Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch Review
The Approach S70 is Garmin's flagship golf GPS watch, replacing the long-running S62 with a genuinely sharper AMOLED display, a wider set of on-course tools and one of the best battery lives of any smartwatch on the market, for a price that most reviewers openly admit is difficult to justify on spec alone.
It’s not a subtle upgrade. Every independent review we looked at agrees the display, the PlaysLike distance tool and the Virtual Caddie feature are genuinely useful rather than gimmicks. The disagreement, where it exists, is almost entirely about whether any golf watch is worth what Garmin is charging for this one.
- Garmin's most advanced golf GPS watch, replacing the Approach S62 as the flagship
- AMOLED touchscreen display rated the best Garmin has put on a golf watch
- Real-world battery life regularly exceeds Garmin's own conservative estimate
- One of the most expensive golf GPS watches on the market, and reviewers are upfront about that
The Short Version
- Battery life is the standout: Garmin rates it at 16 days in smartwatch mode, and multiple testers reported going two to three weeks between charges with regular golf use.
- The AMOLED display and touchscreen are the biggest jump over the S62, though at least one reviewer found the touchscreen interface fiddly to use mid-round.
- PlaysLike Distance and the Virtual Caddie are described as genuinely useful by every reviewer we checked, not marketing filler.
- The price is the sticking point across the board. This sits at the very top of the golf GPS watch market.
Garmin Approach S70 Golf GPS Watch
Garmin Approach S70 47mm Golf GPS Watch Black
How it performs
The first thing every reviewer mentions is the display. Garmin moved to a full AMOLED panel for the S70, and testers consistently describe it as the best screen the company has ever put on a golf watch, bright, colourful hole maps that are genuinely easy to read in direct sunlight, with an always-on mode so you’re not constantly waking the screen. The touchscreen adds pinch-to-zoom and swipe gestures that weren’t possible on the button-only S62, though it’s worth flagging that at least one detailed review found the touchscreen interface fiddly to operate one-handed mid-round, a fair trade-off to know about before you buy.
On-course, the features reviewers keep coming back to are PlaysLike Distance and the Virtual Caddie. PlaysLike factors in elevation change, wind and air density using a built-in barometer to give an adjusted yardage rather than just the raw number, and the Virtual Caddie learns your actual club distances over time to suggest what to hit. Testers who’ve used both for months describe them as quietly changing how they plan shots, rather than being features that look good in a spec sheet and get ignored on the course.
GPS accuracy itself is good rather than laser-precise, and every review is upfront about that distinction: expect readings within a couple of yards of a rangefinder, which is more than accurate enough for club selection but not the tool to reach for if you need exact yardage to the inch. Battery life is where the S70 genuinely separates itself from most golf watches. Garmin’s own claim of 16 days in smartwatch mode already sounds strong, and several testers reported beating it in real use, with multiple full rounds plus a week or more of everyday wear on a single charge, and one reviewer going ten days on vacation without a charger and never coming close to running out.
Garmin Approach S70 (47mm) Specifications
- The best display Garmin has ever put on a golf watch, bright and clear even in direct sun
- Exceptional real-world battery life that regularly beats Garmin’s own conservative rating
- PlaysLike Distance and Virtual Caddie are genuinely useful, not gimmicks
- 43,000+ preloaded courses and no subscription required
- Doubles as a capable everyday fitness and smartwatch, with heart rate and Pulse Ox tracking
- One of the most expensive golf GPS watches on the market by a clear margin
- Touchscreen interface can feel fiddly to operate one-handed mid-round
- Proprietary charging cable reported as inconveniently short by at least one reviewer
- Less full-featured as an everyday smartwatch than a dedicated Apple Watch or Garmin fitness line
- GPS yardages are accurate but not laser-precise, as with any GPS watch
Where it sits in Garmin’s Approach range
The S70 is the top of a wide Garmin lineup, and the step down in price to the next model is significant, worth knowing before you commit to the flagship.
- Approach S12: the budget entry point, no colour display, but genuinely capable core GPS and excellent battery life for a fraction of the price.
- Approach S44: mid-range, colour touchscreen, most of the everyday golf features without the AMOLED display or ceramic build.
- Approach S50: sits just below the S70, with a similar feature set at a noticeably lower price.
- Approach S70: covered in this review. The flagship: AMOLED display, ceramic bezel, the fullest set of golf and fitness features Garmin offers on a golf watch.
If the AMOLED screen and the extra smartwatch polish don’t matter to you, the S50 gets you very close to the same on-course experience for meaningfully less money. Not sold on Garmin specifically? Our GPS watch comparison covers how Shot Scope, SkyCaddie and Bushnell stack up against it.
Want to Spend Less? The Outgoing S62 Is Worth a Look
If the S70’s price is the sticking point, the Garmin Approach S62 it replaced is still sold and usually costs meaningfully less. It carries most of the same on-course substance, including Virtual Caddie, full-colour mapping and the huge course library Garmin built its reputation on, just without the AMOLED screen, the ceramic bezel or the newer PlaysLike barometer feature.
Garmin 010-02200-00 Approach S62, Premium Golf GPS Watch, Built-in Virtual Caddie, Mapping and Full Color Screen, Black
How We Compiled This Review
We haven’t worn this watch ourselves, so rather than fake a hands-on account, we built this review from independent, long-term testing published across the golf and tech media, checked against Garmin’s own published specifications.
-
Long-term testing
Read reviews from testers who wore the watch for weeks or months, including a two-year daily-wear account, rather than relying only on first-impression coverage.
-
Cross-checked expert reviews
Compared reviews and verdicts from MyGolfSpy, PlayBetter, Plugged In Golf, TechRadar, Wareable, Breaking Eighty, Today’s Golfer and Independent Golf Reviews.
-
Checked real-world battery reports
Compared Garmin’s official battery claims against multiple independent, multi-week usage reports rather than quoting the marketing figure alone.
-
Verified against Garmin specs
Checked every technical spec, including sizes, weight and water resistance, against Garmin’s official product documentation.
Where reviewers disagreed, mainly on the touchscreen interface and whether the price is justified, we’ve included that disagreement rather than smoothing it over.
What to Check Before You Buy
It’s the single biggest upgrade over cheaper Garmin watches. If screen quality isn’t a priority for you, the S50 or S44 will save you real money.
The 47mm gets the longer battery life (16 days vs 10). The 42mm suits smaller wrists but trades some battery life to get there.
Some competitions restrict GPS devices during play. Confirm your club and competition rules before relying on it in a card round.
It’s proprietary, and at least one reviewer found it inconveniently short. Worth knowing if you travel with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Garmin Approach S70 worth the extra money over the S50?
If the AMOLED display, ceramic build and extra smartwatch polish matter to you, most reviewers say yes. If you mainly want accurate on-course yardages and the core Garmin golf features, the S50 gets you close to the same experience for less.
How long does the battery actually last?
Garmin rates the 47mm at up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode. Independent testers have reported matching or beating that, with some going two to three weeks of mixed use between charges.
Does the Garmin Approach S70 need a subscription?
No. Garmin’s golf watches, including the S70, don’t require an ongoing subscription to use the core GPS and course features.
What sizes does it come in?
42mm and 47mm. The 47mm is only available in black; the 42mm comes in additional colour options and has a shorter battery life.
Is it waterproof?
It’s rated 5 ATM, meaning it can handle rain, showering and swimming, though it isn’t designed as a dedicated dive watch.
No surprise charges at the door: VAT and import duty are included in the price and prepaid. Delivery is €7, free over €120, in 2–4 working days.
The Approach S70 is the most complete golf GPS watch Garmin makes, with a genuinely excellent display, battery life that outlasts almost everything else on the market, and on-course tools that reviewers consistently describe as useful rather than gimmicky. None of that changes the fact that this sits at the very top of the price range for golf watches, and if budget matters, the S50 underneath it gets you most of the same experience for meaningfully less. For golfers who want the best Garmin makes and don’t mind paying for it, this delivers.
