Izzo Swami 6000 vs Bushnell Phantom (2022): Comparing Affordable Handheld Golf GPS Devices

If you’re trying to improve your golf game, you don’t have to spend a pretty penny to do so. Handheld GPS devices such as the Izzo Swami 600 and the Bushnell Phantom are attractive options and they offer precise measurements, auto functions and more, allowing you to take your game to the next level. In this post, we’ll be comparing the two to find out which one offers better value for your money. To start things off, here’s a comparison chart of the two that highlights their similarities and differences.

Izzo Swami 6000 vs Bushnell Phantom Comparison Chart

Design

The Izzo Swami 6000 has a color screen, but the Bushnell Phantom is more compact.

Both of these handheld golf GPS devices are highly portable and easy to carry due to their compact size. The Izzo Swami 6000 is measured at 1 x 2 x 3.75 inches while the Bushnell Phantom measures 0.8 x 2.3 x 2.3 inches. They will both fit inside your pocket when you don’t need them, but the more compact Bushnell Phantom will take up less space.

At the back, the two devices come with strong magnets that allow you to mount them to any metal surface. You can mount them on your golf cart to see distance easily, without having to reach for them in your pocket. Additionally, they also come with clip holders if you want to attach them to your bag or belt.

The Izzo Swami 6000 and the Bushnell Phantom both sport a similarly sized 2-inch screen. The screen on the former is colored while the latter’s screen is not. That said, the numbers/data on both screens are big enough that they are easily viewable even under direct sunlight.

As for color options, the Izzo Swami 6000 comes in either blue or yellow, while there are four color options for the Bushnell Phantom—black, blue, green and blue/red. Both GPS devices are waterproof.

Features

The Izzo Swami 6000 and the Bushnell Phantom provide you with all the necessary features that you want in a golf GPS device.

Both the Izzo Swami 6000 and Bushnell Phantom come with auto-course recognition and pre-loaded courses. The Izzo Swami 6000 has 38,000 pre-loaded courses while the Bushnell Phantom has 36,000. An advantage of the Bushnell Phantom, though, is that it has Bluetooth connectivity, so it can receive wireless course updates. Also, it comes with a free smartphone app that gives you even more data that includes an overhead map view and more.

The two devices also come with features such as auto-hole advance, shot distance measurement, accurate distance to the front, back and center of green, as well as distance to hazards and doglegs. One feature that is exclusive to the Izzo Swami 6000 is its digital scorecard that allows you to store your scores for analyzing and reference.

Performance

The Izzo Swami 6000 has a longer battery life, but the buttons on the Bushnell Phantom are more tactile and responsive.

When it comes to distance accuracy, the two are pretty much on par with each other. They provide accurate distance to the back, front and center of the green, as well as when measuring shot distance. In this area, the two are excellent.

Although they have different screens, with the Izzo Swami 6000 having a colored one, they are still easy to read. Yes, the screen on the Izzo Swami 6000 is nicer to look at, but both are readable even under sunlight since they output big numbers.

As for their buttons, the Izzo Swami 6000 has buttons that don’t register all the time. Of course, this may vary from unit to unit, but that should be a consideration. Meanwhile, the buttons on the Bushnell Phantom are tactile and responsive.

Battery life for the Izzo Swami 6000 is advertised to last up to 16 hours, which is more than enough for a couple of rounds of golf. On the other hand, the Bushnell Phantom has a battery life of up to 10 hours per charge, which is decent, but not as good as the Izzo’s.

Verdict

As the cheaper unit, the Izzo Swami 6000 offers better value for money than the Bushnell Phantom.

If you are looking to get a simple handheld golf GPS device, we recommend the Izzo Swami 6000 over the Bushnell Phantom. The former is cheaper while still offering the same set of features as the latter. The Bushnell Phantom is still a good option if you prefer its more compact design. However, since it’s a discontinued unit, you should definitely consider getting the Bushnell Phantom 2 over it.

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