Best Smart Phone For Golfers - Which One To Choose?
Whatever you're looking for, there's a smart phone to help you get the best out of your golf game
Best Smart Phone For Golfers - Which One To Choose?
It’s hard to get by without a smart phone these days and you’ll find some incredible technology at the touch of your fingertips with a lot of the models on the market. Like the best golf GPS devices, after using one you will wonder how you ever managed before! It’s crucial to ask yourself what you want from your smart phone before buying it, as there will be plenty of handy features that golfers will benefit from that many models will offer, whilst some won't.
Whether it’s amazing displays for easy visuals and watching the golf on demand, a brilliant battery life to last a full 36 holes or a market-leading camera to take great course photos and videos, we’ll help you find the right smart phone for you.
Below is our list on the best smart phone for golfers and we also recommend checking out some of our other guides too. Such as the best golf rangefinders, best golf watches, or even the best golf launch monitors too.
Best Smart Phone For Golfers
Why you can trust Golf Monthly
+ Amazing display
+ Stunning camera
- Not the best battery life
Rated by TechRadar as the best smartphone on the market right now, the Galaxy S20 Plus has lots of great tech to help you out on the course. It features the best display on the market and its incredible cameras will produce some beautiful course shots and some detailed videos. The battery life isn’t the very best though, so if you use your phone as a GPS device you may need to charge it quite soon after your round.
+ Best bang for buck iPhone
+ Improved battery life on iPhone 11
- Screen not as large as others
If you’re an avid Apple fan and want something slightly below the premium price, the iPhone 12 is a superb handset and is considered the best bang for your buck iPhone. It does everything very well and represents great value. The OLED screen display is impressive, it’s a durable build so should survive any drops and the battery life is increased on the 11.
+ Stunning display
+ 3x optical zoom camera
- Battery life isn't the best
The Fluid Display on the Android 8 Pro means it rivals or matches the Galaxy S20 Plus in terms of screen resolution - put simply it is a stunning visual treat. The battery life is fine but not market-leading and it features a great camera with 3x optical zoom. It comes in just below the price point of its Samsung and Apple competitors. This is easily one of the top smartphones right now and thanks to its superb functionality would pair up well with one of the best golf speakers.
+ Very cool 60x zoom camera
+ Beautiful display
- Not the best battery life
You may be unaware of Oppo but the Find X2 Pro is one of the very best camera phones on the market - meaning you’ll get some stunning on-course shots to share with your mates and on social media. The 60x zoom is very cool and will come in handy if you ever want to take a long-range image on the course or maybe you’ve just hit it to gimme range for a tap-in birdie and are looking to show off to your friends.
+ Market-leading battery life
+ Great value
- Average all round performance compared to premium models
The ultimate budget smartphone for battery life is the Moto G8 Power thanks to its 5,000 mAh battery, so you can be sure to use it as a GPS device for 36 holes. It's also ridiculously cheap, coming in below £200 - miles below the premium handsets. Aside from the battery life, the Android G Power is a decent offering with a 16MP main camera and a 6.4-inch full HD+ LCD screen size.
+ Addition of stylus a cool feature
+ Stunning camera and display
- Battery life isn't the best
This is the ultimate phone for watching the golf on Sky Go and your favourite golf YouTube videos. It’s got a huge, stunning display and the stylus adds a unique touch to using your smart phone. The camera is also one of the best out there too, with a 50x zoom. Although, you will need to be wary of the battery life which is not as long-lasting as some of the others on this list.
What to consider when buying a smart phone for golf
What are some of the factors to consider when looking at getting a new phone that will deal with the golf course? Let's take a look.
1. Battery Life
As far as a phones for golf go, battery life is arguably the most important factor. We use our phones for everything these days and you can do the same for golf because you may get GPS yardages from your phone when playing. As such battery life has to be good and sufficient to easily last your round and beyond.
2. Camera
We think a good camera is vital when out on the golf course because then you can take amazing pictures and videos of the course itself, or of your playing partners, or yourself, hitting shots.
3. Durability
The golf course can be a dangerous place for a phone so a good model should be able to deal with the occasional drop, or just the general bumps and knocks technology can take when playing golf.
4. Everyday life
Of course a good smart phone should work in the real world as well so it is worth thinking about what features you think are most important when it comes to your phone. Then pick accordingly.
5. Budget
The same can be said of budget too because there are models at different price points these days so go for a model you can afford.
For more advice on some of the best golf technology, check out our guides on the best golf apps for apple watch, best headphones for golf and the best golf speakers.
FAQ's
Can golfers have cell phones?
Yes golfers can have cell phones on the golf course but we would always recommend putting them on silent or vibrate only so that it does not go off during your swing or anyone else's.
Can I use my phone as a golf GPS?
Yes you can definitely use your phone as a golf GPS as there are lots of apps that are designed to give GPS information. Some of our favorites come from Shot Tracer, Arccos, VPar and Motocaddy. You can also use golf apps on your phone to help with shot tracking or swing information.
Should I turn my phone on silent on the golf course?
Yes. It can be pretty frustrating for your playing partners if your mobile phone starts ringing when they're mid-way through their backswing. I advise all players to either switch it off entirely, or turn your phone on silent mode.
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Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.
One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.
Joel's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Titleist TSR3, 9°
Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3, 15°
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2, 18°
Irons: Ping i230 4-UW
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind
Putter: Evnroll ER2V
Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x
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