Bushnell iON Elite GPS Golf Watch

The iON Elite is a 38 gram Bushnell golf watch that puts slope-compensated distances and a color touchscreen on your wrist for $219.99.

Why it made the list

Slope on a watch is rare at this price. Bushnell built its patented slope-compensated distances into the iON Elite, so the number you see accounts for uphill and downhill shots. That is a big help on hilly courses.

It also covers the basics well. More than 38,000 courses come preloaded, with large front, center and back numbers. The watch finds the nearest course when you start a round and moves to the next hole on its own, and there is no subscription for any of it.

What it does well

• Patented slope-compensated distances that you can switch off for tournaments
• HoleView with Shot Planning for distances to any point on the hole
• GreenView with a moveable pin, so you can set today’s flag position
• A light 38 gram case with an IP67 rating

The front and back numbers follow your line of play, so they change with your angle to the green. That gives a more useful read on a long, angled green than fixed front and back points.

Who it’s for

The iON Elite is for golfers who play courses with real elevation changes and want slope without carrying a laser. It also suits anyone who wants a watch that only does golf, with no app fees and a simple setup out of the box.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want a full smartwatch. It does not have the sleep, workout and heart rate tracking of a Garmin. Golfers who play mostly flat courses will get less from the slope feature, and a simpler watch costs less.

Key specs, explained

The watch measures 46 mm wide, 53 mm tall and 15 mm thick, and it weighs 38 grams. The round color touchscreen is 1.28 inches across. IP67 means it is dustproof and can handle rain and short dips in water. Bushnell’s spec table rates the battery at 12+ hours, and the product page says that covers 2+ rounds on a charge.

The band is 22 mm wide and 211 mm long in total. The watch charges through a magnetic 4-pin USB cable, which comes in the box with a quick start guide. Bluetooth links it to the Bushnell Golf app for free course and software updates, and your scores and stats sync to the app after each round.

How it compares

The Shot Scope G6 GPS Golf Watch costs $149.99 and also has hole maps with no subscription, but it has no slope and uses buttons instead of a touchscreen. The Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Smartwatch costs $299.99 and has an AMOLED screen, but its PlaysLike elevation distances need a Garmin Golf membership. Choose the iON Elite if slope is the feature you want most.

Good to know

Slope-adjusted numbers are not allowed in most competitions unless the committee permits them. Bushnell says you can turn slope off, which makes the iON Elite ready for tournament play. It comes in black or white, and Bushnell covers it with a one-year limited warranty. Other features include auto course recognition, auto hole advance, a shot distance calculator and scorekeeping with statistics.

Questions about the Bushnell iON Elite

Does the Bushnell iON Elite need a subscription?

No, the iON Elite does not need any subscription. Slope, hole maps and course updates are all included.

Is the Bushnell iON Elite legal for tournaments?

Yes, once you turn slope off. With slope switched off it shows standard GPS distances, which the Rules of Golf allow unless a Local Rule bans distance devices.

How long does the iON Elite battery last?

Bushnell rates it at 12+ hours in its spec table, enough for 2+ rounds. Plan to charge it after every couple of rounds.