What is the difference between the Bushnell Launch Pro i and the Garmin Approach R50?

Golf Sim Oracle compares the Bushnell Launch Pro i and the Garmin Approach R50 on what Bushnell and Garmin each publish, not on how either performs. The Bushnell Launch Pro i is $1,999.99 and the Garmin Approach R50 is $4,999.99. Counting the cheapest software that plays courses, five years of the Bushnell Launch Pro i comes to $4,494.99 against $5,599.39 for the Garmin Approach R50, which is the comparison the price tags do not make. Of the 8 specifications this page checks, Bushnell publishes 2 for the Bushnell Launch Pro i and Garmin publishes 5 for the Garmin Approach R50. Garmin documents its unit more completely, which is a fact about the two companies rather than about the two products, and it is the difference a buyer feels first: the Bushnell Launch Pro i leaves you to find out. Every figure was read from the manufacturers' own pages on 2026-08-18. Retailer listings were not used, even where a shop publishes a number a maker omits. Golf Sim Oracle has never swung a club in front of either unit and does not claim to have tested them.

What each maker publishes

A row reading “not published” is the manufacturer’s silence, not a gap in our research. Nothing here is filled in from a retailer listing.

Bushnell Launch Pro i and Garmin Approach R50 specifications compared, read from Bushnell and Garmin on 2026-08-18
Specification	Bushnell Launch Pro i	Garmin Approach R50
Tracking technology	Photometric camera unit	Camera-based unit with a built-in touchscreen, placed beside the ball
Minimum ceiling height	Not published by Bushnell	Ceiling height of 9 feet or more, recommended for most users rather than stated as a minimum
Room depth	Not published by Bushnell	Not published by Garmin
Room width	Not published by Bushnell	Space width of 10 feet or more; for dual-handed setups use a space of 13 feet or more. Recommended for most users rather than stated as a minimum
Where the unit sits	Not published by Bushnell	Place the launch monitor approximately 1.5 ft. (0.5 m) to the side of the desired tee location
Distance to the screen	Not published by Bushnell	Distance to the net of 8 feet or more, recommended rather than required
Subscription	$0 a year, cheapest tier	Not published by Garmin
Accuracy the maker claims	Not published by Bushnell	Not published by Garmin
Five years, software included	$4,494.99	$5,599.39

Where these figures came from5 pages on the makers’ own sites, read 2026-08-18

Golf Sim Oracle has swung a club in front of neither of these units. The authority of this page is its sourcing: every figure above is quoted from Bushnell’s or Garmin’s own pages, with the date it was read. Comparison blogs and retailer listings were not used, even where a shop publishes a figure a maker omits.

Bushnell Golf: Launch Monitor Buyer’s Guide
Bushnell Golf: Launch Pro, software subscriptions and requirements
Bushnell Golf: Launch Pro Simulator Bundle, space requirements and structure
Garmin: Approach R50 Owner’s Manual, Preparing for a Shot
Garmin: Tips to Improve Your Approach R50 Setup