What They Have in Common
Both are tier-2 GPS watches with MSRP around the $300–$400 mark. Both track shots automatically, display full-color hole maps, show hazard distances, log strokes gained, and work without a mandatory subscription. Both have touchscreens and tournament-legal modes. If all you need is GPS yardages and basic shot tracking on a watch, either one gets the job done.
Where They Differ
Display: AMOLED vs MIP
This is the most visible difference. The S50 runs a 1.2-inch AMOLED display at 390×390 resolution — bright, vivid, easy to read in basically any lighting condition. The X5 uses a MIP (memory in pixel) display at 240×240 in 64 colors. MIP is actually excellent in direct sunlight, arguably better than AMOLED in the harshest conditions, but it's noticeably less sharp and less vibrant up close. If you're checking yardages in a Texas summer with the sun directly overhead, MIP holds up fine. If you want hole maps and stats that look good, AMOLED wins clearly.
Shot Tracking: Different Approaches, Different Costs
Both watches track shots automatically, but the mechanism is different. The S50 uses Garmin's AutoShot sensor built into the watch — no extra hardware required, compatible with optional CT10 or CT1 club tags if you want them (sold separately). The X5 includes 16 club tags in the box, second-generation screws-into-the-grip-butt style tags, at no extra cost. Those tags are what enable the X5's Personalised Hole Maps, which overlay your actual club data on each hole to show where your driver versus your 3-wood is likely to finish. That's a genuinely useful feature, and getting the hardware included matters — CT10 tags run around $200 for a full set from Garmin. If club-by-club tracking is the whole point, the X5's all-in approach is hard to argue with.
Subscription and Ongoing Costs
The X5 has no subscription. Zero. The 100+ stats, strokes gained, course updates — all free. The S50's baseline is also free, including AutoShot and PlaysLike distances, which is worth noting. But green contours require Garmin Golf membership at $99.99/yr. Over three years, that's $300 on top of the $399.99 watch price, for a total of ~$700 if you want the full feature set. The X5 at $299.99 — or $249.99 on sale — stays flat. That math is worth knowing before you buy.
Smartwatch Features: The S50 Doubles as a Real Fitness Watch
The S50 has heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, fitness profiles, Garmin Pay (contactless payments), and 4GB of music storage. The X5 has a step counter and that's about it for health features — no heart rate, no sleep tracking, no notifications, no payments. If you wear the same watch to the gym, on a run, or just around all day, the S50 earns its keep in ways the X5 simply doesn't. The X5 is a golf watch. The S50 is a golf watch that also works as a smartwatch.
Weight and Durability
The S50 weighs 29g with the nylon ComfortFit band — Garmin's lightest golf watch. You'll forget it's there mid-swing, which matters more than it sounds. The X5 is 50g — still not heavy, but 21g heavier. The X5 specs some details I couldn't confirm (water resistance rating, exact battery hours, charging connector aren't listed on the product page), while the S50 is rated 5 ATM and runs up to 15 hours in GPS mode. The X5's manufacturer states "2+ rounds of golf," which seems likely fine for one day but I'd want clearer specs before a multi-day trip.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Garmin Approach S50 if:
- You want one watch for golf and daily life — fitness tracking, payments, notifications, music all matter to you
- You prefer a lighter watch (29g vs 50g is a real difference on long rounds)
- You'll use PlaysLike distances and want them built in without a subscription
- You're okay spending $99/yr if you eventually want green contours
- Display quality matters — AMOLED looks significantly better than MIP up close
Get the Shot Scope X5 if:
- You want club-by-club shot tracking without spending $200+ extra on CT10 tags
- You never want a subscription fee — the X5's full 100+ stats are free, forever
- You play somewhere the X5 sale price ($249.99) makes the gap even wider
- You want personalised hole maps that factor in your actual shot distances by club
- You're buying strictly as a golf watch and don't care about fitness features
The Bottom Line
The S50 is the better all-around watch. It's lighter, it looks better, and it works just as hard off the course as it does on it. Shot tracking is built in with no subscription required for the core features. If you want green contours someday, the option exists through Garmin Golf membership — it just costs extra.
The X5 isn't trying to be a smartwatch, and that's fine. It's trying to be the most capable golf watch for the fewest ongoing dollars, and with 16 club tags included and zero subscription fees, it largely succeeds. Personalised hole maps are genuinely clever. But unless club-tag shot tracking is your top priority, or the subscription math turns you off Garmin, the S50 earns the edge.
Get the Garmin Approach S50.