Garmin Approach S50 GPS Golf Smartwatch

The Approach S50 is a light 43mm Garmin golf watch with a 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen, PlaysLike distances included and full health tracking.

Why it made the list

The S50 sits between the S44 and S70 in Garmin’s lineup. It shares the S44’s bright 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, 43mm case and 15 hour golf battery, then adds a wrist heart rate sensor, Pulse Ox, sleep tracking and HRV status. That makes it a real everyday fitness watch as well as a golf watch.

On the course, PlaysLike distances are included with no membership. PlaysLike adjusts the yardage for elevation changes, which is a feature the cheaper S44 keeps behind Garmin Golf. It weighs 29 grams with the nylon band.

What it does well

• A 390 x 390 pixel AMOLED touchscreen with an optional always-on mode
• PlaysLike distances included, with no Garmin Golf membership needed
• Wrist heart rate, Pulse Ox, sleep score, Body Battery and HRV status
• More than 43,000 preloaded courses with front, middle and back yardages
• A 29 gram weight that is easy to forget during your swing

The light case and fabric band make it comfortable for a full day. It also covers other sports, with activity profiles for running, cycling, pool swimming, tennis and pickleball.

Who it’s for

The S50 is for golfers who want one watch for golf and daily health tracking without paying for a flagship. It also suits players with smaller wrists. The S/M band fits wrists from 127 to 190 mm, and the M/L band fits 145 to 217 mm.

Who should skip it

If you want Virtual Caddie club suggestions or the full hole map without a membership, look at the S70. If you only care about yardages and never track workouts, the S44 gives you the same screen for $100 less.

Key specs, explained

The case measures 43 x 43 x 11.4 mm, with an anodized aluminum bezel and a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours in GPS mode and up to 10 days as a smartwatch. Fifteen hours covers three or more rounds between charges. The 5 ATM water rating means rain and sweat are no problem. It has 4 GB of storage for music, and it works with Garmin Pay for contactless payments.

The bands are 20 mm industry standard quick release, so you can swap in any band that size.

How it compares

The Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Smartwatch costs $299.99 and has the same screen and battery, but no wrist heart rate, and PlaysLike needs a membership. The Garmin Approach S70 Golf Smartwatch (42mm Ceramic) costs $649.99 and includes Virtual Caddie, the hole map and touch targeting. Choose the S50 for the middle ground.

Good to know

The full hole map, touch targeting and green contours need a Garmin Golf membership, which costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. The S50 is tournament legal with tournament mode turned on. It works with Approach CT10 club sensors, sold separately, for automatic shot tracking.

Questions about the Garmin Approach S50

What is the difference between the Approach S50 and S44?

The S50 adds wrist heart rate and health tracking and includes PlaysLike distances. Both have the same 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, 43mm case and 15 hour golf battery.

Does the Approach S50 need a subscription?

No, yardages, hazards, PlaysLike and scoring work without one. The full hole map, touch targeting and green contours need Garmin Golf.

Is the Approach S50 good for small wrists?

Yes, it is a good choice for smaller wrists. The 43mm case weighs 29 grams, and the S/M band fits wrists from 127 mm around.