MGI may not be the first name that comes to mind when people shop for one of the best golf rangefinders, but after reviewing this device, it's certainly a brand I'll keep in mind for when I'm next upgrading.
Its Sureshot SlimPro rangefinder is the most compact distance measuring device, fitting beautifully in the palm of my hand. As I unboxed the device ahead of testing, a smile appeared on my face when I saw the size of it - I was expecting it to be small, but not this small! Before picking it out of the box, I was worried that due to its size it would feel a bit flimsy in terms of build quality - I'm happy to report that I was very wrong. There is a nice weight to this rangefinder (145g) and even the carry case is small, slotting onto the side of my bag with zero fuss.
Given the size of the device, I was worried it would be easy to lose. Thankfully, I don't tend to lose things and this rangefinder was no different, but if you have a habit of misplacing your wallet or phone from time to time then I'd recommend always remembering where you've set this rangefinder after use - or do what I do and only keep it in the carry case for peace of mind.
Onto performance - just like the quality of the build, the crispness and clarity of the 7x magnified display struck me immediately. It's one of the best I've experienced with a rangefinder and frankly it's a testament to MGI for delivering such a beautiful display in a device so small.
I tested this device across a dozen or so rounds at Royal County Down and found the yardage feedback to be instant and accurate, meaning you won't be spending time trying to tag the flag and holding up the group behind you on the tee as you try and do so. The pulse feature gives you a little vibration once you've successfully locked onto your target whilst the the Pinloc feature means the yardage remains on the screen for 15 seconds post use in case you forget the yardage you were provided - something I do far too often, meaning I found this particular feature extremely useful.
Another feature I loved was the Scan Mode which allows users to receive real-time distances as you scan the terrain and horizon. This was particularly useful when I played on new courses as I scanned what lay in front of me and received continuous real-time distance updates to bunkers, hazards and different areas of the greens.
Coming in at $299, it's right on the upper edge of what we would consider one of the best budget rangefinders, but you certainly get what you pay for here. If there is one critique I could make it would not be in relation to the device itself, but rather the carry case supplied. It's very small - just about big enough for the rangefinder to slip in and out of, which is good if you want to save some space but I would have preferred a slightly bigger and better quality case.
I thoroughly enjoyed testing this rangefinder - and I have used a lot of rangefinders! I enjoyed it that much that it might even become my regular go-to device for 2025.
