Bushnell Circle B Edition vs Launch Pro: What’s Actually Different?
Think the new Circle B Edition Launch Pro is a whole new device? Spoiler: it isn’t. But the real story behind the rebrand is worth your time—and could save you money.
Let me save you some scrolling.
The new Circle B Edition Launch Pro and the outgoing Bushnell Launch Pro are the exact same launch monitor.
Seriously. The exact same three high-speed cameras. Same photometric technology. Same ball and club data. Same tank-like build quality that I’d rate as best-in-class. Same built-in screen.
So, what’s the big deal? Why all the marketing and advertising?
Well, there is a story here, and it’s a worthwhile one that ends up being smart for Bushnell and for us golfers.
The Quick Answer: Circle B Edition vs Original Launch Pro
If you’re in a hurry, here’s what you need to know:
As I said, the Bushnell Circle B Edition Launch Pro is the Bushnell Launch Pro. Same device.
What has changed:
- Bushnell’s trademark orange is back as the dominant color of the new Launch Pro.
- A new Silver subscription tier at $199 per year allows for a more affordable way in.
- Price starts at $2,499 for all units — club data and simulation access available through subscription.
That’s it. That’s the comparison.
But where things get interesting is with the why behind these changes and what they mean for buyers.
Why Bushnell Rebranded to Circle B Edition
It’s been a long and winding road for the old Launch Pro.
When Bushnell and Foresight Sports ended up under the same umbrella as sister companies of a sort, things got a bit complicated. Foresight had developed the GC3, a prosumer three-camera photometric launch monitor.
The GC3 was and is all the rage among serious golfers who don’t want to go all the way up to the tens-of-thousands-of-dollars level.
Then the decision was made to launch that same GC3 product with a different pricing model under the Bushnell brand. The idea was to repackage this product for a brand that had better reach with everyday amateur golfers. And the Launch Pro was born.
And it was a smash success.
Which is why it was confusing when word came down that the Launch Pro was being discontinued and instead this three-camera launch monitor classic was going to be sold as just the GC3 and the new subscription-based GC3S. No more Launch Pro.
Anyway, Bushnell and Foresight seem to have righted the ship and found their heading. The GC3 and GC3S are still available. But now Bushnell’s version is back in the mix. And to make that clear, they decided to unleash a full-on re-branding.
It’s actually a return to their core identity: Orange. The new Circle B Edition Launch Pro features an all-orange back that reestablishes Bushnell’s key brand-color association.
Comparing Original Launch Pro vs Circle B Edition Pricing
This is where things get meaningful.
Original Launch Pro Pricing (Most Recent):
- Ball data only: $1,999
- Ball and club data: $2,499
- Gold subscription: $499 per year (required for sim software, includes 25 FSX Play courses)
Circle B Edition Launch Pro Pricing:
- Ball data only: $2,499
- Club data requires silver or gold subscription
- Silver subscription: $199 per year (5 FSX Play courses, no third-party software compatibility)
- Gold subscription: $499 per year (25 courses, third-party software compatible)
The big news here is the Silver tier. At $199 a year, you’re saving $300 annually if you don’t need 25 sim courses. For a lot of golfers who mainly use their launch monitor for practice and maybe play the same handful of courses, this is a nice development.
The tradeoff is that the cost to get in for just ball data only is now higher. Still, I think most users interested in a product of this level of data and accuracy realize that they want club data too.
The other thing to notice is that the Silver package won’t unlock third-party software compatibility. So if you’re a GSPro user, you’re still stuck with the Gold tier.
Circle B Edition LPi vs Original LPi
So far, we’ve talked only about the indoor-outdoor Launch Pro. But there’s also the indoor-only LPi. This is the same three-camera launch monitor but without the built-in display or battery. So it’s more limited. But also less expensive.
And for the LPi, very little changes with the new Circle B Edition.
Pricing stays at $1,499 for both versions. The Circle B Edition LPi gets a more subtle color update — gray with orange accents rather than the full orange backing of the Launch Pro. Makes it easier to tell them apart at a glance.
The hardware is identical. Same three cameras, same accuracy.
Ah, but with the LPi, you have to get at least the Silver subscription to do anything. There’s no option to get just ball data without a subscription.
Bushnell Circle B Launch Pro vs LPi vs Foresight GC3 and GC3S: Which One Should You Buy?
Alright, let’s work through our options. To review, we’ve got the same launch monitor packaged a few different ways, under a few different names, and with a few different pricing models.
Here’s how the lineup breaks down:
- Bushnell Circle B Edition LPi ($1,499): It’s an indoor-only launch monitor that requires either the Silver ($199 per year) or Gold ($499 per year) subscription for ball and club data and simulator software access.
- Bushnell Circle B Edition Launch Pro ($2,499.99): Ball data available upon purchase. Club data and simulator access requires Silver or Gold subscription.
- Foresight GC3S ($3,799): Requires the Gold subscription to operate. Comes with a Bushnell Pro X3 LINK rangefinder.
- Foresight GC3 ($6,999): No subscription required. Fully unlocked from the start. Also includes a Pro X3 LINK rangefinder.
They’re all the same guts. The difference is branding, subscription requirements, and the Pro X3 LINK rangefinder.
That rangefinder is a sweet addition. It allows you to link your launch monitor data with your rangefinder so that you can get personalized club recommendations on the course based on your launch monitor data.
But the nice thing is that if you don’t care about that kind of feature, or you don’t want to pay for it, you’re no longer forced to. These new Circle B Editions continue that more affordable lane that the Launch Pro always represented.
So, it may have been confusing to get here, but all’s well that ends well, as they say. We’ve got more choices now. That’s really what the Circle B launch is all about. We’ll take it.
About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen
Marc "Shef" Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.