve your golf game.

Another fun perk of buying a Garmin device like the S10 is that the watch comes with free lifetime updates. So if a new course pops up near you, the database will be updated and you’ll have that layout on your watch for the first time you play.

Finally, when looking at the watch’s design, we admit that it does not pop like the S40, for example, but if you are looking for a lower cost GPS device that still holds several bells and whistles, the S10 remains one of the best budget options on the market.