Garmin Approach S50 Review: A Brilliant Mid-Range Golf Watch

The Garmin Approach S50 has entered the market as a mid-range GPS golf smartwatch designed to bridge the gap between budget-friendly trackers and premium flagship devices. Positioned as a hybrid of high-end golf features and a comprehensive health and fitness suite, the device aims to provide a versatile solution for users who require a caddy on the course and a wellness tracker off it.

The S50 is part of a new duo of GPS golf watches released alongside the Approach S44. It features a 42 mm build with a 1.2-inch color AMOLED display, designed for high visibility in various weather conditions to ensure yardages remain legible without strain.

Golf Navigation and Course Features

The device comes preloaded with 43,000 courses, providing users with immediate access to a vast library of layouts. The navigation system includes detailed yardages to hazards and specific distances to the front, middle, and back of each green.

Technical golf tools integrated into the S50 include a plays-like distance feature and an auto shot measurer. These tools are intended to help golfers better calculate their approach and track their performance throughout a round.

Health Tracking and Hardware Design

Beyond its utility as a golf GPS, the Approach S50 functions as a full-scale health and fitness tracker. This integration allows the device to be worn 24/7, monitoring wellness metrics outside of golf activities.

The hardware is described as slim and lightweight. It ships with a black nylon fabric strap, which some reviewers have noted is more comfortable and adjustable than traditional silicone options. The watch utilizes a charging cable consistent with other Garmin products, facilitating ease of use for existing brand owners.

Battery performance has been reported as impressive, with some users noting the ability to go nearly a full week without recharging, even with 24/7 wear and multiple rounds of golf played.

Software Ecosystem and Costs

The S50 integrates with the Garmin Golf app for customization and data management. While the core app is free to use, Garmin offers an additional subscription for expanded features at a cost of $100 annually.

This subscription model has been identified as a point of contention, as certain extra features require a paid plan to access, which may be viewed as a drawback for users seeking a fully inclusive experience without recurring costs.

Market Positioning

The Approach S50 is priced at $400, placing it between the budget-tier S12 and the high-end S70. By combining the AMOLED screen and high-end golf features with a mid-range price point, Garmin is positioning the S50 as a competitive option that may challenge more expensive premium devices.

The device is designed to appeal to a broad demographic of golfers who want more than a basic GPS but do not necessarily require the full feature set of the flagship S70, while still benefiting from the same 42 mm face diameter available in some S70 versions.