Flightscope Mevo vs Garmin R10: A Clear Winner

Let's dive in and see what features set the Garmin R10 apart.

TL;DR: I think the Garmin R10 is better for MOST golfers

In most comparisons on this blog, I don't declare a winner this early.

But in this case, for only $100 more, you'll get a TON more integrations and features with the Approach R10 with comparable accuracy both indoors and outdoors.

I'll let the chart below do the talking and let you see what I'm talking about.

Side by side:

• Price
• Feature list
• Highlighted pick
• Pros and Cons

As you can see, the Approach R10 really packs a punch. Not only are you getting full golf simulator capabilities at a budget price point, but you're also buying into a great ecosystem of golf software and hardware that Garmin has built with their rangefinders, watches, launch monitors, and apps.

All that said, there are a few features the Mevo has that really outshine the Garmin R10 and could push you in the opposite direction. The Flightscope Mevo might be a better buy if...

• You want to use your Apple Watch with the device
• You only want basic data points (carry distance, swing and club head speed, etc.)
• You want to view all your shot data on a computer and analyze it in-depth
• You really want to save $100 no matter what

Still not sure which to buy? Let's dive into a comprehensive overview of what you're getting with each of these launch monitors.

Mevo vs Approach R10: Overview

Before we get too far into this comparison, let me clarify WHAT we are comparing.

There are two Flightscope Mevo models. Today, we are talking about the Flightscope Mevo ($499), NOT the Flightscope Mevo Plus ($1979).

One more time, say it with me! Here's our comparison:

1. Flightscope Mevo ($499)
2. Garmin Approach R10 ($599)

Alright, now that we're clear on that, let's dive in and answer the question you're asking.

Which is better for you?

To start off, let's take a look at some of the key features of each launch monitor.

Flightscope Mevo Overview

The Mevo is Flightscope's "budget" offering coming in at $499. It uses proprietary fusion tracking technology, which is a combination of radar technology and photometric technology only available through Flightscope products.

Some of Flightscope Mevo's key features include:

• Tracks 2D Shot Data - you'll be able to see carry distance, vertical launch angle, club head speed, ball speed, and more
• iOS and Android App - a mobile app that allows you to see your shot data while at the range
• Online dashboard for stats - with Flightscope Cloud, you'll be able to see all of your shots, trends, and analysis that you can use to improve
• Apple Watch Integration - rather than using your smartphone, you can connect your Apple Watch and easily use this launch monitor without the fuss of picking up your phone after every shot
• Super portable and durable - this thing is TINY. You can fit it into almost any pocket of your golf bag.
• Works indoors and outdoors - while it generally performs better outdoors, you can use this in your basement or at the range!

Overall, this device is great for someone who just wants basic features that work well.

Garmin Approach R10 Overview

The Garmin Approach R10 is Garmin's only launch monitor offering as of writing, but boy has it made waves in the golf community. For just $599, you get radar technology that tracks basic data points and can also act as a golf simulator by connecting to various simulation software like Home Tee Hero, E6 Connect, TGC 2019, Awesome Golf, and more.

Some of Garmin Approach's key features include:

• Tracks 3D Shot Data - you'll see the basic 2D data such as carry distance, vertical launch angle, club head speed and ball speed, plus 3D data like club face angle, club path angle, and horizontal launch angle (launch direction).
• iOS and Android App - a mobile app that allows you to see your shot data while at the range while also offering Garmin's "Home Tee Hero", a simulation software built-in to the app that allows you to play courses
• E6 Connect Integration - E6 Connect is one of the most popular simulation software and is used for online golf leagues around the world
• Portable with hard carrying case - This unit is small enough to fit in your golf bag and has a nice case to store all the parts in
• Works indoors and outdoors - while it generally performs better outdoors, you can use this in your basement or at the range!

Accuracy comparison

The first comparison we'll look at is accuracy, because this is arguably the most important factor for your launch monitor purchase decision.

Let's remember though—both of these launch monitors are in the "budget" category, which means... They will both miss shot readings every so often, might give some weird numbers on occasion, and won't give you Trackman-like results.

That said, both the Flightscope Mevo and the Approach R10 have pretty high accuracy ratings given their price points.

To give us a point of reference, below is a table that Garmin provides as the "expected" accuracy rating of the Approach R10. Flightscope does NOT provide any "expected" performance numbers, but markets the Mevo similarly.

Both the Approach R10 and Flightscope Mevo have similar accuracy indoors and outdoors. Furthermore, they both have high accuracy for the following data points:

• Carry distance
• Swing speed
• Ball speed (assuming you use real golf balls)

Both units tend to be inaccurate for the following metrics:

• Spin rate
• Smash factor

Outdoor Accuracy Comparison

Both units use radar technology as their primary way of tracking shot data, which means by default, both units will generally perform best when used outdoors. This is because radar launch monitors emit doppler waves that bounce off the golf ball in the air, which means the further it can see, the more readings it can capture.

Overall, I have found the Garmin Approach R10 to be slightly more accurate outdoors compared to the Mevo, and I believe that is mainly because the Garmin Approach R10 is easier to set up. The "tripod" legs that the R10 sits on sits a bit more level on uneven surfaces (like a driving range), so you can generally get it positioned more easily.

Since the only accuracy difference I noticed was because of user error, I'll go ahead and mark this one a tie. I think both launch monitors are pretty accurate outdoors.

My Verdict: Tie

Indoor Accuracy Comparison

As I mentioned at the beginning of this comparison, Flightscope Mevo uses Flightcope's proprietary fusion tracking technology, which is a combination of radar and photo tracking technology.

While I cannot attribute the results to this factor, it seems that the Mevo performs slightly better indoors. Could it be the added photometric measurements? Not sure. But in general, I think you'll find that the Mevo is slightly more accurate indoors.

This is unfortunate because Mevo cannot be used as a simulator like the Approach R10 can.

When the Garmin R10 was initially released, many customers complained about the poor indoor performance, but as of recent firmware and product updates, it appears that fewer and fewer customers are complaining about this.

Both launch monitors are roughly the same when it comes to indoor accuracy with a slight edge given to the Mevo.

My Winner: Flightscope Mevo

What data points do each launch monitor track?

When comparing the R10 vs. Flightscope Mevo, one of the major differences between the two is what key metrics they can track. The Garmin Approach R10 can capture 3D shot data (i.e. shot distance and shot shape/direction) while the Flightscope Mevo only captures 2D data (only shot distance and launch angles).

As you can see, there is a pretty clear winner in this category. With more breadth and some pretty advanced metrics for the price point, the R10 offers a lot in the measurement category.

My winner: Garmin Approach R10

Simulator features Comparison

This section is short because... Flightscope Mevo cannot be used as a golf simulator. Since it only measures 2D shot data, you cannot play virtual golf courses.

That said, the Garmin R10 does allow you to play virtual courses via Home Tee Hero, E6 Connect, and other simulation software. We will explore that in the next section!

My Winner: Garmin Approach R10

Garmin Golf App vs. FS Golf App

Both the Flightscope Mevo and Garmin Approach R10 can be paired with their iOS or Android compatible mobile apps.

The Flightscope Mevo pairs with the "FS Golf App" while the Approach R10 pairs with the "Garmin Golf App".

Garmin Golf App Overview

You can do 4 main things with the Garmin App:

1. GPS + Round Tracking - has nothing to do with the launch monitor, but a nice feature
2. Range session - hit golf balls at a virtual range and see data from the Approach R10 launch monitor (no subscription required)
3. Video analysis - you can record your swing on video (while also capturing shot data) through your mobile phone and analyze it with the built-in swing analysis tool
4. Play Virtual Courses - although a subscription of $9.99 per month is required, you can play over 42,000 virtual golf courses directly within the app via Home Tee Hero.

Home Tee Hero is Garmin's proprietary golf simulation software. It doesn't have the nice graphics of something like E6 Connect, but is one of the coolest features of the Garmin App:

Flightscope Golf App Overview

You can do 2 main things with the FS Golf App:

• Range Session + Challenges - you can hit golf balls at the virtual range or choose from a small collection of
• Video analysis - similar to the Garmin r10, you can record your swing and shot data with your iPhone or Android device and then analyze it within the app

Do both apps require an active subscription?

Neither app requires a subscription to see basic shot data.

That said, the Garmin Golf App requires you to purchase a subscription if you choose to use the Home Tee Hero simulation software.

Additionally, you can optionally use E6 Connect, TGW 2019, or Awesome Golf with the Approach R10 to use it as a golf simulator and play courses and enter online events. These all require some sort of subscription or one-time payment.

Can data be viewed on a computer?

At the time of writing, Garmin does NOT have an online dashboard for you to see your shot data and stats. You can view a history of your shots on the mobile app.

In comparison, Flightscope has "Flightscope Cloud", which is an online dashboard for you to see all your shot data. It also has reports and analysis that give you insights into your game, which is a cool feature in my opinion!

Swing recordings and analysis comparison

Both apps allow you to record and analyze your swing.

Neither of them are very good.

If you're trying to analyze your swing better, I suggest reading my post on how to record your swing.

Which app is better?

All things considered, I think the Garmin Golf App is the clear winner here. While Garmin doesn't yet have a "Cloud" solution where you can view your stats online, that's something I'd expect Garmin to develop in the future, so it's not a dealbreaker for me. Not only that, but the Garmin Golf App comes with built-in golf simulation software, a huge win.

My Winner: Garmin Golf App

Space requirements and size: Which is more portable and convenient?

Both devices are very similar in this category.

Here are the recommended space requirements and setups for each.

Flightscope Mevo setup

As you see below, the recommended setup for the Flightscope Mevo is to place it 6-8' behind the ball. If you are using it indoors, you will need a space that is at least 20' in depth, 15' wide, and 9' ceilings.

Garmin Approach R10 setup

As you see below, the recommended setup for the Flightscope Mevo is to place it 6-8' behind the ball. If you are using it indoors, you will need a space that is at least 20' in depth, 15' wide, and 9' ceilings.

Phone mount: Which is more convenient?

The Garmin R10 comes with a dedicated phone mount that you can clip to just about anything, while the Flightscope Mevo does not come with any phone mount.

The Garmin R10 phone mount isn't the best way to set up for a swing analysis recording, so while it's a nice addition to the kit, it's not a dealbreaker for me.

Unit size and portability

The Flightscope Mevo is 3.55" x 2.76" x 1.18"

The Garmin R10 is 3.5" x 2.8" x 1" (without the tripod)

In other words, both units are about the size of a deck of cards, while the R10 is slightly larger once you attach the tripod it sits on.

Both units will easily fit in your golf bag and both units are made of durable plastic.

My Verdict: Tie

Shot history: Which device is easier to review stats with?

When using the Garmin R10, you will only be able to see shot data and history within the mobile app.

With Flightscope Mevo, you can see it both in the app and on your computer later via Flightscope Cloud:

While I'm hoping Garmin can add a stats analysis feature to their Garmin Connect cloud offering, it's not here yet. So in that regard, Mevo is the winner here.

My Winner: Flightscope Mevo

Which has more integrations and device compatibility?

Both launch monitors have apps for iOS and Android, but there are a few major differences in the breadth of integrations between the two.

Garmin Approach R10 integrations and software compatibility

Since the Garmin R10 has full golf simulation capabilities, it integrates with a lot more software. Here is a short list of all the softwares compatible with the Garmin R10 (but NOT Flightscope Mevo):

• Garmin Golf App
• Home Tee Hero app - simulation software (Garmin's offering)
• E6 Connect - simulation software (very popular)
• TGW 2019 - simulation software
• Awesome Golf - simulation software
• Pinseeker - enter live tournaments with other golfers

Flightscope Mevo integrations and software compatibility

Below is a short list of integrations for the Mevo:

• FS Golf App
• FS Skills App - a separate app with additional games and challenges that Flightscope is planning on consolidating into the FS Golf App at some point
• Apple Watch - unlike the Garmin R10, the Mevo app integrates with the Apple Watch

Unless having your Apple Watch working with your portable launch monitor is an absolute dealbreaker, I'd say the Garmin R10 wins this category by a landslide.

My Winner: Garmin Approach R10

Battery life comparison

Below is a table that compares battery life and charging time between these two popular launch monitors:

My Winner: Garmin Approach R10

Other portable launch monitors similar to Mevo and Garmin R10

While I think both the Flightscope Mevo and Garmin Approach R10 are great launch monitor choices, in this section, I'll cover a short list of other launch monitors you might want to consider.

Where does the Flightscope Mevo Plus fit into the equation?

There are a lot of comparisons out there between the Flightscope Mevo Plus and Garmin Approach R10 despite the two launch monitors being in totally different price ranges.

The Flightscope Mevo Plus retails around $1979 while the Garmin Approach R10 retails around $599.

This is a common comparison because Mevo Plus has golf simulation capabilities (unlike its younger sibling, the Mevo).

While the table below is rather simple, it is a good visualization to see how different golf launch monitors across various price points stack up. I've included the Skytrak launch monitor here as it's arguably the most comparable to the Mevo Plus.

As you can see, if having the ability to play simulated courses is important to you, you'll want to go with either the Garmin Approach R10, Flightscope Mevo Plus, or even the Skytrak. Obviously, the R10 is much cheaper, so it really just comes down to one thing—how much do you care about accuracy?

Additionally, the Mevo Plus has an internal camera that acts as a video capture device and alignment camera to calibrate the unit. This can be very nice if you're connecting it to a desktop computer for swing analysis.

Other devices

Below are some launch monitor units in a similar price range to both the Flightscope Mevo and Garmin R10.

Alternative #1: Swing Caddie SC4

The Swing Caddie SC4 offers a very similar feature set to the Garmin R10. It tracks 3D data, can be used as a simulator, and boasts similar accuracy ratings.

Coming in slightly cheaper than the R10 at $549, the SC4 has one very notable difference to the R10—it has an analog screen that shows shot data.

If you are someone who hates relying on your smartphone for everything, the SwingCaddie SC4 could be a great alternative to the Garmin R10 because you can see your ball flight data directly on the device.

That said, it has a smartphone app in addition to the on-screen data, so you get the best of both worlds!

Alternative #2: Rapsodo MLM2 Pro

A newer offering to the market and the most expensive launch monitor in the "Budget" category, coming in $100 more than the R10, and $200 more than the Mevo. The Rapsodo MLM2 Pro is arguably the R10's biggest current competitor with the most comparable set of features and integrations, including simulator capabilities.

I hope to do a full review on this in the future, but for now, I've been hearing some great things about the MLM2 Pro.

Concluding Thoughts and Overall Pick

In summary, I think overall, the Garmin Approach R10 is the winner.

The Garmin R10 is great for golfers who...

• Want lots of features
• Want indoor use + home golf simulator features at a budget price point
• Want a lot of "bang for your buck"

I think the Flightscope Mevo is great for golfers who...

• Love their Apple Watch and want to use it with a launch monitor
• Need basic data and a way to analyze it visually on a computer