What They Have in Common
Same AMOLED display, same resolution (390×390), same 1.2-inch screen, same 29g weight, same 43,000+ preloaded courses, same 15-hour GPS battery, same 10-day watch battery, same AutoShot detection, same free basic course updates, and both live in the Garmin Golf app. These two share a platform — the differences are about what Garmin added to the S50, not what they took from the J1.
Where They Differ
What the S50 Has That the J1 Doesn't
This is a long list. The S50 adds heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, smart notifications, contactless payments (Garmin Pay), 4GB music storage, slope mode, strokes gained stats, PlaysLike distance, and 5 ATM water resistance. The J1 has none of these.
PlaysLike is worth calling out specifically. The S50 calculates plays-like distance built-in — no membership required — adjusting yardage for elevation change. The J1 doesn't have it. Over a 72-hole weekend trip in the mountains, that matters. You're not guessing whether a 165-yard uphill is really 175, you're just reading it off your wrist.
Strokes gained is another gap. The S50 tracks your performance against benchmarks — where you're bleeding strokes, where you're not. The J1 gives you shot tracking and scorekeeping, but no strokes gained analysis. If you're trying to actually improve, strokes gained data is far more useful than a shot-by-shot log.
The S50 also charges via USB-C. The J1 uses Garmin's proprietary charger. This isn't catastrophic, but it's one more cable to pack, and at this price point USB-C is the standard.
What the J1 Was Built For
The J1 isn't a stripped-down S50. It was designed from the ground up as a junior watch. The ComfortFit elastic hook-and-loop band is sized for smaller wrists. There are no smartwatch distractions — no notifications, no music, no payments — because the idea is that kids are out there to play golf, not scroll. The interface is simplified for that use case.
For a junior golfer learning the game, 43,000 courses and AutoShot detection is plenty. They don't need strokes gained yet. They need to know they're 150 yards out, hit the ball, and not think about the watch.
Green Contours and the Subscription Situation
Both watches have flat green views in their free tier. Green contours — the ability to see slope and break direction on the green — are locked behind Garmin Golf membership on the S50 ($99.99/yr). The J1 doesn't support green contours at all, even with membership.
That's worth sitting with. If you buy the S50 and want green contours, you're paying $300 on day one plus ~$100/yr. Over three years that's $600 total. The J1 never gets contours at any price. For a junior golfer, this probably doesn't matter. For a competitive adult golfer who reads greens carefully, it might.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Garmin Approach J1 if:
- You're buying for a junior golfer (the entire point of this watch)
- Your kid needs a capable GPS watch without the smartwatch baggage
- You want to spend $100 less and don't need fitness features
- A simplified interface matters more than a full feature set
Get the Garmin Approach S50 if:
- You're an adult buying a golf watch for yourself
- You want the watch to double as a fitness tracker between rounds
- Strokes gained data is part of how you track improvement
- PlaysLike distance built-in matters on hilly courses
- You want to leave one less proprietary cable at home (USB-C charges this one)
The Bottom Line
These two watches share enough hardware that comparing them is really about intended audience. The J1 is a focused, well-executed junior golf watch — light, simple, and $300. The S50 is a capable adult golf watch with smartwatch features, performance analytics, and PlaysLike yardage for $400. If you're an adult golfer comparing these, the S50 is the obvious choice — $100 gets you a lot. If you're buying for a junior golfer, the J1 is purpose-built for exactly that and the price is right.
Get the Garmin Approach S50.