What They Have in Common
Both are no-subscription handheld GPS devices covering 40,000 preloaded courses with free updates. Both show front/center/back distances and hazard yardages. Both do manual shot distance measurement. Neither has smartwatch features, heart rate, or anything AI-driven. They're straightforward golf GPS gadgets.
Where They Differ
Screen vs. Voice
This is the core divide. The Player+ has a 3-inch color touchscreen. The VOICE 3S+ has a 128x64 mono LCD — essentially the size of a cheap calculator display — and speaks its yardages aloud in 11 languages with 10 voice options.
That's not a trivial difference. If you're riding a cart and genuinely don't want to pick up a device and look at it, the VOICE 3S+ works better. It calls out your yardages and you focus on your pre-shot routine. On the Player+, you're still reading a screen, though a much better one.
But the Player+'s screen unlocks things the VOICE 3S+ can't touch: color hole maps, green view, and a full scorecard. The caveat worth knowing — full hole mapping and flyover on the Player+ require the Blue Tees app on your phone. On-device alone, you get front/center/back plus hazards. So if you're hoping to leave your phone in the bag, the Player+ is less independent than the spec sheet implies.
Battery
The VOICE 3S+ gets 18 hours in GPS mode. The Player+ gets about 11 hours (or roughly 36 holes, according to reviewers). If you play 27 holes in a day, regularly, the VOICE 3S+'s battery is the better buffer. For most 18-hole rounds, neither device is going to die on you.
The Speaker and Power Bank
The Player+ has a 30W dual-driver Bluetooth speaker with a 30-foot range. That's not a GPS feature — it's a separate use case that happens to share a chassis with your golf GPS. It also doubles as a power bank for your phone. If you want music on the cart and your phone dying mid-round bothers you, the Player+ is solving two problems at once.
The VOICE 3S+ is just GPS. No speaker. No power bank. No companion app. It clips on, it talks, and that's it.
Durability and Mounting
The Player+ is IPX7 (submersion-rated) with a magnetic strip for cart or bag mounting. The VOICE 3S+ is IPX4 (splash-resistant) and has a detachable clip. The Player+'s waterproofing is better. Neither is going to fail in a light rain, but the Player+ handles the surprise downpour more comfortably.
One flag worth noting: the Player+ is discontinued by Blue Tees. It's still available through retailers, but stock is limited — and the same $200 list price now gets you the newer Player Pro, which adds on-device features the Player+ routes to the app. Worth checking whether the Player Pro has dropped in price before you buy.
Charging Port
The VOICE 3S+ uses micro USB. The Player+ uses USB-C. In 2026, micro USB is an annoyance if you've moved everything else to USB-C. Worth knowing when you're packing for a trip.
Who Should Buy Which
Blue Tees Player+
- You're riding a cart and want music, GPS, and a scorecard in one device without juggling separate gear.
- You play 18 holes and want to see hole maps even if that means keeping your phone in your pocket.
- You want better weatherproofing than a splash rating.
- You want USB-C charging and don't want to track down a micro USB cable.
GolfBuddy GB VOICE 3S+
- You're walking and want something light that clips on and calls out distances without you ever looking at it.
- You regularly play long days (multiple rounds, 27+ holes) and battery anxiety is real.
- You genuinely don't care about hole maps, scoring, or green view — you want F/C/B and hazards, spoken aloud, in your language.
- You're happy with $130 and have zero interest in a speaker or power bank on the course.
The Bottom Line
For most golfers, the Player+ does more — more screen, more features, more speaker, more usefulness on and off the course. The $70 difference is easy to justify if you'll use the speaker or the scorecard or the color display. The VOICE 3S+ earns its place in a narrow scenario: you want hands-free, eyes-up yardages and you don't need anything else. That's a real use case, just a smaller one. Check current pricing on the Player+ given it's discontinued — if the newer Player Pro has come down, that may be the smarter buy.
Get the Blue Tees Player+.