Bushnell Phantom 2 Review: Worth an Upgrade Over the Original?
If you’re someone who typically rides in a cart when you golf, the Bushnell Phantom 2 is one of the most no-brainer purchases you can make.
The Phantom 2 is a magnetized GPS device that sticks to the cart, and gives you immediate distances to various spots on the course and green.
With the click of a button you can change from green distances to hazard distances, and you can also update the day’s pin location for even more accurate results.
But does it work as well as advertised, and is it worth the $129 price tag?
What if you own the original Phantom? Is it worth an upgrade?
We’ll answer all of those questions and more in this review.
First Impressions of the Bushnell Phantom 2
As is the case with nearly every Bushnell product I’ve ever reviewed, the packaging and presentation is done very well. It makes you feel like you picked up a special toy, and leaves you excited to get it out on the course to play with it.
In the box you get the Phantom 2 device, a USB-C charging cable, a belt-clip and carabiner, as well as an instruction book.
The USB-C charger is something I’m truly always excited to see. I mentioned in my Garmin Approach S42 review that one of my biggest disappointments in that watch was the fact that it used a proprietary charging system.
At this point, we all have plenty of USB-C cords and chargers, and it just makes the process so much easier and more convenient. So props to Bushnell for adopting this as standard.
From the jump, you notice that the device is slightly larger than the outgoing model, and it has a larger screen.
The original Phantom’s screen was always plenty big for me, but I’m certainly not mad at the larger size of the Phantom 2. Anything that makes it easier to get the information you need, quickly, is a win in my book.
Notice increased screen size on the Phantom 2 on bottom.
Do you normally ride in a cart? Don't need the pinpoint accuracy of a rangefinder, but want green distances? Go buy the Phantom 2 right now. You won't be disappointed.
Bushnell Phantom 2: How Does it Perform
One of the first things I wanted to check out with the Phantom 2 is how well the magnet performed.
This is a device that 95% of people will use attached to their golf cart, so if it isn’t sturdy enough to weather and bumps and rough terrain – it’s kind of a non-starter.
The original Phantom was barely good enough for this. I had a couple issues where it would slip a little bit on the frame of the cart, but it never totally fell off.
The original Phantom on the left, compared to the Phantom 2 on the right. Notice the much larger magnet on the 2.
The Phantom 2 rectifies this with a magnetized back that is clearly much stronger. It even looks like it’s beefier.
In the rounds I’ve played with it, the Phantom 2 has stayed exactly where I first placed it, so this was a welcome improvement to see.
As with all Bushnell GPS products I’ve used, the distances seem dead on – so I have no questions about the accuracy of the device.
The hazard display is a bit of an improvement over the original, and the “Green View” is fantastic for getting specific pin locations.
The greenview works great, as does the backlight.
The auto-course recognition works great, as does the auto-hole advance.
For people looking for even more data, you can pair the Bushnell app with the Phantom 2, to get more detailed GPS course mapping and data.
Bushnell has done a pretty good job with this, and it works especially well with their GPS bluetooth speaker, the Wingman.
Battery life is also great. I actually forgot to turn mine off after a round, and 6 days later it was still on when I opened up my bag and found it in there.
Final Thoughts on the Bushnell Phantom 2
The Bushnell Phantom 2 is a GPS device that does exactly what it says it’s going to do, and it does it well.
If you’re a cart golfer, I think this is tremendously useful and worth the investment.
As far as the belt-clip goes? It’s nice that they include it, but at that point I’d probably just consider getting a GPS watch instead. It’s always felt kind of cumbersome to me to put GPS devices on your belt.
The bigger display, more color preferences, and additional features truly make this a great sequel to the Phantom.
Should you upgrade if you have the original? It’s up to you. Your distances and general usability won’t change much. But if you’ve had magnet issues, and you like the idea of the green view and larger display? Then I think you’ll be even happier with the new version than you were with the original.
Do you normally ride in a cart? Don't need the pinpoint accuracy of a rangefinder, but want green distances? Go buy the Phantom 2 right now. You won't be disappointed.
Other Related Products to Check Out
- Bushnell Phantom Review – The original Phantom. You can read my previous review, but if you’re looking to pick one of these up, I’d definitely go for the updated version.
- Bushnell Wingman – Prefer to get your distances audibly? The Wingman will do that for you, and keep the tunes flowing at the same time.
- Bushnell V5 Rangefinder – At $299 this is Bushnell’s “budget” rangefinder. But it’s still among the best we’ve ever tested.
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Good Things
- Very accurate
- Improved magnet
- Nice feature upgrades from original
Bad Things
- Belt clip provides provides limited usefulness
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