This article will give you reviews and comparisons of the Bushnell Neo Ion 1, Neo Ion 2, Excel and Bushnell Neo Xs golf GPS watches. The Bushnell Neo Ion golf watch is thinner, lighter, and more comfortable than the Neo XS. This watch will not affect your golf swing at all. It also looks better because of the more attractive sleek design. The Neo Ion is also more accurate, has a longer battery life and comes with a comfortable dual injected silicone sports band.
This watch comes a new integrated step counter (pedometer) and the same features that everyone liked so much in the Neo XS watch including easy-to-read front, back and center distances to the green, hazard or layup distances (only limited to 4 per hole), shot distance calculator, round odometer, auto course recognition, and auto hole advance (manual hole advance is available).
The distances that you get will be almost as accurate as the distances you get from the very best low cost golf rangefinders.
The best golf GPS watch on the market is the Garmin Approach S62 which was released in January 2020. Both the Garmin Approach S62 and S60 feature slope compensation and aerial views of each hole but only the Garmin S62 has a heart rate monitor, wind gauge, and club recommendation feature.
Table of Contents
- 1 Bushnell iON Edge Golf GPS Watch
- 2 Differences between the Bushnell Neo Ion and Neo XS Golf GPS Watches – Bushnell Neo Ion vs Neo XS
- 3 What are the differences between the Bushnell Neo Ion 1 and 2 golf GPS watches?
- 4 Bushnell Neo Ion 2 vs Neo Ion 1 vs Excel vs Neo XS – Golf GPS Watch Comparison Chart
- 5 Best Features of the Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch
- 6 Bushnell Neo Ion vs Neo XS
Bushnell iON Edge Golf GPS Watch
On June 2021, the Bushnell corporation released their newest golf watch, the Bushnell iON Edge. It will give you accurate distances to the putting green, water hazards, and sand bunkers. Also the Bushnell iON Edge golf watch has a step counter just like their older models, the Bushnell Neo XS, Neo Ion 2 and Excel. However, it also comes with many enhancements as well.
The main differences between the Bushnell iON Edge and the Bushnell Neo XS, Neo Ion 2 and Excel are that only the Bushnell iON Edge comes with a touchscreen, scorecard, and accurate graphics of the putting greens with movable pin placements. Also the Bushnell iON Edge has a much longer battery life than the Neo XS, Neo Ion 2 and Excel.
The Bushnell Neo XS, Neo Ion 2 and Excel have been discontinued by the Bushnell corporation which means they no longer make these models of golf watches. Based on this, it is fairly obvious that you should purchase the Bushnell iON Edge.
Differences between the Bushnell Neo Ion and Neo XS Golf GPS Watches – Bushnell Neo Ion vs Neo XS
The Bushnell Neo Ion golf watch has some new features and improvements over the Neo XS including:
Longer battery life with more than 3 rounds of golf on a single charge: The Neo Ion will give you over 16 hours of battery life (which translates to more than three full rounds on a single charge or a 2-year battery life when this watch is only used in watch mode). This watch has the best battery life of any golf GPS watch including the much more expensive Garmin S60 Standard and Premium golf GPS watches. If a long battery life is really important to you, then you should definitely consider purchasing this watch.
Comfortable dual injected silicone sports band: This band is really soft and flexible so it is really comfortable to wear and easy to swing a golf club with. The silicone sports band comes with many perforations which will reduce the sweating on your wrist significantly and make this watch much more comfortable to wear.
Integrated step counter (pedometer): tracks daily or weekly steps and it comes with a customizable step goal setting
This watch is ideal for anyone who just wants a thin, lightweight, comfortable watch with a long battery life, an LCD screen that is easy to read even in sunlight and will give you accurate distances to the greens and hazards.
Unfortunately, it does not display smartphone notifications and it does not come with the touchscreen, stat tracking, digital scorecard, graphics of the greens and swing metrics that you would normally find in the more expensive Garmin golf watches.
What are the differences between the Bushnell Neo Ion 1 and 2 golf GPS watches?
The Bushnell Neo Ion 2 has all of the features found in the Neo Ion 1 and some additional features including:
• Bluetooth technology for wireless course updates – Bluetooth connection allows you the ability to update courses wirelessly on your Neo iON 2
• Reversible watch band
• Tool to flip the watch strap
• Bushnell Golf App includes the following features:
-Full color aerial views – hole-by-hole layouts with distances
-3D hole flyovers with front/center/back and hazard distances for each hole
-Scorekeeping
-Book tee times
-Swing analysis stats (only for the Bushnell Excel)
-Pedometer and Fitness Trackers (only for the Bushnell Excel)
Bushnell Neo Ion 2 vs Neo Ion 1 vs Excel vs Neo XS – Golf GPS Watch Comparison Chart
| Features and Specifications |  Learn More |  Learn More |  Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Points | *Best battery life (16+ hours; play about 4 rounds of golf on one charge) | *Long battery life (12+ hours; play more than 3 rounds of golf on one charge) | *Long battery life (12+ hours; play more than 3 rounds of golf on one charge) | *Up to 4 Hazard Distances Per Hole | *Up to 4 Hazard Distances Per Hole |
| Weak Points | *Black and White Display | *Black and White Display | *Black and White Display | *No Digital Scorecard | *Black and White Display |
| Display Size | 1.08" (27.4mm) diameter | 23mm x 23mm | 23mm x 23mm | 25mm x 25mm | 23mm x 23mm |
| Display resolution | 240 x 400 pixels | 240 x 400 pixels | 240 x 400 pixels | 240 x 400 pixels | 240 x 400 pixels |
| Display type | Monochrome LCD | Monochrome LCD | Monochrome LCD | Full front optical mounted color LCD Display with auto Backlight brightness adjustment - Backlight is activated with any button push. The backlight will remain lit for 10 seconds after last button push. | Monochrome LCD |
| Product Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth (Thickness)) | 54mm x 46mm x 16mm | 15mm x 45mm x 54mm | 45mm x 45mm x 15mm 2.1" x 4.4" x 0.6" | 13.75mm x 45mm x 54mm 1.6 x 0.1 x 3.1 inches | 45mm x 45mm x 15mm 2.1" x 4.4" x 0.6" |
| Weight (in ounces) | 1.15 ounces / 32.5 grams | 1.7oz / 48g | 1.8oz / 51g | 1.6oz / 46g | 1.8oz |
| Wrist band | Comfortable dual injected silicone sports band | Comfortable dual injected silicone sports band | Comfortable dual injected silicone sports band | Comfortable sports band | Comfortable sports band |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Yardage to front, middle and back of green - Easy-to-read front/center/back distances | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yardage to layups/doglegs - Hazard/Layup distances (up to 4 hazard or layup distances per hole) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swing Pro feature - Allows the user to monitor the swing speed and swing tempo. If the watch is connected to the mobile app, the swing data will be uploaded to the connected mobile device after each swing. The app on the mobile device displays and stores the swing data. | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Auto course recognition | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto hole advance (you can also manually advance to the next hole or previous hole by pressing a button on the watch) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Round odometer - tracks speed (miles per hour), distance traveled, and total round time or activity time. After you access the Odometer, the watch will search for a satellite signal, and will access the Odometer page upon GPS Lock. The Odometer timer will automatically begin counting, and the speed and distance fields will yield results as you move along. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Step counter (pedometer) - track daily, weekly steps and comes with customizable step goal setting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Shot distance calculator - Allows you to easily check the distance between any two points and would normally be used to measure the length of your shot. Press the shot button to set the place where you are standing to '0'. After walking to your ball, the watch will display the distance between the two points in a straight line. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tee Time - allows you to set a tee time up to 1 week (6 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes) in advance. After the Tee Time is set, the watch will automatically enter Play Golf mode, and search for local courses 7 minutes prior to the set tee time. A list will be g you will be able to select your course from the list. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weather Mode - Provides temperature and pressure readings | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Auto shut off after 30 minutes of inactivity | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Set Time by GPS or manually (you can set the year, time and date) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Package Contents | 1 - Bushnell Neo iON GPS Rangefinder Watch 1 - Charging Cradle w/USB Cable 1 - Contact Cleaning Brush 1 - User Manual | 1 - Bushnell Neo iON GPS Rangefinder Watch 1 - Charging Cradle w/USB Cable 1 - Contact Cleaning Brush 1 - User Manual | 1 - Bushnell Neo iON GPS Rangefinder Watch 1 - Charging Cradle w/USB Cable 1 - Contact Cleaning Brush 1 - User Manual | 1 - Bushnell Excel GPS Rangefinder Watch 1 - Charging Cradle w/USB Cable 1 - Contact Cleaning Brush 1 - User Manual | 1 - Bushnell Neo XS GPS Rangefinder Watch 1 - USB/Charging Cable 1 - Contact Cleaning Brush 1 - Quick Start Guide |
| Computer Requirements | USB Port OS: Windows (XP or later), Mac (OS 10.6 or later) | USB Port OS: Windows (XP or later), Mac (OS 10.6 or later) | USB Port OS: Windows (XP or later), Mac (OS 10.6 or later) | USB Port OS: Windows (XP or later), Mac (OS 10.6 or later) | USB (1.1 or 2.0) Port OS: Windows (XP/Vista/7/8), Mac OS X 10.6 or newer |
| Language Settings | 5 language settings (English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, and Italiano) | 5 language settings (English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, and Italiano) | 5 language settings (English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, and Italiano) | 5 language settings (English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, and Italiano) | 5 language settings (English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol, and Italiano) |
| Touch-targeting (touch target on display to see the distance to any point) | No | No | No | No | No |
| Green View with manual pin position | No | No | No | No | No |
| Club suggestion | No | No | No | No | No |
| Preloaded Golf Course Maps | Preloaded with 38,000+ worldwide golf courses in over 30 countries | Preloaded with 36,000+ worldwide golf courses in over 30 countries | Preloaded with 36,000+ worldwide golf courses in over 30 countries | Preloaded with 36,000+ worldwide golf courses in over 30 countries | Preloaded with 36,000+ worldwide golf courses in over 30 countries |
| Free Lifetime Course Updates - Setting up a free account and registering your watch at www.bushnell.igolf.com will allow you to update the preloaded GPS course data, and load any new courses. Completing the registration will give you access to the latest GPS data for use on your watch. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth smartphone notifications - Allows you to receive call, messaging and calendar notifications from your Bluetooth-enabled phone | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth wireless golf course updates - Bluetooth integration with a compatible smartphone allows you to get wireless course updates without needing to sync with a computer | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Fees Or Subscriptions | None | None | None | None | None |
| Course preview (see detailed, hole-by-hole preview) | No | No | No | No | No |
| USB charging/sync cable for recharging the lithium ion battery or golf course updates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory/history | |||||
| Battery Life | more than 16 hours; play about 4 full rounds on a single charge | more than 12 hours; play about 3 full rounds on a single charge | more than 12 hours; play about 3 full rounds on a single charge | more than 12 hours; play about 3 full rounds on a single charge | 10 hours - Over 2 rounds of golf between charges or 2-year battery life when used in watch mode |
| Recharge Time | 2.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 2.5 hrs | 3 hours | |
| Water resistant (not water proof; do not go swimming while wearing this watch) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Legal For Tournament Play (complies with USGA rule 14-3/.05) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| quick-start guide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| one-year limited warranty | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Best Features of the Bushnell Neo Ion 2 Golf GPS Watch
• Pre-loaded with 35,000+ courses in more than 30 countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Mauritius, Spain, Morocco, Turquey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Canada, Puerto-Rico, Mexico, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Cze Republic, United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia, Thailand & New Zealand)
• No downloads and no membership fees ever
• Thin, lightweight with simple to use operation
• 5-language settings (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian)
• available in three different colors
• Scratch-resistant mineral crystal lens
• Standard watch features : Odometer, integrated step counter (Pedometer), Stopwatch, Alarm, Timer
• Round odometer – tracks speed (miles per hour), distance traveled, and total round time or activity time. After you access the Odometer, the watch will search for a satellite signal, and will access the Odometer page upon GPS Lock. The Odometer timer will automatically begin counting, and the speed and distance fields will yield results as you move along.
• Long battery life – Over 16 hours of battery life (play more than three full rounds on a single charge or 2-year battery life when used in watch mode)
• comfortable dual injected silicone sports band
• Easy-to-read front, back and center distances
• Preloaded Hazard (bunkers and water hazards) and layup distances (up to 4 per hole)
• Shot distance calculator – Allows you to easily check the distance between any two points and would normally be used to measure the length of your shot. Press the shot button to set the place where you are standing to ‘0’. After walking to your ball, the watch will display the distance between the two points in a straight line.
• Auto Course Recognition
• Auto Hole Advance – you can also manually advance to the next hole or previous hole by pressing a button on the watch
• Tee Time Start – feature that allows you to set a tee time up to 1 week (6 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes) in advance. When
a Tee Time is set, the Neo iON watch will automatically enter Play Golf mode, and search for local courses 7 minutes prior to the set time. A list will be generated and you will be able to select your course from the list.
• GPS Auto Off – feature is designed to automatically exit Play Golf mode when the preset time has expired. Time can be set between 1.5 and 9 hours. When in Play Golf mode, after the preset time has expired, an Auto-Off message will appear on the watch. Select RESUME to return to the round; the Auto-Off message will appear again after 1.5 hour. Select EXIT ROUND to immediately exit the round and return to the Home (Time) screen. If no selection is made for 10 minutes, the Neo iON will automatically exit the round and return to the Home (Time) screen, and power down the watch to save some battery life.
• Rechargeable Lithium_ion Battery with Posi-Lock Clip for easy charge or course updates
• Comes with USB charging/sync cable for easy charging of the lithium ion battery (through your computer or wall outlet) or golf course updates
• Quick start guide included
• Adheres to USGA and R&A Rules – Legal for tournament play
• one-year limited warranty
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 8 x 4 inches ; 1.8 ounces
Bushnell Neo Ion vs Neo XS
These Bushnell watches are really easy to use and they come preloaded with over 33,000 courses in more than 30 countries that you can access with no membership fee or download required.
The other great thing is that it comes with a feature called auto course recognition so that no matter which course you are on, even if you do not know anything about the course, this watch will automatically find it for you and load up all of the stats for you right away.
You will also get an odometer and standard watch features including time, date, stopwatch, alarm and timer. The time mode will display the time, the date and the day. You will also find that the time can be set using the GPS position which means that no matter where you are in the world this will automatically set itself and it also has daylight Time option for quick and easy adjustment for summertime.
Both the Bushnell Neo Ion and Neo XS golf watches also have a tee time feature that will allow you to setup a tee time up to one week in advance and seven minutes before the watches reach the tee time, they will automatically swap over to the play golf mode.
They also come with an odometer that will allow you to track your speed, distance traveled and your activity time. You will also be able to use this for fitness activities outside the golf course but if you are using it mainly to play golf you will also be interested in the “track shot distance” feature.
The Play golf mode is the main feature and you will easily be able to track the hole number, par information and, of course, the distances to the front, center and the back of each green. You will also get an auto hole advance feature that will automatically advance to the next hole as you walk around the course.
