Garmin Approach S72 Golf Smartwatch (47mm)

The Approach S72 is Garmin’s newest flagship golf watch, with on-wrist swing metrics, green reading and phone calls on a 1.4-inch AMOLED touchscreen.

Why it made the list

Garmin announced the S72 on October 6, 2026, and it now sits at the top of the Approach line. It keeps everything golfers liked about the S70, including more than 43,000 preloaded courses, PlaysLike distances, Virtual Caddie club suggestions and touch targeting, then adds golf data the S70 never had. The watch measures hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation and hand plane during range sessions and rounds, and it records how your heart rate moves before and after each shot.

The 47mm model pairs that with a 454 x 454 pixel AMOLED screen, a titanium bezel and a sapphire crystal lens. It weighs 48 grams with the ComfortFit fabric band, which is lighter than the 56 gram 47mm S70.

What it does well

• Swing metrics on the wrist: hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation, hand plane and swing tempo
• Green reading that shows putt break direction and average slope on select courses, with a Garmin Golf membership
• A built-in speaker and microphone for phone calls and voice commands
• An LED flashlight with variable white light and a red light
• Up to 20 hours in golf mode and up to 16 days as a smartwatch

The swing and heart rate data are what set it apart from other golf watches. You can review the trends in the Garmin Golf app after the round.

Who it’s for

The S72 suits golfers who want the most complete Garmin golf watch and will wear it every day. It fits golfers who review data after a round, practice often, or want one watch for golf, calls and workouts.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you only want front, middle and back numbers. At $799.99 it is the most expensive watch in this guide, and the features that justify the price are swing data, green reading and smartwatch extras. Golfers on a budget will get accurate yardages for far less from the Approach S44 or S12.

Key specs, explained

The 47mm case measures 47 x 47 x 13.5 mm and fits wrists from 154 to 229 mm around. The 1.4-inch AMOLED display has an optional always-on mode, so you can see yardages without lifting your wrist. Battery life is rated at up to 20 hours in golf activity mode with default settings, which covers several rounds. It is rated 5 ATM for water. It has 64 GB of storage and multi-band GPS.

Health tools include wrist heart rate, Pulse Ox, skin temperature and an ECG app.

How it compares

The Garmin Approach S70 Golf Smartwatch (42mm Ceramic) shares the same core golf features, including Virtual Caddie and PlaysLike, and costs $649.99. It lacks the swing metrics, green reading, speaker and flashlight. The Garmin Approach S44 GPS Golf Smartwatch costs $299.99 but puts the hole map and PlaysLike behind a membership. Choose the S72 if the swing data and calls matter to you.

Good to know

Green contours, green reading, aerial imagery and putting analysis need a Garmin Golf membership, which costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Wind speed and direction need a connection to the Garmin Golf app. The S72 is tournament legal with tournament mode turned on. A 43mm version is also $799.99, weighs 41 grams and is rated for up to 15 hours of golf and 10 days as a smartwatch.

Questions about the Garmin Approach S72

Is the Approach S72 worth it over the S70?

Yes, if you want swing metrics, green reading, calls and a flashlight. The 47mm S72 has the same screen size and golf battery rating as the 47mm S70, so golfers who only want yardages can save money with the S70.

Does the Approach S72 need a subscription?

No, yardages, PlaysLike, Virtual Caddie, touch targeting and swing metrics work without one. Green contours, green reading and aerial imagery need Garmin Golf.

Can you make calls on the Approach S72?

Yes, it has a built-in speaker and microphone for calls with a paired smartphone.