Introduced in late 2024, the RX-5000 Rangefinder is Leupold’s premium monocular rangefinder offering. After a year of use, this rangefinder has proven itself as the perfect monocular rangefinder; high performance, unfussy, fast and clear. When you need to range a target, this unit makes it easy, fast and accurate. It’s the first rangefinder I’ve used that genuinely delivers on those promises.

The RX-5000 is built with a premium waterproof/fog proof housing that contains an 8x optical monocular and offers a solid 5.5-degree field of view. This makes it both easier to find your targets AND use the rangefinder precisely on smaller targets. With a power/range button plus two multifunction buttons on the side of the rangefinder, it’s simple to operate. The CR123 battery powers you comfortably to at least 3000 activations. Weighing 275 grams, it’s heavier than some competitors, but the solid build quality and features make it worth every extra gram.

At the core of the unit is a powerful computer processor that drives the laser rangefinder itself. On its default setting the rangefinder will range out to 5,000 yards on reflective targets, 3,100 yards on trees and 2,000 yards on deer. While 5,000 yards is further than even passionate long-range enthusiasts would regularly shoot, this ensures shooters can range out to a mile comfortably on ANY surface with ±.2 yard accuracy above 1,000 yard.

The first thing that strikes everyone who’s used this unit is how fast the unit ranges targets. The report is near instant… there’s no more holding the unit steady for a second or so to ensure a good reading. It’s seriously fast! This performance alone puts the RX-5000 at the top of the list. In field testing, it clearly demonstrated its ability to range comfortably past all these distances with the same near-instant response. This is because Leupold gives an accuracy spec of ±.2 of a yard past 1,000 yards, so past 5,000 yards if you’re happy to factor a step slightly over ±.2 of a yard.

The unit even includes a Long Range mode. When set to this mode, it sacrifices high-speed return in exchange for supreme performance at distance, firing the laser and pulsing over several seconds. This allows you to push well past 5,000 yards (3 miles). In Long Range mode, it’s crucial to mount the unit with its included tripod saddle onto a quality ARCA tripod. Using this setup, we repeatedly ranged out to 5,800 yards on multiple targets.

The unit’s powerful computer processor drastically boosts the capabilities of the rangefinder and gives us a raft of new possibilities in the form of the Leupold Control App. Already loaded with numerous features and unique software functions, the big ticket feature is how app connectivity drives the capability of this unit forward while remaining incredibly easy to use.

The pairing of the Leupold app with the rangefinder is the single easiest electronics integration I’ve experienced. I’ve asked over 20 people of various levels of age, computer skill and backgrounds to go through this process from scratch. We didn’t have a single issue and had plenty of compliments about how easy it is. A refreshing feeling in the modern world of high-tech devices.

The app guides you through the initial connection process in under a minute and, once set up, will instantly re-connect without needing to manually connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi networks. All you need to do is open the Leupold Control App, hit the rangefinder button and the devices will start talking, giving you instant readouts on your phone. Conversely, you can fire the rangefinder from your phone. This is particularly useful in tripod and Long Range mode, as it prevents bumping the unit off target at extreme distances.

A major advantage of this rangefinder is the ability to perform software updates, allowing it to gain new features over time. Since launch, the unit has added full archery functionality and a host of new ballistics features that weren’t advertised initially, adding even more value for money. Thanks to its powerful processor, it’s designed to evolve with technology, so future upgrades won’t leave you behind.

Finally, my favourite feature is the ability to pin targets on a map using the “Pin Next” function. This allows the user to pin the location of their target into the map of their choice (Google Maps, Apple Maps & OnX Hunt). To use it, simply tap “Pin Next”, range your target/location of interest, and the app will take you to your maps and show you exactly where you’ve just ranged.

The first and most obvious use is to mark the location of game immediately after shooting to ensure easy navigation in difficult terrain. We all know it looks different when we get there! However, the utility of this feature is so broad that this rangefinder no longer gets left at home between hunts or trips to the ranges. You can save locations you want to come back to for the next hunt or mark certain locations without going there. For maritime use, the rangefinder can be used to determine where a specific piece of coastline falls on a map. I’ve even used it as a tourist by ranging certain points of interest to work out where they sit on the map!

This unit uses the inbuilt GPS in your mobile device to know where your phone is, then combines bearing, angle and distance data from the rangefinder to accurately mark the target location on your map.

In conclusion, the RX-5000 is the most impressive rangefinder I’ve played with to date. It provides fast, consistent performance without any hint of fuss. The Leupold Control App provides functionality such as advanced ballistics, easy configuration of settings and of course the ability to pin targets that you just can’t do without once you have used them. Once you combine the features and performance with Leupold’s build quality and optics, this rangefinder is worth every gram, dollar and minute of your time.