What They Have in Common
Both range out to well past anything you'd need on a normal round, both land within ±1 yard of accuracy, and both have slope mode with a legal-play switch. They each use CR2 lithium batteries and 6x magnification. For most shots — flag from 150 yards, layup distance, carry over the pond — either one gives you the same number.
Where They Differ
Display and Optics
The Nikon runs a red internal OLED display with what Nikon calls "Hyper Read" — a fast target acquisition setup. OLEDs tend to pop in low light, and red-on-black reads well when you're squinting into morning haze. The Precision Pro goes with an HD LCD display, which works fine in full sun but typically loses contrast in low-light conditions compared to OLED. If you tee off early or play late in the year when the light gets flat, the Nikon's display is a real advantage, not just a spec sheet line.
Water Resistance
This is where the Precision Pro pulls ahead. IP54 means it's protected from dust and water spray from any direction. The Nikon's IPX4 only covers water splashing — no dust rating at all. In practice, most golfers won't notice the difference unless they're playing in genuinely foul conditions. But if you're the type who plays through drizzle, stuffs the rangefinder in a wet bag pocket, or lives somewhere that gets real weather, IP54 is the better rating.
Battery and Long-Term Cost
Both use CR2 batteries — easy to find, easy to replace. But the Precision Pro includes free lifetime battery replacements through their program. The Nikon's CR2 will cost you a few bucks every year or two depending on how much you use it. That's not a dealbreaker, but over five years it's not nothing either. CR2s are at every pharmacy in the country, so you're never stranded, but Precision Pro's offer is genuinely useful if you actually register and use it.
Warranty and Brand Weight
Nikon backs the COOLSHOT 50i GII with a five-year warranty. Precision Pro offers a one-year warranty. That's a significant gap. Precision Pro is a solid direct-to-consumer brand with good support, but Nikon's five-year coverage on a $300 rangefinder is hard to argue with. Seems like Precision Pro leans on the lifetime battery replacement to offset the shorter warranty window — whether that trade works for you depends on how you think about long-term ownership.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Nikon COOLSHOT 50i GII if:
- You want five years of manufacturer coverage and won't think about it again
- You play in mixed or low light — early morning rounds, overcast fall days — where the OLED display actually earns its keep
- You're a 12-handicap who's owned three rangefinders and wants to stop buying rangefinders
- You care about brand support and want a recognized name if something goes wrong two years from now
Get the Precision Pro NX10 Slope if:
- You play in genuinely wet conditions and want the better IP54 water rating to match
- You're the golfer who always seems to find a dead battery in the bag at the worst possible time — the lifetime replacement program is legitimately for you
- The $21 savings matters and you'd rather put it toward something else
- You're buying your first dedicated rangefinder and want solid performance without paying for premium branding
The Bottom Line
Twenty-one dollars isn't the story here. The real split is OLED display and five-year warranty versus IP54 weather sealing and free batteries for life. Both are accurate, both have slope, both are easy to use. I'd go with the Nikon COOLSHOT 50i GII — the display advantage in low light and the five-year warranty make it the stronger long-term buy for most golfers. If you play in serious weather or you know yourself well enough to know you'll actually use the battery program, the Precision Pro is a legitimate alternative, not a consolation prize.
Get the Nikon COOLSHOT 50i GII.
See Also