50 Words or Less
The Leupold GX-5i3 rangefinder is the most advanced rangefinder on the market. Unbelievably fast, great display. TGR is amazing.
Introduction
In every industry, leading companies create flagship products. Think of a car like the Mercedes S Class. These aren’t products that everyone is meant to own; they’re demonstrations of the company’s prowess at pushing the envelope of performance. Leupold’s new GX-5i3 rangefinder is that kind of product. While many companies push out budget lasers, Leupold is choosing to show how much technology it can pack into a few ounces.
Setup & Ease of Use
Just like any other modern rangefinder, the GX-5i3 is simple to use. Push the button to turn it on, aim it, push the button again, and the distance pops up.
Unlocking the full potential of the GX-5i3 takes a little more work, though not nearly as much as you might think. Hold down the Mode button for a second and you enter the menus. With the two button interface, you can quickly and easily toggle Slope and TGR on and off or enter in temperature and altitude. Even for a first-timer, setting up TGR shouldn’t take more than two minutes.
Accuracy & Performance
One thing that I can’t overemphasize is how fast the GX-5i3 is. After using the GX-5i3 for a little while, using my older laser felt like waiting for a caddie to pace off the yardage.
In its basic operation, yardages are displayed simply and accurately to the tenth of a yard. You can also level up and turn on slope to let the GX-5i3 calculate how much the grade adds or subtracts from the shot. TGR is where Leupold pulls out all the stops factoring in slope, temperature, and altitude and recommending a club based on your distances.
Finally, one of the aspects of a rangefinders that’s often overlooked is the way the data is displayed. Especially in lasers that display more than one number, the way those numbers are displayed can seriously impact its usability. The Leupold GX-5i3 does a great job by putting the key data – the yardage – in the center of the display. It’s also worth mentioning that the GX-5i3 has Leupold’s red display which is extremely easy to read, particularly in darker conditions.
Value
The Leupold GX-5i3 can be purchased for around $550 (support PluggedInGolf, buy it HERE). If it’s not the most expensive rangefinder, it’s very close. This is obviously not a laser that you’re buying to save a few bucks, it’s the one you buy because you want every feature under the sun. If that’s what you want, this is money well spent.
Conclusion
If you want to buy the most advanced laser rangefinder in golf, the Leupold GX-5i3 is it. TGR is amazing, the yardages are spot-on, and the display is perfectly laid out. The GX-5i3 does everything you can ask a rangefinder to do, and it does it well.
Buy the Leupold GX-5i3 HERE
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0032
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0035
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0038
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0040
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0044
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0046
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0048
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0050
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder_0052
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
- Titleist U505 Utility Iron Review - December 6, 2023
- Podcast Episode 205 – Learning Golf from Chess - December 6, 2023
- Rapsodo MLM2PRO Launch Monitor Review - December 4, 2023
I have the 3ix2 and I have to agree with the red display being great. No issues when it is bright out, but its real advantage is when playing at dawn or dusk, when most of my golf is played. Can really see the display very well, while other rangefinders you cannot.
Advancement in technology? Try Nikon 80 VR rangefinders with vibration reduction. This one, along with Bushnell’s new model is just last years model re-packaged so you don’t have to exchange the faceplate to obtain slope mode.
I reviewed that Nikon. It’s fine, but repackaged or not, the Leupold is still a better rangefinder that works better and is easier to use.