Nikon COOLSHOT 20i GIII vs Precision Pro NX9 Slope

The Quick Verdict

Get the Nikon COOLSHOT 20i GIII. At $220 versus $200, the $20 gap is basically a box of balls — and for that you get a significantly lighter, more pocketable unit with a five-year warranty and Nikon's optics heritage behind it. The Precision Pro NX9 Slope is worth considering only if you want a magnetic cart mount and don't mind the extra bulk.

What They Have in Common

Both rangefinders hit the same core checkboxes: 6x magnification, ±1 yard accuracy, slope mode with a legal-play switch, and water resistance. Either one will dial in your approach yardages reliably. At this price tier, you're getting a solid, functional tool from both camps — the differences are in the details.

Where They Differ

Weight and Size

This is where the Nikon pulls ahead in a way the spec sheet undersells. The COOLSHOT 20i GIII weighs 4.6 oz. The NX9 Slope weighs 10 oz — more than twice as heavy. That's not a small gap. Over a walking round, you'll feel it. The Nikon also publishes its dimensions (91 × 73 × 37 mm), and it's genuinely jacket-pocket friendly. Precision Pro doesn't publish dimensions for the NX9 Slope, which is probably because they're not a selling point. If you walk the course or carry your bag, the Nikon is meaningfully easier to live with.

Optics and Display

The Nikon uses a multilayer-coated lens and an internal LED display. The NX9 Slope runs an LCD. In direct sunlight, neither display type is easy to read — you're mostly reading in the shadow of your palm regardless — but internal LED displays tend to have better contrast in varying light conditions than LCD. Nikon also brings genuine optical engineering history to the glass, which probably counts for something in clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness. Precision Pro doesn't publish comparative optical specs, so I can't give you numbers, but call it a hunch that the Nikon glass is the sharper of the two.

Battery Situation

Here's where it gets interesting. The Nikon runs on a CR2 lithium battery — standard, cheap, and available at any pharmacy or airport convenience store in the country. You can throw a spare in your bag and never think about it again. Precision Pro counters with a "lifetime battery replacement program," which sounds appealing until you realize it means mailing your rangefinder somewhere when it dies, waiting for a replacement, and hoping you're not mid-season when it happens. CR2 batteries are at every pharmacy in the country. That matters on a Sunday morning when you realize it died in your bag.

Mount and Range

The NX9 Slope has a magnetic cart mount built in. If you ride and you want your rangefinder stuck to the cart frame, that's a real convenience feature. The Nikon doesn't have one. The NX9 also has a slightly longer published range — up to 900 yards versus the Nikon's 800. On a golf course, neither limit will ever be a real constraint. You're not ranging 800-yard targets. The range specs are a tie in practical terms.

Warranty

Five years from Nikon versus two years from Precision Pro. Rangefinders take bumps. A five-year warranty on a $220 piece of gear is meaningful — it signals confidence in the hardware and gives you real coverage if something goes wrong.

Who Should Buy Which

Get the Nikon COOLSHOT 20i GIII if:

• You carry your bag or walk the course and want something that doesn't feel like a brick in your pocket by the back nine
• You want a straightforward battery situation — CR2s at every drugstore, no programs, no waiting
• You're buying a rangefinder you plan to use for five-plus years and want the warranty to back that up
• You're the golfer who just wants clean optics, accurate yardages, and nothing to fuss with

Get the Precision Pro NX9 Slope if:

• You ride in a cart most rounds and a magnetic mount on the frame is something you'll actually use every time
• You've had good experiences with Precision Pro's customer service and trust the brand's support model
• The $20 savings matters to you and the magnetic mount tips the scales
• You don't mind the extra weight and the battery replacement program doesn't bother you

The Bottom Line

These two are closer than the specs make them look on paper, but the Nikon wins on the factors that hold up over time: lighter, better-warranted, simpler battery, and better optics pedigree. The Precision Pro's magnetic mount is a legitimate feature if that's your workflow — but it's the only real leg up it has. The $20 you'd save doesn't close that gap.

Get the Nikon COOLSHOT 20i GIII.