2023 Official Member Review: Cobalt Q-6 Range Finder

[GolfSpy_APH]

Welcome all to the first Member Test for MGS Forum in 2023. The Cobalt Q-6 Range Finder! 

Welcome our testers and follow along to see how they find the product in not only their final review, but updates all along throughout the test and post review for longer term follow up!

@Tom the Golf Nut
@vandyland
@DaveP043
@DriverBreaker

Want to be a tester for MGS Forum 2023? Be sure to go to our How To Become A Tester Thread to better your chances and get the ins and outs on how we select our testers!

[vandyland]

Introduction

 

First of all, honored/amped to be selected and congratulations to the other testers! I am in my late 30s and have been playing almost 10 years. I started taking lessons a two years ago and that got me deep into golf, led me to join this forum and become completely obsessed. In the past year my handicap has moved back and forth between a 4 and a 6 and I currently sit in the mid 5s. I have recently turned my driving from a weakness to a strength (thanks Otto-phlex and Monte's "No Turn Cast") but still struggle putting. I favor golf courses on the shorter side which, I think, gives me more "options" off the tee (and boosts my ego) and allows for more on-course strategy. I play 18 holes 1-2x a week and got 65 rounds in 2022 while having two kids under 4 years old (shoutout to my wife!).

I play most of my golf in Nashville and I use a rangefinder FREQUENTLY on the course. In an effort to be on my phone less (or not at all) I dispensed with the GPS yardages app I had and I use my rangefinder to shoot flags, hazards and really anything of note (I prefer to have all the information). This is especially important on courses I haven't played before. I have a fairly "budget" rangefinder at present that I usually have to shoot something about 4-5 times and then throw out any crazy numbers and take some sort of average. Also, it is useless in any small amount of fog. So deciding to focus entirely on a subpar rangefinder may have been a bad choice but also a great opportunity for the Cobalt! For me, the most important attributes of a rangefinder are:

1) Accuracy - I think this goes without saying. As accurate as possible is great but I also won't quibble with +/- 1 yd from 150 yds+, no way am I good enough to care about that.
2) Speed - How fast does it lock onto a target?
3) Ease of Use - Is the display clear and uncluttered? Will it be able to overcome shaky hands? Will it pick up the flag/bunker edge/OB stake? How far can it reach?
4) Value - I think this is important to readers, you could make a perfect rangefinder and sell it for $1,000 but most people I know are looking at what are they getting for their money
5) Looks/Build - Performance is way more important but how does the rangefinder look? What case does it come in? Does it fit on my bag easily etc. 
6) Other Features - Are there other features that I don't even know I was missing that I will find here? It looks like it has magnification which I don't currently have but seems like it would be VERY necessary for hazards and bunker lips along with flags. 
 

 

First Impressions (18 out of 20)

Out of the box, the looks were not exactly what I was used to/looking for. The color combo and graphics were a bit loud for my taste BUT I recognize that Cobalt is trying to make a name for themselves and make their rangefinder identifiable out on the course (the look grew on me and honestly we are talking about performance here). The carrying case is a good secure design and I LOVE that they don't use velcro. Time will tell how long the netting stays taut but so far (2 months in) there is no sign of degrading on the security of the closure. The rangefinder itself felt well made, not slippery and ergonomic. Battery was ready to go and full charge so that is always a plus. Nice to be able to plug and play right out of the box (to avoid confusion, when I say "plug" this rangefinder uses batteries and is not rechargeable). 

Aesthetics (8 out of 10)

As mentioned above, the looks were not quite to my tastes so I may be judging harshly based on the color scheme. The unit itself if attractive and if I show it just in black and white picture format, you can see how (to me at least) well made it is. 

There are not a ton of customization options that I can see which isn't particularly relevant to me (on the website it notes that you can get this engraved but I didn't utilize that option for this range finder). It would be nice to get this just in all black but, again, doesn't impact the usability of the range finder. As for durability, I didn't drop it or run it over with a golf cart but I took it in and out of the carrying case, golf bag and it survived one "cart accident" where my push cart ran away from me down a hill and flipped over on a cart path. Here it is as of a week ago and it has a few signs of wear (this has been through about 11 rounds at this point) but still looks great to me. It has a matte rubber finish that can show some marking but overall none of the rubber is showing any signs of degrading. 

The storage case is a different design than I am used to with range finders. Gone is the velcro and it is replaced with almost a bungee cord setup. It has remained tight/taut over several months and I much prefer it to velcro (first it seems more durable and second I don't have to worry about ripping velcro in someone's backswing, haha). It has a plush interior and sits comfortably in the case without sliding around. 

The Numbers (10 out of 10) 

This is the main event. This is what we care about. For reference, I compared the Cobalt against a WoSports (amazon) low end rangefinder and a Bushnell V2. Some major things I noticed between the Cobalt and the Amazon that might justify the price difference for many people:

-Cobalt gives me a consistent number 95% of the time. By that I mean if I shoot the same target multiple times I get the same number. This is not the case with the Amazon one where I might get 147.5, then 148.3, then 147.1, etc. Cobalt showed the same number repeatedly which gave me confidence. 

-The Cobalt is more accurate that the Amazon rangefinder. I tested this via a football field that I know is quite accurate and using Google Earth Pro (for longer distances) which may not be perfect but gives me a ballpark number. On the football field, the Cobalt gave me 61.9 yds from midfield to the field goal center upright (which should be 62 yds since the field goal is 2 yds deep of the back of the end zone which is 10 yds + 50 yds to midfield). The Amazon gave me several numbers ranging from 61.7 to 60.9. So on a 62 yd shot, the Cobalt was about anywhere from 0.3% - 1.5% more accurate. Using google earth pro, I found two trees that were (by google earth pro) 337 yds apart. Cobalt said 336 yds (which I am inclined to think is more accurate) and the Amazon, surprisingly, kept up fairly well ranging from 336.9 - 335.1. That being said, if you want absolute accuracy Cobalt won out on both actual distance and consistency of number. 

-It seems at least equal to Bushnell if not better. I tested against a Bushnell V2 shift and while numbers were slightly different (almost every time) they were within 1/2 yd of each other. They both gave consistent numbers and seemed to have a similar experience. Cobalt touts being able to shoot up to 450 yds which I amazing but not something I have a ton of utility for. That said, if people keep hitting the ball farther and farther they may need to start knowing where hazards are at 450 yds off the tee.

-The slope function seemed more accurate than my Amazon and did similar math to Bushnell. I liked the slope function and found it to be more accurate (slightly more aggressive which, to me, was more accurate) than my Amazon slope calc. The math was similar to the V2 in that they seemed to be using largely the same percentage increase based on elevation change. 

-Shooting targets was easy and quick. The Cobalt gets yardages slightly faster and definitely more consistent than the Amazon and the Bushnell (though I was not used to the Bushnell so maybe that explains some of that). 

-Instructions are fairly clear. This item is mostly easy straight out of the box except for two non-intuitive items I point out below. Did not have any interactions with their support team.

-Display was clear and concise, not overly cluttered. The intensity of the display numbers can be increased or decreased and it is orangish/red  which proved to be easier to see in most cases than the black I had on the amazon. 

-Batteries have held up well through 11 rounds. Still have a full battery at this point. 

-Confusing, non-intuitive items - Maybe I am a moron but I had to get help on this forum for how to get the QSlope to do the "vibration lock" when it hit a target (you have to hold down the operation button). It was spelled out in the instructions but I was on-course and didn't have them. It also took me a second to twist the focus knob enough to get it to change, I think I am used to cheap/flimsy rangefinders which this is NOT. It is quite sturdy. 

-MOST USEFUL FEATURE - The zoom is awesome. Very clear and pristine ocular viewing. MUCH better than my amazon and quite sensitive. Feels like a high end binocular. 

-LEAST USEFUL FEATURE - As mentioned previously, being able to shoot something 450 yds away is not a ton of help for me but I am also not a masher of the golf ball.  

 

On-Course (20 out of 20)

Yep, it does a great job on course. I LOVE the bungee closure because it is very secure, quiet and I have developed a muscle memory skill where I can open it with one hand. It did well on cloudy days, sunny days and wet days. It got numbers quickly and kept them consistent. The orange display POPS at this time of year when everything is gray and dismal and on the few very sunny days I could still see it just fine. It is slightly bigger than my old rangefinder but that actually made it fit my hand BETTER. Never had to think about using it and didn't interfere with my routine. The zoom feature blew me away and even though I touched on it above, having a clear powerful zoom feature is just barely second to getting good numbers as the most important aspect of this rangefinder. It made it more fun to use and I was able to tell what brand of clubs the group had in front of me in their cart bags from like 200 yds. Unbelievable. 

Now that I have a really good zoom, I have largely dispensed with my GPS app because I can shoot intermediate targets much easier. I would say this has improved my experience on the course and I am now gleefully shouting at my playing partners "you didn't clear that hazard that was only 145.7 yds to cover!" I can't say I play much better because of it but I am much better INFORMED. I used to be ashamed of my rangefinder and would typically rely on others for their readings but no more. I can hold my head up high now. 

The Good, the band, and the inbetween (18 out of 20)

The functionality is great. It is well constructed and easy to use. I also haven't touched on this feature but activating the SLOPE feature requires you to use a slider and then a bright orange light (see picture below) comes on so you and everyone else knows you are in slope mode (which is a good thing if you are playing in sanctioned competitions). 

I don't love the look of it so I think they could clean up the aesthetics a bit. 

This rangefinder is fairly expensive. As I mentioned above it is superior to a cheap rangefinder but the difference, in my experience, isn't MASSIVE on the raw numbers. But add in the fact that the number is consistent, all the features are better and the Cobalt is just better constructed to last and you think maybe that starts to justify the cost. But I will say my little amazon rangefinder did better (on pure numbers) than I thought it would. 

Play it or Trade it (20 out of 20)

Well, similar to developing a taste for fine wine (I haven't yet so I will assume this is an apt analogy), I can't go back to the cheap stuff. The experience of using this is better. The numbers are (slightly) more accurate and the zoom is just awesome. I must play this. It is quick enough and consistent enough to where I don't have to be on my phone double checking GPS yardages against the rangefinder and that means I don't have to look at a screen at any point during the round. That is valuable to me. 

Conclusion

Since I was long winded everywhere else I will be brief here -- I can confirm this unit is highly accurate, easy to use, has a phenomenal zoom feature and can withstand a push cart accident and it is 100% staying in my bag even if it I don't think it is going to win any beauty contests. 

FINAL SCORE - 94 out of 100

 

 

Edited March 20, 2023 by vandyland

[Tom the Golf Nut]

 

Hey everyone, Tom the Golf Nut here ready to participate in a great test.

 I am pretty much a self-taught golfer and have been playing for over thirty years. I took some group lessons when I first started playing. After that I just figured things out myself with some help from golf magazines and videos. My biggest improvements in my game came from installing my simulator in conjunction with a MEVO several years ago. I got to see my swing path and ball flight info. I do get to play a decent amount of golf. Once or twice a week at my club, playing with customers, as well as golf outings for charities. I am able to play year-round.

My handicap is currently at 0.6

Swing tempo is smooth with an average driver swing speed just under 100 mph.

I played in Northeast Tennessee at the base of the Smoky Mountains until my recent move to North Carolina. Courses are generally very different here than my hilly and mountainous courses in TN. Here it is flatter but requires more placement shots. Lots of dog legs and waste areas to avoid. 

My average ball flight is straight with a middle flight trajectory.  

My strengths are driving the ball in the fairway, chipping, pitching and putting.

I have been playing Sub 70 699 Pro irons and a Titleist TSI 1 Driver.

So, what do I want to accomplish during this testing? Well, the claims are that it should be a very good Laser Rangefinder. I decided to test the model with the slope feature.

1)       Is this unit accurate? I can test against a TEC TEC TEC unit and a Bushnell Pro 500 to check accuracy and speed on picking up the pin. The two older units I have would not always pick up the pin but rather shoot past and pick up a tree or some other target. So, I always relied on my own visual distance estimate to confirm.

2)      How does this fit in my hand and are the controls right where they need to be based on my normal hand and finger location on the unit.

3)    How is the display? Easy to read? Bright enough? Will it hold up over time?

4)    The unit is supposed to lock on the pin then vibrate and give audible feedback to confirm it is locked on. I haven't had this feature before so we shall see how good this is.

5)     The unit is supposed to pick up a pin out to 600 yards. I’ll test that as well. It will probably come in handy once I can hit the ball that far. LOL

6)    I will test the slope feature as well. I have not had this feature before and am excited to see if this helps or hurts my old manual guess on how much more or less club to hit based on the elevation difference.

7)    And finally, how long will the battery last?

Cobalt Q6 Laser Rangefinder Official MGS Forum Review by Tom the Golf Nut    March, 2023

 Thank you to Cobalt and MGS for this testing opportunity.

During breaks in the rainy weather over the winter I was able to put the Cobalt Q6 through its paces. I was able to see what this bad boy could do and how it put my others to shame. Was this a spoiler alert? You bet ya.

The test didn’t start off to well. Once my package arrived, I quickly got to work the very next morning. I went out to the street and was shooting trees down the road. Unfortunately, a woman down the road was standing out front with her kid waiting for the school bus. I think she thought I was a peeping Tom or something and I got some inquisitive looks. She scurried back into the house once the bus arrived. I was waiting for the cops to show up or her big burley husband to come over, but luckily that didn’t happen. By the way she was 142.5 yards away. So, I decided that it is best to keep the testing confined to the course, range, or my yard going forward.

 I recently moved so the Cobalt and I got to work very closely together. My new home course although not as hilly (mountainous) as my last one has many dog legs (too many) and accuracy is needed. Both for being in the correct position on the turns on the dog legs and for the small greens. I was warned by the Pro when I joined “Don’t be long into any green” So, getting the correct yardage is a must.

A bit of history. I started with a laser back when they were as big as ship binoculars. It was a Bushnell Yardage Pro 500. It took two hands to handle that whopper.  Then went to a Golf Logix GPS (before there were hole overviews). This had yearly fees and only held 5 courses. Then I migrated back to a laser. I have the Tectectec unit without slope. This unit was developing display issues and I moved back to a GPS. This time a watch also by Tectectec. The watch is still functioning fine and what I have been using for the past two seasons.

Let’s look at the Cobalt Q6 in some detail.

Features

Looks & Feel (9 out of 10 points)

My first impression out of the box was that it was on the heavier side and slightly larger compared to my Tec unit. It’s not a lot heavier but it is 10.6 ounces compared to 7.0 ounces. The Cobalt is sharp looking with a nice contrasting cobalt blue color accent. Simple to use. Remove the plastic disc off the battery, replace the battery cap and away you go. No need for instructions but I read them anyway. I was testing so I needed to. Easy trigger location right where it needed to be. On the side you had a switch for slope on or off. Big red LED visible to others on the side of the unit showing that you used the slope. You can also adjust the brightness of the display and change from yards to meters in the same location. The only reason it lost a point was due to the weight being more than other units and slightly larger. But this unit was built to last with a magnesium chassis inside an aluminum body compared to other brands that use a plastic body.  This unit is waterproof as well. I have no intention on proving this though. I did find that the unit was more stable with being slightly heavier.  Another thing that I did like is that the unit and the case had color contrast. The unit has blue accents, and the case was black and graphite color. This is important to me because there is nothing worse than leaving your unit in the black cubby of a golf cart at the end of the round. Black gets lost in the shadows especially in a late afternoon round and its dusk when you finish up. I learned this the hard way on my Tec unit. But luckily the cart guy turned it in to the pro shop. I got it back two weeks later once I realized it was missing. Also, fortunate that it was a private course. It would have been gone on a public one for sure.

 Setup (15 out of 15 points)

Instructions were simple. Pick it up, adjust the eye piece for glasses or no glasses. Set the slope switch to on or off. Touch the trigger to turn it on aim and press the trigger again. You can also adjust the brightness of the display using the knob on the outside of the unit. The product has a lifetime guarantee which is very nice. After having issues with others and not getting satisfactory service that is a big plus for this unit / manufacturer. Another handy feature is the yards and meters button located inside the brightness ring. It you travel out of country you can switch it back and forth with a push of the button. If you’re like me, meters are a foreign language. I was playing with a visitor from Germany, and he kept asking for the distances in meters. I had no clue previously. This unit would have been helpful. My other unit you had to go into a setting menu.  

 Accuracy (15 out of 15 points)

I never had to second guess yardages. The first few rounds I double checked and for a while I was even trying to fool it but it locked on correctly every time. The PinSense technology worked. I like the fact that you can adjust the brightness right there on the outside of the unit with a knob. This came in handy on overcast days which transitioned into bright sunlight. The 7x magnification was a great feature to have as well. You knew exactly what you were shooting. Most readings on lasers are shown in whole numbers.  This unit goes to the decimal place. As an example (145 versus Cobalt's 145.2 yards) 

Image credit, Cobalt Golf

On-Course (38 out of 40 points)

The only reason this unit did not get a 40 out of 40 was its size. It’s not big by any means but it was just big enough to make me change my habits. If I ride in a cart, I always kept my other unit in the cup holder in the case with the top folded back. You can reach over pull it out and shoot the target while getting out of the cart. If I walked the unit was upright in the GPS pocket on the golf bag in the same orientation. With the Cobalt it will not fit in the cup holder while in the case. The case also opens horizontally instead of vertically. If walking the unit will not fit in the GPS pocket on my golf bag in a way that you can get to it without taking the entire case out. But for every problem there is always a solution. In a carts cup holder, it just needs to be out of the case. For walking I used an additional strap which kept the unit in a great location. Kudos for Cobalt for including a clip and belt loops on the case. They came in handy. With my now perfect location on the bag. You reach in take it out and take the reading then pull the club you need. It is a very simple unit to operate. The vibration and jolt let you know you have acquired the target.

Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20 points)

There is nothing that makes me happier than a new unit stepping up and letting you know that your other units are not as good as you thought they were. Validation! Now it’s not inexpensive by any means but it is in line with other high-end units and its quality is top notch. The crystal-clear optics sets this unit above others I have or have tried. 

Additionally, I compared it to my GPS watch. Not that this was necessary for testing but rather to help me decide what is really the best for me. 

Easiest to use for approximate yardage to the pin goes to the watch. Look at your wrist and there it is. Front, middle, and back readings. 

Accurate yardage to the pin or any other target goes to the laser.

Being able to trust a GPS unit due to mapping issues by the manufacturer, satellite or whatever means they used is a big factor. So the laser gets the higher confidence marks.

Playing on a course with large greens I would go with the laser. Front middle and back readings are sometimes not enough. Medium size greens I would be ok with the GPS watch. Small greens the laser for accuracy. 

Practice sessions on the driving range goes to the laser. GPS does nothing for you here. A laser is the best way to get to know your distances. Since they move the tee boxes forward and backward and never move the targets the only way to know the true distance is with a laser.

 Conclusion

Having used many devices for distance over the years this has been a welcome experience. I was ready to say yup it’s just another laser rangefinder but after receiving and testing the unit it is one that I would purchase. If you’re all about brand name and want to see the Bushnell name, then this is not for you. If you want a great unit, then this is one you should consider. It's a quality-built unit and very easy to use. With a lifetime warranty on the unit, it shows they stand behind their product.

I NEVER go and read other reviews on whatever I am testing until my review is complete. I did go back and look at other companies test reviews right before submitting this and I will say out of the 6 or 7 I read there was not one bad one. The only negative comment was from one guy who liked to see both readings at the same time in the display (straight reading to target and with slope adjustment). If you really want to know just move the switch for slope to the off position on this unit.  

 Final Score: 97 out of 100

 

[DaveP043]

Once again, I’m back with a review, one of the lucky few selected to review the Cobalt Q-6 Slope laser rangefinder.  Thanks to Cobalt for providing the rangefinder, and to MyGolfSpy for selecting me.

An introduction to me, I'm a 66-year old Geotechnical Engineer, living in the Washington DC suburbs.  I’m easing into retirement, working only two days a week in the office, playing a bit more golf.  I’m also becoming active as a Rules Official, volunteering with both the VSGA and the MAPGA.   I've taken the USGA/PGA Rules Workshop 3 times, including in December 2022, and have scored well on the 100-quesiton exam.

I've been playing golf since I was a teenager, so I have something over 50 years of experience. I was largely a hacker, maybe a 15-handicap at best until I joined the club in the early 90s. Since then, with the help of a couple of lessons, a good bit of practice, and lots of play, I've become much better, currently a 8 handicap. I love to play and love even more to compete. Lucky for me, my wife is the same.

A quick equipment summary: I just replaced my driver over the winter of 2018/2019. Through a fitting session at Mid South in Pinehurst, I ended up with a Calloway Rogue SubZero with Graphite Design YS-Six shaft. Irons are Titleist T200 (reviewed for MGS), with Mizuno wedges.  Last Spring I added a Sub70 5-wood (see my review) and a Mizuno 7-wood.  Putter is an old Ping G5i (with the blue inserts) B-60.

As I mentioned, I'm a single-digit handicap, current with a7.2 index. I generally keep the ball in play, hit a fair number of greens. Long irons are decent, short irons are generally good, short game and putting have been pretty solid recently.

But all of that isn't really important in reviewing a rangefinder, in my opinion.  I currently use a Bushnell Tour V3 laser (no slope).  I also own a Tour V2 unit, with slope, but I prefer the non-slope version so I don't screw up in competition.  Those will be my basis for comparison for the Cobalt.  What's important?  I can think of a few, right off.  Size and weight will matter, how does it fits my hand will impact ease of use.  Going with ease of use are the controls, switching units, and switching the Slope on and off.  Optics are certainly important, both magnification and clarity.  The ability to select specific spots for distancing is important, can I pick up a specific tree, the edge of a bunker, the flagstick? The read-out will matter, is it easy to read and easy to understand?  The ability to lock onto an object, to ignore “clutter will matter.  Feedback when locked on will be nice, whether its optical in the read out, a vibration, or a sound.  I'm sure I'll come up with more criteria, but those are my initial thoughts.

Unboxing/First Impressions 20/20
I returned from a few days in Hilton Head (poor me!) to find a box from Wyoming.  Considering that Cobalt is a DTC operation, I expected that they'd have thought out some pretty sturdy packaging, and I wasn't disappointed.  The rangefinder itself was packed securely in a box within a box, sturdy formed cardboard. 

The carrying case is solid, typical elasticized loop closure. On the back are two  loops to string it on a belt, and a round carabiner loop to hang it from another piece of equipment.  Those belt looks are wide enough that it easily threads onto the standard strap on most  golf carts (buggies).

  The unit itself looks good, the black and blue color scheme works for me. Its a very solid feel, the controls work smoothly.  One thing I noticed, and that I really like, is the switch for the slope.  This is a toggle, you can clearly see that the slope is enabled (as in the photo) or disabled.  Beyond that, if you've pressed the “Fire” button, a red light is activated to show anyone nearby that the slope function is enabled.  I play a fair amount of competitive golf, I want to KNOW before I take a sight that the slope is off.  I don't want to look at my target and THEN realize slope is on, I'd have to penalize myself.  This rangefinger makes it absolutely clear, and I like that.

What else is there to say, the first impression of the Cobalt couldn't be any better
Now on to the rest of the review
I'll quote my “unboxing” post, how does on evaluate a a rangefinder?

Quote

I can think of a few, right off. Size and weight will matter, how does it fits my hand will impact ease of use. Going with ease of use are the controls, switching units, and switching the Slope on and off. Optics are certainly important, both magnification and clarity. The ability to select specific spots for distancing is important, can I pick up a specific tree, the edge of a bunker, the flagstick? The read-out will matter, is it easy to read and easy to understand? The ability to lock onto an object, to ignore “clutter will matter. Feedback when locked on will be nice, whether its optical in the read out, a vibration, or a sound. I'm sure I'll come up with more criteria, but those are my initial thoughts.

As I noted, the initial impressions are very good, the build quality seems excellent, the color scheme is different and fairly distinctive, the carrying case is solid, and I like that there are two different ways of attaching it to something, either using the “belt loops” or the round carabiner-type clip.  Some sound thinking, they realize that different people will attach it using different methods.  I had a few criteria in mind, at the beginning, but let's see what the Cobalt website talks about, paraphrasing to eliminate a few buzzwords and technical lingo (what's a “haptic response” anyway?):

PinSense with surge, to lock onto a specific target
Functional ergonomics (controls, rubber for grip, easy to get the correct control)
Slope with SmartSwitch
Premium Optics

None of this is revolutionary, its something I'd expect in a “premium” rangefinder.  

Aesthetics (10 out of 10) 

Shape/fit is good, smaller than others I've used, but enough not to get lost in my hand.  The textured rubber around the bottom, combined with a little “lip” at the back edge, give a secure feel.

The controls are well-designed, with each control assigned to its own lever or button or twist ring.  Although I learned quickly how the controls work, they ARE labeled pretty clearly.  I'll say it over and over, I love that the Slope switch is really clear, you know before you pick up the Cobalt whether the Slope sensor is enabled.  If you're going to compete in formal events, to me this is critical. 

 The case is well-designed and sturdy, with a “horizontal” opening rather than the “vertical” arrangement I've seen with some others.  

The Numbers (10 out of 10)

Battery life is something I'll report back on, I expect battery in a rangefinder should last most of a year.  I specifically like having a battery indicator, I'm accustomed to the (old) rangefinder I own just giving up suddenly, with no warning.  Customer support has been good, I had a question initially, before I took the Cobalt outdoors, so I emailed, and got a response the next morning.  
Accuracy seemed excellent.  I was able to compare with a number of other units, including my older Bushnells,and the yardages were identical.  I've only used it a couple of times at my home club, and the “plays like” distances in Slope more also seemed accurate.  
photo

This is the second shot at the 14th, the reading gave me 201 yards in standard mode, 190 yards in Slope mode.  Having played hundreds of rounds here, this is spot-on.

On-Course (20 out of 20)

The Cobalt does everything its supposed to do very well.  Operation is simple, one press of the button, and I get a distance for the specific spot, so I could easily get spot distances.  Hold it down and move a little, I'll get the vibration and visual flash showing me the nearest thing it crossed, usually the flag (the “haptic response” mentioned previously).    The response was plenty fast enough, nearly instantaneous with a single press, under a second when using the Pinsense feature.  I like that the illumination for the display is adjustable, for different light conditions.  The optics are excellent, very crisp with just a little adjustment.  Instructions were OK, like with many products the User's Manual was online, but the instructions are clear and accurate.  I can't say that the Cobalt helps me play better, but its definitely an improvement over previous models I've owned in the design and function of the controls, , the illuminated display, and the greater magnification and crispness of the optics.

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (15 out of 20)

A couple of nits here to pick.  I love the bright red display, and the variable brightness.  However, other slope units I've used show both the “true” distance and the slope-adjusted “plays like” distance when Slope is on.  Cobalt does not.  Its easy to get both, simply flip the switch, even after you've moved away, and the display distance will change,  I very rarely use slope, its no big deal to me, but others might want both numbers to display.
Second nit, this doesn't have a built-in magnet to attach it to your golf buggy.  I have never trusted those anyway, but I know lots of guys like the magnet.
Interesting to me, yesterday I played with a friend who had purchased the Cobalt, and he had the identical comments about his minor complaints.  
The good, I like the single-function controls, I love the optics, I like the brightness of the display.  This seems to be a high-quality rangefinder, based on a couple of weeks use.

Play it or Trade it? ( 18 out of 20)

I have come to rely on a rangefinder, especially on courses I don't see often.  This is an excellent rangefinder,well worth having, and it has earned a permanent place in my bag.  The retail price from the Cobalt website is $450.  I just looked at the top Bushnell, its $599, but a lower level slope laser is  $329.  I'd have to see the other lasers in person to really provide a good opinion as to whether the Cobalt is worth the asking price in this market.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the Cobalt is an excellent laser rangefinder.  In my view, the controls a work as designed, and the singular function for each button is an improvement over multifunction buttons I've seen in other units.  The response is quick, both for single point distances and for the PinSense mode, the optics are very good, with 7x magnification.  I prefer the illuminated readout to black I have in my current (older) Bushnell models.  Drawbacks, there's not a built-in magnet, and the read-out doesn't show both the real distance and the “slope corrected” distance at the same time.  This is not a “budget” rangefinder, but its a pretty dang good one.
Final Score (93 out of 100)

 

Edited March 19, 2023 by DaveP043

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations testers! Looks like we've got a great group for this one and I can't wait to see how y'all like the Cobalt.

[EasyPutter]

  Congratulations Testers!!! 

@Tom the Golf Nut @vandyland @DaveP043 @GolfSpy_APH
Looking forward to seeing what you guys are doing with yours so I can follow along with mine and maybe learn a few things I never thought of before!  Awesome team ranging here!  

[GolfSpy TCB]

Great Group of Testers that will most definitely put this rangefinder through its paces!  Congrats guys!!

[GolfSpy_BOS]

Congrats testers! Looking forward to seeing how this competes in a market that’s growing more and more crowded every year. 
 

I’m still enjoying my precision pro, but there seems to be a lot of great competition here now. 
 

 

[rkj427]

Congrats. to those selected.

Diverse group, and looking forward to the comments and reviews!

[GolfSpy AFG]

Congrats testers!

[Nunfa0]

Excellent group right here!!

[TylorJudd]

Congrats testers! 

@GolfSpy_APH I wonder if you can use it to determine the overall length of an ice sheet!?!?

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 minute ago, TylorJudd said:

Congrats testers! 

@GolfSpy_APH I wonder if you can use it to determine the overall length of an ice sheet!?!?

I already know that! However can depend on the rink too. 

For reference I have never owned a range finder and only used one a handful of times so essentially a complete newby to this. I am really looking forward to this test and seeing how it integrates into my golf game/routine moving forward.

[fixyurdivot]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Welcome all to the first Member Test for MGS Forum in 2023. The Cobalt Q-6 Range Finder! 

Welcome our testers and follow along to see how they find the product in not only their final review, but updates all along throughout the test and post review for longer term follow up!

@Tom the Golf Nut
@vandyland
@DaveP043
@GolfSpy_APH

Want to be a tester for MGS Forum 2023? Be sure to go to our How To Become A Tester Thread to better your chances and get the ins and outs on how we select our testers!

Congratulations to the test group!  Have fun putting this range finder through some paces... we all look forward to your reviews.

[GolfSpy SAM]

Love it! Congrats guys!! Excited to see if their marketing lives up to their hype! If so, you all just got in on something awesome!!

[gavinski91]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I already know that! However can depend on the rink too. 

For reference I have never owned a range finder and only used one a handful of times so essentially a complete newby to this. I am really looking forward to this test and seeing how it integrates into my golf game/routine moving forward.

I have a handful of Christmas money that I'm considering dropping on a rangefinder, so I'll be following this test with some interest for sure!

[golfinnut]

Congrats to the testers!  I'll be following along with interest cause I'm in the market for a new range finder 

[sirchunksalot]

Testers,

What rangefinder are you guys using currently, if any? 

For those of you using one, what's it going to take to beat out your current one? 

 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

8 hours ago, TylorJudd said:

Congrats testers! 

@GolfSpy_APH I wonder if you can use it to determine the overall length of an ice sheet!?!?

Funny I use mine at work all the time for getting rough measurements of hallways and spaces (we have a few hallways in my building that are about 130 yards long)

Congrats testers on this multi use product!

 

[JFish350]

Congrats fellas, Looking forward to your reviews. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

24 minutes ago, sirchunksalot said:

Testers,

What rangefinder are you guys using currently, if any? 

For those of you using one, what's it going to take to beat out your current one? 

 

I have a lot of the info in my intro which I wrote up today. I will post it in the very near future.  But anything will beat out what I have currently. Take a look at the photo then I will explain. 

Yardage Pro 500 was my first one.  A nice two-handed dinosaur from 2005 era (roughly). Due to an unfortunate bounce, out of the cubby in the golf cart and me hitting the brakes trying not to run it over. Well, unfortunately I was as a second to late and hit the brakes when the unit was under the rear tire. Thus, skidding the unit for a few feet.  Sickening feeling. But the unit still works as long as I don't take it out of the case. The trigger is under the gray spot on the top. The case is the only thing holding the trigger in place.

I then went to a Logitech GPS which I hated as it only held about 5 courses. You had to pay a service fee every year to be able to upload different courses. But you had to delete them all then pick 5 again. I had enough of that. It also was not accurate at all (at least for my home course). 

Now comes the Tec Tec Tec laser. It worked great for a few years and then I forgot to take it out of my golf bag and put it in my carry on when flying. The pressure in the baggage area caused a leak and then half the display was gone. Customer service told me to leave it on the car dashboard on a hot summer day for 4 hours. This will burn out the fog inside the display. It worked for a few months, and then I had to repeat it every few months. You only get hot summer days in the summer so I couldn't always clear it out when I needed it.  But it is working currently. One of the digit locations is lighter than the other but you can tell the yardage for the most part. But this unit requires you to be rock steady or you can miss the flag and pick up a tree in the background. 

I'm looking forward to the Cobalt Q6. It has some nice features that my other units did not have. 

[Glenmore5]

Well done to all the testers...looking forward to your reviews.

[Bang60]

Sorry no good to me I shake toooooooooo MUCH apparently, but I can hold a FULL glass of RED WINE and no problems lol...

[GolfSpy_BNG]

Congrats to those selected for testing. I can say without a doubt, that as a guy that never used a rangefinder before testing the Voice Caddie SL2 a couple years ago, it helps tremendously on new courses and wayward drives lol

 

Cant wait to hear your thoughts. 

[vandyland]

16 hours ago, sirchunksalot said:

For those of you using one, what's it going to take to beat out your current one? 

Currently using an amazon rangefinder (WOSPORTS w/ slope about $90) which, honestly, is not going to be hard to beat. The Cobalt is in such a price range that I think comparing it to my current rangefinder exclusively would be a disservice to this forum. I will compare it my current one but I will also use a friend's bushnell ($500) as I think that is much more relevant to the readers. Honestly, the Cobalt is more than I was willing to spend on a rangefinder several years ago when I got my current one (first one I had ever bought) so I will be coming at it from a "is there a SIGNIFICANT difference between this and a budget rangefinder." 

Here's what I would expect, target locking to be quick and easy. If I shoot the same thing multiple times it should give me the same number every time (my current range finder will jump around 3-4 yards on a flagstick which makes no sense as it is not like there is going to be something 3-4 yds behind the flag stick that is getting picked up. 20-30 yds would make more sense if it is alternating between the flag and trees behind it. The feature that I am VERY excited to see is the "magnification" feature. I don't currently have that so it makes shaky hands + small target = time consuming frustration. 

My goal above all is to give an honest, thorough evaluation of this product. If people are going to spend this much money I want to give them a lot (maybe TOO much?) of information.  

[DaveP043]

You can see how excited we all are, 3 of the introductions are up, less than 30 hours after this thread opened.  To answer the one question I've seen, I currently use a Bushnell V3 (no slope.  I also own a V2 WITH slope that I don't use.  I did have a Precision Pro NX9 Slope rangefinder that I managed to lose.  I've rarely used GPS for golf, only occasionally on a new course where I wanted to see a bit of the hole layout.

[GolfSpy_APH]

11 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

You can see how excited we all are, 3 of the introductions are up, less than 30 hours after this thread opened.  To answer the one question I've seen, I currently use a Bushnell V3 (no slope.  I also own a V2 WITH slope that I don't use.  I did have a Precision Pro NX9 Slope rangefinder that I managed to lose.  I've rarely used GPS for golf, only occasionally on a new course where I wanted to see a bit of the hole layout.

Make that 4 of 4!

[Gary F. Sweat]

Currently playing with the University of Central Florida Golf Association in monthly tournament play.   UCFGA handicap is a 23.4  and a USGA handicap of 17.8.   Currently use the Arccos system tracking  and a GPS rangefinder.   Would love to compare what I use with this model.

[GolfSpy_APH]

Just now, Gary F. Sweat said:

Currently playing with the University of Central Florida Golf Association in monthly tournament play.   UCFGA handicap is a 23.4  and a USGA handicap of 17.8.   Currently use the Arccos system tracking  and a GPS rangefinder.   Would love to compare what I use with this model.

Testers have already been selected. Or intros are up and as soon as we have the unit in have we will have unboxing photos then start the reviews. 

Be sure to follow along! 

[sirchunksalot]

Well done on all the intros, guys! This should be a fun test to follow along with.