Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review - A Must-Have for Serious Golfers

Garmin, one of the top 10 best sports watch companies in the world, officially launched its new golf smartwatch — the Approach S50 — on February 26. This device continues the brand's legacy in professional sports wearables, combining a lightweight design, refined aesthetics, and a suite of advanced golf functions that appeal to golfers. Featuring a 1.2-inch AMOLED color touchscreen and preloaded with over 43,000 golf course maps worldwide, the S50 offers comprehensive support for distance measurement, terrain awareness, and swing data, while also serving as a stylish accessory off the course.

This article, titled “Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review,” will take an in-depth look at the watch’s performance from multiple angles — including functionality, design, battery life, and user experience — to help you determine whether it’s a worthwhile investment. Whether you're an aspiring golfer aiming to improve your game or a fitness enthusiast seeking health insights and smart tools, the S50 offers compelling features worth your attention.

Bandletic Verdict

The Garmin Approach S50, as one of the best Garmin Golf Watches of 2025, is a golf smartwatch that strikes a balance between professional-grade features and practical usability. It’s well-suited for golfers focused on precision and performance, as well as those interested in health tracking. However, its price point and golf-specific orientation may limit its appeal to more casual users.

Pros:

• Preloaded with over 43,000 golf course maps
• Accurate distance and hazard view display
• AMOLED color touchscreen, easy to read in sunlight
• Slope-adjusted distance and green targeting support
• Tracks heart rate, stress, and Body Battery
• Supports multiple sport modes
• Up to 15-hour battery life in GPS mode
• Quick-release 20mm strap design
• Seamless data sync with Garmin Golf App

Cons:

• Relatively high price
• Limited value for non-golf users

Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review - Specifications

Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review - Design and Display

The Garmin Approach S50 strikes a fine balance between professional functionality and modern aesthetics. Its slim, lightweight design offers a comfortable wearing experience while maintaining a sleek, contemporary look. The inclusion of a Quick Release 20mm nylon strap allows users to effortlessly swap bands to suit different outfits or weather conditions, adding convenience and versatility.

On the display front, the S50 features a 1.2-inch color AMOLED touchscreen that delivers excellent visibility, even under direct sunlight, and supports always-on display. Preloaded with over 43,000 golf course maps, the screen provides detailed information such as green distances and hazard views. These features help golfers make smarter decisions on the course with better strategic insights.

In summary: The Approach S50 combines a stylish appearance with a bright, high-performance display, making it an ideal choice for golfers who demand both professional-grade features and everyday wearability.

Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review - Advanced Course Mapping & Swing Tracking

The Garmin Approach S50 golf watch is a high-performance tool designed to elevate your game. With over 43,000 preloaded global golf course maps, real-time hazard views, green distances, and slope-adjusted yardages, it delivers accurate data to help golfers plan each shot with confidence. Seamlessly paired with the Approach Z30 laser rangefinder, it provides precise distance readings directly on your wrist.

The AutoShot tracking feature records swing data automatically, and syncs with the Garmin Golf App for score tracking, handicap calculation, and performance analysis. Subscribing to Garmin Golf Premium unlocks advanced features like green contour maps and custom pin distance measurements, offering a tactical edge on the course.

Featuring a vibrant 1.2” AMOLED color touchscreen, the S50 blends sleek design with pro-level golf features, making it an ideal companion for both practice and competition.

Key Features:

• 43,000+ preloaded golf course maps
• 1.2” AMOLED color touchscreen
• Real-time green & hazard distances
• Slope-adjusted yardages
• AutoShot swing tracking
• Garmin Golf App sync
• Premium features: green contours, pin-point yardages
• Approach Z30 rangefinder integration

In summary: The Garmin Approach S50 is a sleek and powerful golf smartwatch that helps golfers optimize their performance through precision data, course insights, and seamless device connectivity.

Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review — Health and Fitness Features

All-Day Health Monitoring: Gaining Insights into Your Body's Condition

The Garmin Approach S50 is equipped with advanced sensors that provide 24-hour heart rate monitoring, continuously tracking stress levels and sleep quality. It supports HRV status analysis and nap detection, helping users gain a comprehensive understanding of their body’s recovery and mental vitality.

Body Battery and Body Age: Mastering Your Health Rhythm

The watch includes a Body Battery tracking function that assesses energy levels based on factors like sleep, naps, and activity intensity. With the Body Age assessment, users can clearly understand whether their current state is better than their actual age, helping them adjust their lifestyle and training pace accordingly.

Multiple Sport Modes for Comprehensive Exercise Support

Built-in sport modes such as yoga, strength training, and aerobic exercises cater to various training needs. Paired with the free Garmin Coach training plans and VO2 Max assessment, it provides users with a tailored scientific training path.

Smart Morning Greetings: Start Your Day Efficiently

Every morning, the watch automatically sends a "Good Morning" greeting, integrating sleep analysis, body recovery status, HRV data, and schedule reminders, helping you make smarter decisions for the day ahead.

Women’s Health Features: Thoughtful Care Every Day

Specifically designed for female users, the watch offers a menstrual and pregnancy tracking system that records physiological and emotional changes, providing exercise and nutrition recommendations to help balance the body’s rhythm.

Practical Health Management Tools: Everything You Need

The watch includes tools like breathing rate detection, water intake reminders, PULSE OX blood oxygen tracking, and meditation guidance, helping users develop healthy habits and further improve physical fitness and quality of life.

In summary: The Garmin Approach S50 is not only a smart assistant on the golf course but also an all-day health manager and training partner, helping you maintain peak performance in both your workouts and daily life.

Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review - Battery Life

The Garmin Approach S50 delivers impressive battery performance, offering up to 15 hours in GPS mode and around 10 days in smart mode. This easily supports an entire round of golf or even a short trip without needing frequent charging.

Even with continuous heart rate monitoring or frequent GPS use, the watch maintains stable endurance—just a timely recharge ensures worry-free usage. Overall, the S50 strikes a strong balance between performance and battery life, making it a reliable companion for golf enthusiasts.

Garmin Approach S50 Golf Watch Review - Smartwatch Features

The Garmin Approach S50 is equipped with a variety of smart features that enhance both daily convenience and on-course experience. It supports offline music playback via third-party platforms, allowing users to enjoy their favorite songs without relying on a phone. With a built-in NFC chip, the watch enables seamless mobile payments (Alipay and WeChat Pay available on the China mainland version), making it easy to handle everyday purchases and public transportation directly from the wrist.

In addition, the S50 provides smart notifications when paired with compatible iOS or Android devices. Users can receive calls, texts, emails, and app alerts right on their watch—Android users can even reply to messages or reject calls. Other useful tools include real-time weather updates, calendar sync, music controls, and access to the Connect IQ store, where users can download watch faces, data fields, and apps to personalize their watch and enhance overall functionality.

Garmin Golf Watch Comparison (S50 vs S60 vs S42 vs MARQ Golfer)

Also Read:

Garmin Approach S60 review

Garmin Approach S62 review

Garmin S62 vs S70

Is It Worth Buying? Final Thoughts on the Garmin Approach S50

All things considered, the Garmin Approach S50 golf smartwatch stands out in the mid-to-high-end market with its precise GPS tracking, extensive course data coverage, and sleek, lightweight design. It not only enhances your on-course strategy and swing performance but also serves as a practical and stylish everyday smartwatch—making it an excellent choice for users who value both functionality and aesthetics.

The S50 is especially recommended for frequent golfers, data-driven enthusiasts, and players who travel internationally and need global course support. However, those who play only occasionally or prioritize fitness metrics like heart rate and training load might find better-suited alternatives.

If you're in the market for a high-performance, feature-rich golf GPS watch that doubles as a reliable daily wearable, the Garmin Approach S50 is absolutely worth considering. It’s a powerful companion to help elevate your game and refine your performance throughout the season.