Darts is one of the games that you can enjoy by yourself but is a lot more fun when played with other people. But with the restrictions of today’s new normal, your regular game nights with friends might have significantly reduced to a party of one.
But you don’t have to resign yourself to beating your best scores and not having anyone to celebrate it with. Gran Boards has designed a series of dartboards to help you stay connected.
Known for its innovative designs, Gran Boards has arguably revolutionized darting sports by allowing you to play online and adjust the game’s settings straight from your smartphone or tablet.
Among its roster of impressive dartboards, two of its latest additions are the Gran Board 2 and 3. This then begs the questions, “Which should I buy?” and “How do these two differ?”
I answer these questions and more in my comparison of Gran Board 2 and 3 below.
| Features | Gran Board 2 | Gran Board 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 8.1 pounds | 6.2 pounds |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| LED Display | No | Yes |
| Compatibility | iOS (starting at iOS 7, iPad 3, iPad Touch 5th Generation and all their later versions), Android starting at OS v4.3, and Android Smart TV | iOS (starting at iOS 7, iPad 3, iPad Touch 5th Generation and all their later versions), Android starting at OS v4.3, and Android Smart TV |
| Power | Battery-powered | Battery-powered and USB-chargeable for LED display |
| Noise | Medium | Low |
Gran Board 2
Gran Board 3
Gran Board 2 versus 3: Which One Should You Choose?
Both boards released by Gran Boards are, without a doubt, game-changers in the field of darting sports. They are the go-to options for tech-savvy players who want to simulate the full gaming experience (tournaments and all) while at the comforts of their own homes.
To help you make the decision, I’ve examined and tested these two products down to the nitty and gritty. Here are the similarities and differences that I’ve discovered based on a series of criteria.
1. Installation
The ease of installation can be a make or break factor for some people, and so I am listing this as first on the list. Truth be told, when it comes to mounting your board on the wall, there are no major differences between Gran Board 2 and 3.
Once you’ve found the perfect place to hang your board (good news: you can hang both outdoors. Just because it’s an electronic board doesn’t mean that you have to hang it in a place with the least amount of sunlight), you can simply screw them in so they sit firm and secure.
They both come with mounting screws in the packaging, so this shouldn’t be too much of a hassle for you.
However, please take note that they both weigh differently and, as such, may require you to be more intentional about where you hang it.
See, the Gran Board 3 is significantly more lightweight at 6.2 pounds compared to the 8.1 pounds of Gran Board 2. This means that the heavier Gran Board 2 might require a thicker and sturdier wall to be mounted on.
2. Design
The Gran Board 2 and the Gran Board 3 are both built with best dartboard materials (including high-quality plastic) to ensure durability and longevity.
However, what is perhaps the striking difference between the two is the design.
The Gran Board 2 is designed like most traditional dartboards. In fact, at first glance, one can quickly take stock of the usual colors of red, black, and green.
The Gran Board 3, on the other hand, is designed a little bit more boldly. Through LED lighting, it has colors of the rainbows on the outer ring where the numbers are, for one. The colors in the inner ring have a different hue to them as well.
The choice on the basis of aesthetics is, of course, entirely up to you. There are some who are drawn to the more traditionally designed Gran Board 2, while some players have a taste for avant-garde designs.
If the latter sounds like you, then you are more likely to enjoy the later version of the Gran Board a bit more.
Here is the detailed review of Gran Board 3 where you can find out everything about this particular dartboard, including how it looks and sounds.
3. Noise
Although the Gran Board 3 may look sleeker and weigh less than the Gran Board 2, it has been designed to have a more durable foam at the back, meaning that when you hit the board, the Gran Board 3 is less likely to make noise than the Gran Board 2.
Some might argue, however, that the sound of the dart hitting the board is more satisfying and simulates the traditional game better. Again, I might be better off chalking this up to the preference of the player.
4. Power
When it comes to powering the boards, both the Gran Board 2 and the Gran Board 3 are battery operated. They require two AA batteries to work.
They don’t drain the batteries too quickly, but I do advise that you make the investment in rechargeable batteries to lower costs in the long run.
Upon testing, the Gran Board 3 seems to be a lot more economical in the life of the AA batteries too. However, this might be due to some factors, so I can’t completely chalk this up as an advantage of the latter.
The difference here is that the later version, the Gran Board 3, has LED lights that are powered through a USB port. When you plug it in, the lights will be activated. When you, of course, unplug the USB, you remove the power for the LED display.
And because the design difference banks heavily on this LED display for the lights, this means that you’ll end up having a board that looks a lot like the previous version, the Gran Board 2.
Bonus Reminder: Do be careful with the USB port for Gran Board 3, though. It might be damaged if not used properly or carefully.
5. Availability
Because they both come from the same series made by Gran Boards, one version may be made more available than the other.
What I am trying to say is that if you’ve decided on Gran Board 2, you may have a hard time buying a brand new one. A quick scroll through Amazon has led me to countless “Unavailable Product” signs for this version.
Gran Board 3, because it is a newer introduction, is much easier to hunt down and buy.
Summary
Without a doubt, Gran Board as a brand has made leaps and bounds in darting sports technology. Now you might be raring to get your hands on one of their boards — but should it be Gran Board 2 or 3?
Well, they’re both sturdy and built-to-last, but their main difference lies in their weight, design, and availability.
Based on these differences, I am more inclined to favor the latter version, Gran Board 3.
The upgrades have all worked together and have resulted in a sleek and better-designed product. It’s lighter by a few pounds, which makes it easy to transfer too.
Not to mention, it’s probably easier for me to find brand new Gran Board 3 on the market. I don’t have to hunt down its older and perhaps more obsolete sibling, the Gran Board 2.
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