Leupold Gx-5i3 vs GX 4i3 vs GX 4i2 Review and Comparison

Leupold Gx-5i3 vs GX 4i3 vs GX 4i2 Review and Comparison

Leupold makes some of the most reliable, accurate and easy to use rangefinders on the market. But deciding between models can be tough – especially if you’re looking at the GX line. But today we are going to handle the hard work for you.

The GX-4i2 is essentially the base model. It isn’t as powerful as the other two, which we will get into later. The GX-4i3 is a step up with its True Golf Range slope calculation technology and the GX-5i3 is the most compact entry in the GX family.

At a glance, all 3 of these devices are very similar but after having used all 3, we noticed some subtle but important differences. If you are having a hard time deciding which one is the best buy, take a look at our review.

The Leupold GX-4i2

This handy little rangefinder was ready to go as soon as we popped in the CR-2 battery. There was a yellow faceplate that came with it and we weren’t sure what it was at first but it turns out that its needed when you want to use the club selector and slope calculation features.

With the faceplate attached, we found the slope compensation to be very accurate (tested against other proven rangefinders). It even accounts for barometric pressure! In the end, you get a really accurate “plays like” distance for drives and iron shots.

It also features a prism corrected pin locking feature that does a good job of filtering out background landscape and locking onto the flag. The 6x magnification lens and OLED display bring objects into clear focus for up to about 750 yards out. The pin locking features is also good for about 400 yards.

The Leupold 4i2 Pros And Cons

Pros:

• Affordable
• Comes with the yellow tournament faceplate
• Good battery life
• Easy to use
• Clear display
• Accounts for atmospheric interference

Cons:

• A bit large and cumbersome
• Takes a bit of time to lock onto the pin
• Some features don’t work without the faceplate
• A bit heavy

 

Get The Best Price And Fastest Delivery Here:

 

The Leupold GX-4i3

This model is very similar to the GX-4i2 but we found that the pin locking feature of the 4i3 was improved upon. It basically does the same job, but faster. It didn’t take much effort to set our sights on the flag about 300 yards out, and then have the device lock in its distance.

The GX-4i3 can bring objects into focus that are around 650 yards away. It too sports a 6x magnification lens that you can adjust and sharpen simply by turning – like you would a camera lens.

The 1-touch scan mode was helpful for sussing out hazards and dog legs but by far the most useful feature of the GX-4i3 was the fog mode. This thing gave accurate distances even when it was overcast and there was thick fog hanging in the air at our local course.

The Leupold GX 4i3 Pros And Cons

Pros:

• Fast pin locking
• Very clear OLED display
• Accurate to within a tenth of a yard
• Great to use in inclement weather
• Nice design
• Accurate for long distances

Cons:

• Side-mounted mode button
• Battery only lasted for 2 full rounds
• A bit heavy
• Warranty information is confusing

 

Get The Best Price And Fastest Delivery Here:

 

The Leupold GX-5i3

This is the grand-daddy of the GX family. It can spot objects up to 800 yards away and the pin locking is good for flags up to 450 yards away. When you manually enter repeatable distances for your 8, 6 and 4 irons, the Club Selector mode will help you choose which one to use given the shot distance.

But what struck us the most about the GX-5i3 was the size. This is the smallest entry into the GX line of rangefinders and even when the battery is in, it only weighs about 8 ounces.

This rangefinder was easy to use even with our shaky hands. You can turn the slope calculation off as well if you are competing in a tournament. It has a 6x magnification lens and all the display information comes through clearly in red text.

The Leupold GX 5i3 Pros And Cons

Pros:

• Very compact
• Very lightweight
• Great for seeing objects very far away
• Great stabilization
• Legal for tournament play
• Gives distances quickly

Cons:

• Doesn’t come with a strap or lanyard
• Can be inaccurate when there are a lot of objects in its field of view
• A little on the pricey side
• Hard to toggle between modes

Get The Best Price And Fastest Delivery Here:

 

Price Comparison

You can typically find both the GX-4i2 and the GX-4i3 for around the same price. Each one goes for around $430 to $480. But be ready to shell out about $50 more if you have your heart set on the GX-5i3. It generally retails for about $560.

 

Performance Comparison

The GX-5i3 had the best range at about 800 yards and 450 for flags. But we found that the 4i3 had the fastest pin locking feature. We played 3 full rounds with the GX-4i2 and we never had to change the battery which was nice.

We didn’t find the club selection feature to be very useful in the GX-4i3 and GX-5i3 models but there was one feature that all 3 models had that we didn’t particularly like. On all 3 models, the mode button is located on the side of the device which makes one-hand operation virtually impossible.

 

Which is the Better Buy?

In the end, you get what you pay for. While the GX-4i2 and GX-4i3 models were faster in some regards, and more affordable, the max distance of the GX-5i3 is what won us over. It has all the features of the lesser 2 rangefinders but it is more accurate at longer distances.

And at the end of the day, isn’t accuracy what it’s all about? We also liked the fact that it was so compact. It didn’t come with a lanyard which made it easy for some of us to lose track of, but it’s nice that you can easily throw it in your bag or keep it in your pocket.

It costs a little more but we think it’s worth the investment. So when the time comes for you to make a decision between these three, we recommend you go for the GX-5i3.

 

***WINNER***

The Leupold GX-5i3

Get The Best Price And Fastest Delivery Here: