Garmin Approach G80 Vs. Garmin Approach G30 Comparison Overview
One can argue that going with Garmin is a win-win situation no matter which two golf GPS devices you are considering. While it’s true that Garmin has proven to be a reliable manufacturer of accurate golf GPS watches, you still need to practice a good degree of discernment when shopping.
To help you out, we will be highlighting two popular handheld golf GPS devices from Garmin: the Approach G80 and Approach G30.
Garmin Approach G80 Overview
The Garmin Approach G80 is a no-nonsense golf GPS device loaded with 42,000 worldwide courses and outfitted with a full color touchscreen display.
All you have to do is charge this baby with a USB cable and it’s good to go for nearly 15 hours. What we were surprised about when we compared these two devices side-by-side was that the G80 had the same battery life as the G30 even though the G80 has a larger display and more features.
The golf GPS features are nearly identical. The only advantage that the G80 has over the G30 in this regard is that it will auto update course information.
However, the Garmin Approach G80 also operates as a basic radar launch monitor providing readings for club head speed, ball speed, smash factor and distance. There are even cool virtual rounds and target practice modes on this device.
Garmin Approach G30 Overview
The Garmin Approach G30 is a smaller and more simplistic handheld golf GPS device.
The Garmin Approach G30 has all the same golf GPS features that the G80 has minus the radar launch monitor features and the auto course update option. It still has a color touchscreen display but at 2.3 inches diagonally, it’s significantly smaller than the G80.
Like the G80 though, it also has smart features. For instance, you can sync it to your phone via Bluetooth to receive push notifications like emails and texts right on the display screen.
The G30 is tournament legal and includes greenview, full vector course maps, handicap scoring, digital scorecards and more.
The Garmin Approach G30 is half the price ($250) of the Garmin Approach G80 ($500) but if you have the extra money to spend, we recommend the Approach G80.
The larger screen is easier to navigate and it provides more overall value as a basic launch monitor as well. Plus, it picked up the course we were on faster than the G30 by about 8 seconds.
Garmin Approach G80 In 20 Words or Less
In 20 Words Or Less
The Approach G80 is one of the most useful Garmin devices we have ever tested.
Garmin Approach G30 In 20 Words or Less
In 20 Words Or Less
A great mid price-range golf GPS device that provides all the vital course information you need.
Garmin Approach G80 First Impressions
The setup for the G80 to be used as a launch monitor was a bit complicated but as a GPS device, it worked as well as any Garmin GPS we’ve tested.
It’s definitely more reliable as a golf GPS device but it can also give you some basic shot metric data as well.
Key Features
Of course, the best feature is that it operates as both a launch monitor and a golf GPS device.
As a golf GPS device, the G80 can give you all the basic information like distance to hazards/layups, full course maps, manual pin positioning and digital scoring.
It also has some more advanced GPS features like “plays like” distances, handicap scoring and custom target distancing.
As a launch monitor you have to set it up very precisely to get accurate information. It provides you with data on club head speed, ball speed, smash factor and total estimated distance. There are also tempo training modes and game modes.
The Approach G80 works much better as a golf GPS device but still performs admirably as a launch monitor.
Garmin Approach G30 First Impressions
The touchscreen of the Garmin Approach G30 was surprisingly smooth and easy to navigate.
We hate when touchscreen GPS devices are hard to use but we were pleasantly surprised with the simple, smooth and intuitive interface of the Garmin Approach G30.
Key Features
The Garmin Approach G30 comes preloaded with 42,000+ golf courses from around the world.
The G30 has all the standard features you would expect like green view, distances to layups and hazards, stat tracking, digital score card and shot distance calculator.
However, it also has more advanced features like custom target distancing that allows you to see your distance from pretty much any point on the course map. You can also set the pin to the day’s position for any hole.
The G30 has a brilliant display and a single, simple power button.
Garmin Approach G80 Selling Points
- Compatible with the Truswing App
- Touchscreen interface
- 282 x 470 pixel display resolution
- 15-hour battery life
- Displays smartphone push notifications
- Garmin Golf App compatible
Garmin Approach G30 Selling Points
- IPX7 water rating
- USB chargeable
- Bluetooth compatible
- 15-hour battery life
- Tournament legal
- Compatible with Truswing
Who is the Garmin Approach G80 for?
The Garmin Approach G80 would be great if you need a golf GPS device and not so much a launch monitor.
The launch monitor data is pretty basic so don’t expect too much from the G80 on that front.
Pros:
- In-depth golf GPS data
- Auo-detects which course you are on and loads hole data quickly
- The color display looks great and is easily readable
- Includes round timer and odometer
Cons:
- Only a few launch monitor metrics (Most Important Ones)
- Hard to set up as a launch monitor
Overall Score: 95/100
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Who is the Garmin Approach G30 for?
The Approach G30 would be a good choice for anyone on a bit of a budget.
The G30 is almost $100 cheaper than the G8 and it has almost all the same features so even if you are on a budget, you won’t be missing out on much with this golf GPS device.
Pros:
- More affordable than the G8
- Full color course maps
- Loads course information quickly
- Accurate shot distances
Cons:
- It has a smaller display than the G8
- It feels a bit bulkier than the Approach G8
Overall Score: 94/100
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