Garmin Approach S50 43 mm (Slate, black ComfortFit nylon band) vs Garmin Approach S70 47 mm (black/red ceramic bezel, black silicone band)
Do the S70's included golf-map and Virtual Caddie features justify its larger case, or are the S50's golf basics and smaller listed dimensions a better fit?
Products compared
ASIN B0DRZ1QFY5
Garmin Approach S50 43 mm (Slate, black ComfortFit nylon band)
You are content with the S50's listed golf features and want the smaller 43 mm case, 1.2-inch display and ComfortFit nylon band.
Last observed offer
$397.50
- Confirm offer eligibility on Amazon
Size: 43mm
Price checked
Observed condition: new. Coupon and subscription requirements unverified.
ASIN B0BYFBRMWP
Garmin Approach S70 47 mm (black/red ceramic bezel, black silicone band)
You want Virtual Caddie and Garmin lists it for the S70; set it up with the Garmin Golf app and the required rounds, Club Prompt or Approach sensors.
Last observed offer
$649.99
List Price: $699.99
- Confirm offer eligibility on Amazon
Size: 47mm
Price checked
Observed condition: new. Coupon and subscription requirements unverified.
Prices are per listed package. Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-22 · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
The main trade-off
The S70 lists Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting as included and adds Virtual Caddie, while the S50 lists those first two features as membership features; the S50 has a smaller, lighter listed case and nylon band, while the selected S70 has a larger display and silicone band.
Quick verdict
The S70 47 mm is the feature-fit choice for golfers who want Garmin's listed Virtual Caddie and membership-free Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting. The S50 keeps core distance, hazard and PlaysLike tools in a smaller 43 mm, 29 g listed package with a ComfortFit nylon band; Garmin lists green contours as a membership feature on both watches.
Choose Garmin Approach S50 43 mm (Slate, black ComfortFit nylon band) if
- You are content with the S50's listed golf features and want the smaller 43 mm case, 1.2-inch display and ComfortFit nylon band.
- You do not need Virtual Caddie and are comfortable with membership requirements for the S50's Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting.
Choose Garmin Approach S70 47 mm (black/red ceramic bezel, black silicone band) if
- You want Virtual Caddie and Garmin lists it for the S70; set it up with the Garmin Golf app and the required rounds, Club Prompt or Approach sensors.
- You want Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting listed as included on the S70, and prefer its 1.4-inch display and silicone band.
When the recommendation changes
- If you need green-contour data, plan for a Garmin Golf Membership with either watch; that feature is not an S70 membership-free advantage.
- If the larger 47 mm case is not the size you want, the S70's 42 mm version is a separate configuration and is not the product compared here.
The differences that matter
| Decision point | Garmin Approach S50 43 mm (Slate, black ComfortFit nylon band) | Garmin Approach S70 47 mm (black/red ceramic bezel, black silicone band) |
|---|---|---|
| Golf Features And Membership Requirements | Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting are listed as membership features for S50; PlaysLike Distance is listed without that membership label.[1, 3, 2] | Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting are listed as included for S70; Virtual Caddie is listed for S70 and requires its documented phone/app and round-recording setup; Green Contours require membership for both.[1, 6, 8, 9] |
What this changes: The choice depends on whether S70-specific access and Virtual Caddie matter more than the S50's lower-size wearable specifications; membership remains relevant for Green Contours on either watch.[1, 3, 8] The better fit depends on your priorities | ||
| Case Display And Wear Workflow | 43 x 43 x 11.4 mm case, 29 g, 1.2-inch display, ComfortFit nylon band; Garmin proprietary plug charging.[5, 2, 3] | 47 x 47 x 13.4 mm case, 56 g, 1.4-inch display, ceramic bezel, silicone band; Garmin proprietary plug charging.[7, 6] |
What this changes: The dimensions and materials provide a concrete way to compare the selected wear configurations, but do not predict an individual's comfort or viewing results; the charger type is shared.[5, 2, 7, 6] The better fit depends on your priorities | ||
Best for your routine
A golfer who wants Garmin's listed Virtual Caddie and membership-free Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting
Best fit: Garmin Approach S70 47 mm (black/red ceramic bezel, black silicone band)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Garmin lists Virtual Caddie for the S70 and lists Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting as included; Virtual Caddie still needs its documented app and round setup.
A golfer who prioritizes the smaller listed case, lower listed weight and nylon band while using the S50's included golf tools
Best fit: Garmin Approach S50 43 mm (Slate, black ComfortFit nylon band)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The S50 is listed at 43 mm and 29 g with a ComfortFit nylon band, compared with the selected S70's 47 mm case and 56 g silicone-band configuration; personal comfort is not established by those specifications.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
The S70's added golf access is most relevant if Virtual Caddie or membership-free Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting are features you will use. Green Contours still require membership on both, and the S70's larger selected case may not match every wrist preference.
There is not enough price history here to say whether now is a better time to buy. Recheck the current offer for the exact size, color, seller and item condition before checkout.
Limitations
- The listed case dimensions, weights and band materials do not establish personal comfort, readability in sunlight, course-distance accuracy or scoring improvement.
- Garmin's stated battery figures depend on settings and use; no side-by-side battery test was performed, so this comparison does not rank real-world runtime.
- The price record is current-only and does not establish a historical low or buying-time recommendation.
Questions shoppers ask
Does the S70 remove the need for a Garmin Golf Membership?
No. Garmin lists Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting as included on the S70, while it lists them as membership features on the S50; Green Contours still require membership on both watches.
Do the selected S50 and S70 use different charging connectors?
Garmin lists a proprietary plug charger for both. The S50 manual says to clean and dry the contacts, connect the cable to the watch, then connect it to a USB charging port.
Methodology and sources
Compared Garmin's U.S. golf-feature and membership table with the S50 U.S. manual, S70 47 mm product information and S70 Virtual Caddie instructions, then compared the listed case, display, weight and strap specifications for the selected configurations.
Automated research assistance organized the published information; Pickoryx did not conduct hands-on testing of either watch.
View 9 sources
- 1.Garmin Golf Watch Comparison | Which WatchGarmin · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Golf Watch Differences table: Full CourseView Mapping, PlaysLike Distance, Touch Targeting, Virtual Caddie, Green Contours on Device and battery-life rows: Garmin's U.S. comparison table lists the S50's Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting as membership features and PlaysLike Distance as included. For the S70 it lists Full CourseView Mapping and Touch Targeting as included and Virtual Caddie as available; Green Contours require membership for both. It also supplies the manufacturer-listed S50 and S70 battery estimates, which are not treated here as comparative real-world test results.
- 2.Level up your golf game with vibrant new Approach S44 and S50 smartwatches from GarminGarmin · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Approach S50, Enhanced game tracking and Come together sections: Garmin describes the S50's 1.2-inch display, PlaysLike Distance, ComfortFit nylon strap, CT1/CT10 pairing and Garmin Golf app functions. The release covers S44 and S50 membership features only; it is not used to generalize those terms to S70.
- 3.Approach S50 Owner's ManualGarmin · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Playing Golf and subscription note (printed pp. 3-4); Garmin Golf app and membership note (printed p. 13); Charging the Watch (printed p. 2); Specifications (printed p. 46): The model-specific U.S. English manual says some golf functions require a Garmin Golf subscription, describes S50 golf setup and touch-targeting steps, and gives charging-contact handling instructions. It does not establish that S50 includes Virtual Caddie.
- 4.Garmin Approach S50 | Golf SmartwatchGarmin · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- U.S. SKU page for part 010-03010-00: Garmin identifies part 010-03010-00 as the slate/black S50 configuration used here. Its golf-feature and size claims are documented in the cited U.S. comparison, announcement and owner manual.
- 5.Garmin Product Compare: Approach S50 specificationsGarmin · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Approach S50 column: physical size, weight, display size and charging method: Garmin's U.S. product comparison lists the Approach S50 at 43 x 43 x 11.4 mm, 29 g, with a 1.2-inch (30.4 mm) display and a Garmin proprietary plug charger.
- 6.Garmin Approach S70 - 47 mmGarmin · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- U.S. product page for part 010-02746-02; 47 mm black/red ceramic bezel with black silicone band; Overview and Specifications: Garmin's U.S. page for part 010-02746-02 identifies the selected S70 47 mm black/red ceramic-bezel and black-silicone-band configuration, a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, and proprietary plug charging. It also describes Virtual Caddie, enhanced PlaysLike and Green Contours (the latter with active Garmin Golf membership).
- 7.Garmin Product Compare: Approach S70 42 mm and 47 mmGarmin · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Approach S70 47 mm column: physical size, weight, display size and charging method: Garmin's U.S. product comparison lists the S70 47 mm at 47 x 47 x 13.4 mm, 56 g, with a 1.4-inch (35.41 mm) display and a Garmin proprietary plug charger. Only the selected 47 mm column is used in the article.
- 8.Approach S70 Owner's Manual: Virtual CaddieGarmin · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Virtual Caddie: setup conditions and recommendations: The S70 manual says to record five rounds using Approach sensors or Club Prompt, upload scorecards and connect to a paired phone running Garmin Golf for each round before Virtual Caddie use. It describes the feature as offering club recommendations based on hole layout, wind and the user's club history.
- 9.Virtual Caddie on a Garmin Golf WatchGarmin Customer Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-22 00:31 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Requirements to Use Virtual Caddie and Compatible Devices: Garmin Support lists compatible Approach S70 watches, not S50, and describes the compatible-watch/Garmin Golf connection and round-history or Approach CT10 sensor prerequisites. This source is used narrowly for compatibility and setup, not to infer performance.