The Navee Birdie 3x Electric Golf Push Cart aims to blend modern technology with the traditional golfing experience, offering a powered solution to lugging heavy golf bags around the course. But does it live up to its competition, its hype, and its $1,699.99 price point?
I’ll dive into what I truly thought about the Birdie 3x after playing ten rounds with it, hauling my belongings around. It has many excellent features, but it also has some aspects that I’d like to see adjusted or re-engineered.
It has some really great features, like a long-lasting battery, Power-Assist Mode (my personal favorite), and remote control functionality. It promises convenience, and it comes through on that with most applications.
However, while it excels in some areas, it falls short in others, particularly in storage capacity, the reliability of its “Follow Me” mode, and app performance, which are three things that I feel should be standard and reliable for something that will set you back nearly two grand.
Below is my comprehensive review of the cart, breaking down its strengths and weaknesses, highlighting what was great and what I feel needs to be changed
The Good
Great Battery Life
The Navee Birdie 3x boasts an impressive battery that can easily handle 18 holes, and in many cases, 36 holes on a single charge. This reliability ensures golfers don’t have to worry about the cart dying mid-round, even on longer courses or during back-to-back games.
The battery charges relatively quickly, and the cart provides clear indicators of remaining power, which adds to the peace of mind. I never came close to running out of battery on the course, despite playing 27 and sometimes even 36 holes on a single battery charge.
I was very impressed with this, and having this provided me with a lot of comfort. Nothing would be worse than carrying this cart and my bag full of clubs back to the car if it died on the course.
Solid, Quality Construction
The Birdie 3x is built to last, with a sturdy frame that feels robust and durable. The materials used are high-quality, resisting wear and tear even after repeated use on rugged golf courses. The cart’s design inspires confidence, as it doesn’t wobble or feel flimsy, even when fully loaded with a heavy golf bag.
It does not feel as though it has been cheapened in any way in terms of its construction. It is solid, heavy, and you can feel that it would survive if it were to take a tumble down a steep slope.
Fun and Convenient Way to Get Exercise
For golfers who enjoy walking the course but want to reduce the physical strain of carrying or pushing a heavy bag, the Birdie 3x is a game-changer. I walk a vast majority of my rounds every year, and this has truly made it more enjoyable for me.
It allows you to walk the course while the cart does the heavy lifting, making it a fun and engaging way to stay active without feeling exhausted by the end of the round.
Solid and Stable Navigation
The cart handles uneven and challenging terrain remarkably well. Thanks to the anti-tip wheel included with the Birdie 3x, navigating up steep hills eases your mind, as you won’t have to worry about potential damage to the cart or your clubs.
Whether navigating steep hills, rough patches, or wet grass, the Birdie 3x remains stable and doesn’t tip or struggle. Its wheels are designed to grip well, and the low center of gravity helps maintain balance, even on sloped fairways or when walking up challenging terrain to the cart path.
Power-Assist Mode for Greater Control
The Power-Assist Mode is a standout feature, allowing golfers to manually push the cart with minimal effort. The motor kicks in to reduce resistance, making it feel like you’re pushing a much lighter load. This mode is particularly useful for those who prefer a hands-on approach while still reaping the benefits of motorized assistance.
All you do is push one of the two red buttons located on either handle of the Birdie 3x. It automatically activates the feature, but be sure to adjust the speed to match your preferred walking pace.
Pushing up steep hills is much easier than using a manual push cart, which is great for exercise, but can wear on your stamina as a round goes on.
Compact and Convenient for Transport
Despite its robust build, the Birdie 3x folds down into a compact size, making it easy to store and transport, even in smaller vehicles like sedans. I was driving my Bronco Sport at the time I started using the Birdie 3x, and it still enabled me to store other things in my trunk. It’s not overly bulky.
The folding mechanism is straightforward, and setup is quick, which is a big plus for golfers who frequently travel to different courses. I found it to be very easy to fold up and slide into my trunk. It takes less time than it does to actually take your bag off of it.
The Not So Good
Very Limited Storage
One of the most significant drawbacks of the Birdie 3x is its lack of storage capacity.
Compared to other push carts in its price range, the storage options are minimal. The netted storage pockets are flimsy and unreliable, often failing to securely hold items. For example, the remote fell out multiple times during use, which is frustrating and inconvenient, and could be detrimental to your experience if it were to be lost.
Golfers who require space for accessories such as water bottles, rangefinders, or extra gear will find the storage inadequate.
“Follow Me” Mode Needs Significant Improvement
The “Follow Me” mode, which allows the cart to autonomously follow the golfer, is a major letdown.
It only worked reliably about 25% of the time, often losing track of the user or failing to navigate obstacles effectively. Additionally, there’s no way to pause the mode, which is problematic on greens or near bunkers. When I brought this up to the company, they said they completely overlooked this and could add it with a future software update.
To prevent the cart from rolling onto sensitive areas, you must fully deactivate “Follow Me” mode, then reconnect it later—a process that is time-consuming and disrupts the flow of your round. Most users will likely opt for manual steering or Power-Assist Mode instead, which is where I found the Birdie 3x to perform the best.
I also found that a lot of the time, when I would enable the Follow Me mode, the cart would spin violently to find the remote, which was attached to my belt line, and it would only begin to follow me 7 out of 10 times. I haven’t tried to use it in more recent rounds where I’ve brought the Birdie 3x; I think it could be a great feature, but it just needs a lot of refinement.
Heavy and Potentially Difficult to Set Up
At a significant weight, the Birdie 3x can be cumbersome for younger or less physically able golfers to set up and maneuver when not powered. Lifting it in and out of a vehicle or assembling it on the course may require some effort, which could be a barrier for some. If you bought this for your junior golfer, it might be best to keep the battery pack out of it until they get to the parking lot of the golf course.
They should set it up by unfolding it, then insert the battery, as the pack weighs between 10 and 15 pounds.
Inaccurate and Snappy Remote Steering
The remote control for steering the cart is a mixed bag. The directional pad feels clunky, with delayed and sometimes overly sensitive responses, making precise navigation frustrating.
A joystick-style controller would likely provide smoother and more intuitive control, and this is something that is not exclusive to Navee. I have found that many electric push carts on the market still use a D-Pad instead of something like a joystick that would enable easier navigation around turns.
This lack of precision often forced me to rely on manual pushing or Power-Assist Mode instead.
Non-Adjustable Speed from the Remote or App
Neither the remote control nor the accompanying app allows for direct speed adjustments, which is a significant oversight. If it’s moving too fast, you either have to catch up to it or stop it completely, adjust the speed, and go from there.
The cart operates at a fixed speed that you choose on the cart itself, and it may feel too fast or too slow depending on your desired pace or the terrain. This lack of customization limits the cart’s versatility and user-friendliness. I found this to be one of the more annoying parts of using it.
No Dedicated Storage for the Remote
The absence of a dedicated storage spot for the remote is a notable design flaw. A simple clip would have been a huge addition, as it would not require the user to use their pockets or valuable and limited storage space.
Given the remote’s importance for controlling the cart, it’s surprising that there’s no secure clip or compartment to hold it when not in use. This contributes to the issue of the remote falling out of the netted pockets during play.
Underwhelming App Performance
The Birdie 3x app is a nice addition, but it feels like it is missing something. While it offers some useful features like score tracking, distance traveled, and remaining battery range, the steering functionality is no better than that of the physical remote.
The app’s interface feels unpolished, and navigation via the app is clunky and unreliable. For a premium product, the app should be more intuitive and robust.
Expensive Price Tag
At $1,700, the Navee Birdie 3x is a significant investment. While it offers advanced features like Power-Assist Mode and remote control, the numerous shortcomings—particularly the unreliable “Follow Me” mode and limited storage—make it hard to justify the high cost compared to other electric golf carts in the market.
I think, until the Follow Me mode is resolved, most consumers should consider the cheaper Birdie model, which is void of this feature.
Conclusion
The Navee Birdie 3x Electric Golf Push Cart has considerable potential, thanks to its excellent battery life, sturdy construction, and ability to navigate challenging terrain, making it a compelling choice for golfers who want a blend of exercise and convenience.
The Power-Assist Mode is a standout feature, offering a great balance of control and ease, and its compact design makes it practical for transport. However, the cart is let down by significant flaws, including limited storage, an unreliable “Follow Me” mode, and a clunky remote and app experience. The lack of speed adjustment and the high $1,700 price tag further detract from its value proposition.
For golfers who prioritize battery life and durability and are willing to overlook the storage and tech-related issues, the Birdie 3x could still be a worthwhile purchase.
Overall, the Birdie 3x is a solid product. I would like to see some major improvements from Navee on the Birdie 3x, as it has tremendous potential and is a great gadget. The app and its software-based approach mean it could get better over time, which is a major advantage.
It is the company’s first attempt at an electric push cart for golf, as it has a solid reputation for building some of the best E-Scooters on the market.
