For the SkyCaddie fans out there, here is our SkyCaddie SGXw vs SGX vs SG5 summary and feature comparison…
All three SkyCaddie GPS devices offer something that no other brand does and that is ground-verified course maps. What that means that is beyond using satellite images, SkyGolf has people walk every golf course with special equipment to verify the yardages. This may give them a slight edge in accuracy, but it does come at a price. Most of that price is found in the required annual membership fees which start at $30 a year. If you’re looking for something without an annual fee, check out the Golf Buddy World or the Garmin Approach G5
With each new device comes additional features, but that’s not always a good thing. The SkyCaddie SG5 doesn’t have the bells, whistles found on the SkyCaddie SGX and SGXw… but it does have the highest user ratings of the three devices.
SkyCaddie SG5 vs SGX
- The SGX has a 3″ high-resolution color TFT-LCD screen, while the SG5′s screen is a 2.2-inch LCD.
- The SGX has dual navigation, so you can use the buttons like the SG5, or you can direct an on-screen cursor using a multi-directional joystick.
- The SGX is preloaded with basic information of 30,000 courses. Registration and membership are still necessary after 30 days.
- The SGX can store up to 50 full-featured course maps at a time (plus the basic green courses), whereas the SG5 can only store 20 course maps at a time.
- HoleVue image on the SGX is interactive, which allows you to move an on-screen cursor to adjust the line of play and see shot distance. It can also zoom in and out to help you dial in on a specific point of the hole. HoleVue image on the SG5 is static.
SkyCaddie SGX vs SGXw
- The SGXw offers WiFi connectivity for downloading courses and uploading scores.
- The SGXw has a faster processor, but it takes up more battery, so the SGXw gets a maxium of 10 hours where the SGX is rated for up to 14 hrs. In real life, you should charge either one of them after every round.
- The SGX Joystick has been replaced with an optical trackpad on the SGXw. The jury is still out on this.
- Dynamic RangeVue™ is new on the SGXw. Preset yardage arcs adjust dynamically over fairway landing areas and over greens to allow you to select the best club for every shot much more quickly.
Full comparison of features
There is no question that SkyCaddie devices offer some nice features and that many users are very happy with them. Looking at our GRS Scores compiled from user data, we would buy the SG5 if we had to buy a SkyCaddie. We got that same recommendation from a Live Chat representative on the SkyGolf website. That said, we honestly think there are several full-featured golf GPS devices that come preloaded and don’t have any annual fees, that make more sense for most golfers. For more on that, take a look at our “quick & dirty” Golf Rangefinder Buyer’s Guide.
