Although both devices give you yardages out on the course, they’re also very different. A handheld GPS device has more features than a rangefinder. With the best handheld golf GPS devices, you get more comprehensive data and a view of the golf course. You can see the layout of the course on the screen. That allows you to see where hazards are, even if they are blocked from view. And you get all this from a quick look at the screen. A rangefinder is different because it allows you to target a specific object, like the flagstick, and get a laser reading of the distance. With a rangefinder, you must scan your surroundings to see the hole layout. However, you can only see areas that aren’t blocked from view. Rangefinders are extremely accurate and give you exact yardages to the pin. If you’re a better player who attacks pins a lot, a rangefinder is likely the best option for you.