Get the Garmin Approach S50.
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| Garmin Approach S50 | Garmin Approach S70 (42mm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $399.99Winner | $649.99 |
Get the Garmin Approach S50.
The S70 wins on features — Virtual Caddie, wind data, green contours, a barometric altimeter, and 16GB of music storage. The S50 wins on value. At $250 less, you still get AutoShot, PlaysLike distances, full-color hole maps, and a 29g watch so light you'll forget it's there. For most golfers, the S50 is the right call. But if you want AI club recommendations and you're willing to pay for them, the S70 earns its price.
Both run Garmin's AMOLED touchscreen on a 1.2-inch display with identical resolution. Both cover 43,000 preloaded courses, offer AutoShot detection, PlaysLike yardages, strokes gained, and the full Garmin Golf app ecosystem. Same battery life. Same 5 ATM water rating. Same CT10/CT1 compatibility. Same 1-year warranty. These are clearly siblings.
This is the biggest split between them. The S70 has Virtual Caddie — Garmin's AI club recommendation engine that factors in wind, elevation, your swing history, and shot dispersion data. The S50 has none of that. No Virtual Caddie, no wind data, full stop.
Whether that matters depends on how you play. Virtual Caddie isn't just "here's a club suggestion" — it's incorporating real-time wind readings and your personal shot patterns. If you've always relied on your own feel for wind and club selection, you won't miss it. If you've been curious about AI-assisted decisions on the course, the S50 can't get you there.
Both watches calculate PlaysLike distances adjusting for elevation. But the S70 does it with a built-in barometric altimeter; the S50 uses GPS elevation data alone. The barometer is more accurate — GPS elevation can drift several meters, which matters more on shots over 150 yards. I'd guess most golfers won't notice the difference round-to-round, but if you play mountainous courses, the S70's read is probably more reliable.
The S70 includes green contours, which are membership-locked on both watches. Pay $99.99/year for Garmin Golf membership on either device and you unlock them. On the S70 it's listed as included in the feature set; on the S50 it's a noted add-on. Either way, you're paying the same $100/year if you want contours. Don't let this tip the decision.
This is more significant than it sounds. The S50 at 29g (with nylon ComfortFit band) is the lightest Garmin golf watch made. The S70 at 44g is still light by any normal measure, but it's 50% heavier. If you've ever played 18 holes in summer heat with a watch that starts to feel like a brick on your wrist by the 14th hole, you'll appreciate the 15-gram gap. The S50 genuinely disappears on your wrist.
The S70 has 16GB of music storage; the S50 has 4GB. Both support offline music playback, but 4GB caps out around 800-1000 songs depending on file format — probably enough for most people, but if you carry large playlists or podcasts, the S70 has room. The S70 also comes with a ceramic bezel to the S50's slate aluminum. Ceramic is more scratch-resistant and premium-looking. Probably because this is Garmin's flagship and they wanted a tangible luxury marker at the price.
Get the S50 if:
Get the S70 if:
Three-year cost of ownership: the S50 at $399.99 with Garmin Golf membership runs roughly $700 over three years. The S70 at $649.99 with the same membership is closer to $950. That's $250 more for wind data, Virtual Caddie, a barometer, more music storage, and a nicer bezel. If Virtual Caddie is something you'd actually use every round, $250 over three years isn't outrageous. But for a golfer who mostly wants yardages, shot tracking, and a watch that does double duty as a daily wearer, the S50 does 80% of what the S70 does at 60% of the price.
Get the Garmin Approach S50.