Garmin Approach S70 Golf Watch Review
Garmin Approach
S70 Golf Watch
Review
Smart watches have become one of life’s necessities for many people in recent years and golfers are experiencing the benefits on and off the golf course. Garmin are renowned for their high-tech GPS devices and wearable fitness trackers, and their range of GPS golf watches is led by the Approach S70. Building on from the huge success of their S62 watch, the S70 takes premium build quality to the next level and with its extensive list of features, you could find that this is the only watch you’ll need.
Staple Features
The Garmin Approach S70 has the staple features that can be found on all Garmin golf watches, including 43,000 preloaded courses from across the globe, a comfortable, lightweight silicone strap, reliable, high-quality Garmin build with accurate GPS information, and an extensive two-year warranty.
The list could end here and you’d still be left with a pretty good watch. But as Garmin offers a range of products for different needs and budgets, and with the S70 being their top-of-the-range golf watch, the list of features continues a lot longer.
Design and Display Innovations
Starting with the display, the Approach S70 distinguishes itself with a 1.4” AMOLED touchscreen that provides exceptional clarity and vibrant colours under various lighting conditions. This upgrade not only improves usability during gameplay but also enhances the watch’s overall aesthetic appeal with its modern and sleek design.
The intuitive layout of the buttons paired with the silicone strap ensures the watch remains practical yet stylish for everyday wear. Enhanced durability features like a 5 ATM water-resistance rating make the S70 resilient enough to handle the rigours of active golf play and daily life.
Enhanced GPS, Connectivity and Integration
The Garmin Approach S70 is equipped with advanced GPS technology, providing rapid satellite connectivity for precise location tracking. This high level of accuracy is vital for mapping golf courses and is equally effective for other outdoor activities, ensuring reliable navigation wherever you are.
The watch integrates smoothly with the Garmin Golf app and other devices, enabling real-time data syncing. This feature enhances the social aspects of golf by allowing easy sharing of scores and participation in online competitions. Additionally, the S70 manages smart notifications efficiently, ensuring that users stay connected without interruptions during their game or daily activities.
Golf-Specific Features
Golfers have access to “plays like” distances so they can know how far a shot is playing after factoring in slope and environmental conditions. This often overlooked factor could save you several shots per round just by helping you choose the right club. The Virtual Caddie feature offers club recommendations based on these conditions as well as your personal swing data.
The green contour data allows you to view the direction and severity of the slopes on greens to help you read putts like a pro, although you will need an active Garmin Golf membership for this.
Score and stat tracking is possible with the S70 and when paired with the CT10, you get more detailed shot detection.
Within each hole, different views can be viewed to get the information you need. The green view allows you to see a close-up of the green and lets you place the pin to match the day’s pin location for precise distances. The hazard view gives you an insight into which bunkers and water hazards may be in play.
Performance and Battery Life
The S70 will often be compared to the previous model, the Garmin Approach S62. The green and hole view is one area where the S70 has made leaps and bounds with its updated graphics and greater detail. The slightly larger display on the S70 will also give you a better view. While there is quite a jump in price with the newer model, it's not hard to see why; it’s arguably the best golf watch on the market.
An important factor for many people in choosing a smart watch is the life of the battery between charges, an area where the S70 has improved from the S62. With 20 hours of battery life in GPS mode and 16 days in smart watch mode, you’ll be able to get a good amount of use between charging.
The Garmin Approach S70 stands out not only against its predecessor, but also when compared with competitors like the Apple Watch Series and Samsung Galaxy Watch. The S70 offers specialised golf features such as Virtual Caddie and plays like distances, which are absent in general-purpose smartwatches, even those equipped with golf apps.
Additional Features and Versatility
For those who want a watch that performs just as well off the golf course as it does on the course, the S70’s extensive list of health, wellness, and activity features will be a welcome surprise. Not only can it keep you connected with smart notifications and make contactless payments with Garmin Pay, it can also help you stay on top of your fitness goals with workouts in the Garmin Connect app.
The heart rate, stress-tracking, and sleep monitoring features offer ways to help you stay in control of important areas of your health and wellness, and for multi-sport athletes, the Approach S70 allows you to track all your activities in one place. From swimming to cycling, and skiing to paddle boarding, the S70 has you covered.
Verdict
Most people searching for the S70 watch are looking for the best watch on the market, and they know the price tag that comes with it, but it is far from overpriced considering what it offers.
But how does it compare to other Garmin watches? Simply put, there isn’t much that the S70 can’t do, so if you’re looking for a watch to cover all bases, one you’ll be wearing daily for purposes other than golf, then it's certainly worth the investment.
The only possible downside for some is that USB-C charging is required, however with many devices now opting for this type due to its faster data transfer speeds and its ability to support higher power delivery for charging, it will soon be the norm.
If you’ll only be wearing the watch for golf and just need it for accurate distances and score tracking then the S12 could do the trick. For those who want somewhere in the middle- a golf watch with some fitness tracking and smartphone notification, the S42 could be for you.
In summary, the Garmin Approach S70 is in our opinion the best golf watch on the market. It has a seemingly limitless number of features to amplify your experiences on and off the golf course and has a premium look and feel to match. Whether you're looking to purchase your first golf watch, replace your laser rangefinder, or upgrade your current GPS watch, the Approach S70 should certainly be on your list.
