What They Have in Common
Both are button-only MIP watches with no subscription required, no color-locked features, and no smartwatch bloat. Free course updates, green view, hazard distances, and digital scoring come standard on both. Neither has heart rate, sleep tracking, smart notifications, or wind data. No virtual caddie. No strokes gained. These are simple, get-the-yardage-and-go watches.
Where They Differ
Battery Life — It's Not Even Close
The S12 runs 30 hours in GPS mode and 70 days in watch mode. The G6 is rated at "2+ rounds of golf" with a 4-day watch battery. That's a meaningful gap. If you play once a week, the G6 works fine — charge it before your round, you're set. But if you're on a golf trip playing 36 holes a day, or you just hate the routine of charging a watch, the S12's battery is a genuine advantage. Seventy days of watch mode means you might charge it once every two months. That's hard to argue with.
Course Data & Hole Maps
Both pull from large course databases — the S12 has 42,000 preloaded courses, the G6 has 36,000. The gap is 6,000 courses and probably doesn't matter unless you're playing very remote or obscure layouts. Where the G6 pulls ahead is how it shows you the hole. Full-color hole maps with distances to hazards, layup points, and doglegs are included on every course. The S12 has basic hole maps. If you're playing a course you've never seen and want a picture of the hole on your wrist, the G6 gives you more to work with. The S12 gets you front/center/back and hazard distances, but the visual context is thinner.
Shot Tracking (or the Lack of It)
The S12 doesn't track shots automatically, but it's compatible with Garmin's CT10 club sensors. Buy the full set (roughly $170-200) and every shot gets logged by club, no manual input required. That's an upgrade path the S12 has and the G6 doesn't — the G6 is GPS-only, full stop. No tags, no tracking, no compatibility with any tracking add-on. If you think you'd ever want shot data, the S12 keeps that door open. If you're certain you don't care about tracking, the G6's simplicity is actually a feature — nothing to set up, nothing to calibrate, nothing to lose out of your bag.
Weight, Form Factor, and the Details
The S12 is 34.1g; the G6 is 42g. Both are light by any reasonable standard. I doubt you'd notice either during a swing, but the S12 is noticeably lighter if you pick them both up. The G6 comes with 12 interchangeable strap colors (two included), which is a nice touch if you want to match your gear. Shot Scope also offers a 2-year warranty vs Garmin's 1-year — that's a real difference on a $150-200 purchase. The G6's water resistance is unspecified, which is a little annoying for a watch you're wearing on a course. The S12 is rated 5 ATM, so you're covered in rain without thinking about it.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Garmin Approach S12 if:
- You play multiple rounds in a week or go on golf trips where charging is inconvenient
- You think you might want shot tracking down the road — CT10 sensors make it possible without buying a new watch
- Water resistance matters to you and you want a confirmed rating
- You want maximum battery life at the lowest possible ongoing cost
Get the Shot Scope G6 if:
- You can catch the sale at $149.99 and want a clean, simple GPS watch with full-color hole maps
- You play once or twice a week and don't mind charging before a round
- You've never wanted shot tracking and don't plan to start
- You want more customization options (strap colors) and a longer warranty (2 years vs 1)
- You want a clearer visual picture of each hole — the full hole maps are genuinely more useful than basic
The Bottom Line
These are both no-subscription GPS watches for golfers who want yardages without complexity. The S12's 30-hour GPS battery is its signature move, and it's a good one. The G6's full-color hole maps and lower price (at sale) are its argument. Garmin's course library is bigger and the water rating is confirmed. Shot Scope's warranty is better and the visual hole data is richer. Seems like the S12 wins on pure practicality — battery and peace of mind — but the G6 is the better value if you catch it at $149.99 and hole maps matter more to you than multi-day battery life.
Get the Garmin Approach S12.
See Also