Compare Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 vs Garmin Approach S50

Gemini and voice assistant features were one of the most consistently praised upgrades, often described as faster, more useful, and better integrated than prior assistants.

Voice assistant quality was weak because the watch did not support talking to Siri or using voice assistant functions like an Apple Watch.

Reliability had limited mixed evidence, with one reviewer liking the watch but warning about software gremlins and setup friction.

Reliability was a major positive, with reviewers repeatedly saying the S50 worked as expected, inspired trust, and gave them no performance concerns.

Contactless payments had limited evidence, but one reviewer explicitly called the feature nice.

Contactless payments were criticized for limited bank support in the UK, making Garmin Pay much less useful for some users.

Size options had limited positive evidence, with one reviewer appreciating that Samsung offers smaller and larger versions.

Size options were a limitation for people wanting a larger watch, since reviewers noted the S50 looks and feels small compared with larger S70 options.

Watch face quality had limited but positive evidence from a reviewer who loved the level of watch-face customization.

Watch face quality was a mild limitation because more and better customization was identified as an S70 advantage.

GPS accuracy split reviewers: one found it fast and accurate, while another said it fell short of top dual-band sports watches.

GPS accuracy was strongly praised overall, with reviewers reporting accurate yardages, fast satellite locking, and dependable GPS data.

Battery life was the most repeated drawback, with reviewers often calling it daily-use or one-day performance despite a few positive or improved results.

Battery life was generally praised, with reviewers reporting strong multi-day use and weeklong real-world wear, though one comparison called it modest versus the S70.

Heart-rate tracking earned strong marks across workouts, with reviewers describing readings as dependable, precise, and close to comparison devices.

Heart rate tracking evidence was mixed: the built-in sensor enabled valuable tracking, but reviewers noted it used older Gen 4 hardware.

Menu navigation was mixed: reviewers liked the cleaner UI and intuitive onboarding, but criticized the digital bezel and lack of tactile controls.

Menu navigation was generally easy to learn and intuitive, with reviewers saying they had little trouble moving through the watch’s features.

Mapping and navigation was split, with Gemini/Maps impressing one reviewer but another being sent back to the phone for actual directions.

Mapping and navigation helped golfers make better decisions, but reviewers repeatedly noted that richer maps, green details, and touch targeting were better on the S70 or behind a subscription.

Style and design was polarizing: many praised the refreshed cushion look, but several reviewers disliked the squircle design or thought it looked unfinished.

Style and design were praised for the S50’s sleek, lower-profile look and broader wearability compared with bulkier golf watches.

Blood oxygen tracking drew limited but mostly positive evidence, with one reviewer matching an oximeter while another found it weaker during sleep.

Blood oxygen tracking was viewed as adequate but not cutting edge because reviewers noted the older Gen 4 sensor platform rather than Garmin’s newest hardware.

The operating system experience was widely praised for Wear OS and One UI improvements, though one reviewer still found the watch software somewhat busy.

Operating system experience was split: Garmin’s golf-watch flow was dependable, but one iPhone user found the general smartwatch experience weaker than Apple Watch.

Durability was mixed: certifications, sapphire glass, and protective design were praised, while raised glass and early nicks worried reviewers.

Durability evidence was positive but narrow, with the Gorilla Glass 3 lens called very durable.

Charging convenience was mixed-to-negative because daily charging routines worked for some, but missing bricks and lost reverse wireless charging hurt convenience.

Charging convenience was mixed: shared Garmin cable compatibility helped existing Garmin users, but the proprietary charger frustrated another reviewer.

Button controls were mixed: customization was useful, but the base model’s two buttons and lack of a Quick Button or physical bezel frustrated some reviewers.

Button controls were usable but not ideal for button-first users; reviewers found navigation workable while still preferring more physical controls on higher-end models.

Band quality was mixed-to-positive, with praise for comfort and softness but criticism of proprietary/incompatible strap changes.

Band feedback was split: some reviewers loved the lightweight nylon comfort, while others found the strap awkward to put on or less comfortable during sweaty rounds.

Customization options were praised, especially customizable tiles, watch faces, quick settings, and broad watch personalization.

Customization earned light praise because reviewers liked being able to adjust round settings and score-detail preferences.

Materials quality had limited negative evidence, focused on the aluminum case feeling relatively soft.

Materials quality was mixed because the silicone alternative was preferred for active use while the included nylon band was lighter and comfortable for some situations.

Value for money was mixed: several reviewers saw strong value or a worthwhile buy for Samsung users, while others questioned the price hike and limited upgrade case.

Value for money was mixed but generally positive: reviewers liked the feature-to-price balance, while subscription-locked features and unused fitness tracking reduced value for some.

Companion app quality was mixed-to-positive: Samsung Health was praised as helpful and well-designed, while the need for multiple apps was criticized.

Companion app evidence was limited but positive where reviewers discussed Garmin’s stat reporting becoming more robust and useful after tracked rounds.

Pairing reliability had limited but positive evidence, with setup described as straightforward once the Galaxy Wearable app takes over.

Pairing reliability was a strength, with reviewers describing Garmin Golf app pairing as seamless and dependable after setup.

Outdoor visibility was praised as strong thanks to the bright display, though one reviewer still wanted better anti-reflective treatment.

Outdoor visibility was generally strong thanks to the AMOLED display, but bright direct sunlight made small details harder to read for one reviewer.

Wellness insights were a major strength overall, especially Energy Score, vascular load, sleep coaching, and actionable Samsung Health guidance, though bedtime guidance was less useful for routine sleepers.

Wellness insights were widely praised, especially health tracking, Body Battery, sleep, stress, and recovery-style metrics that extended the watch beyond golf.

Software smoothness was mostly strong, with reviewers describing the watch as snappy, fluid, reactive, and largely lag-free, despite one wake-up complaint.

Software smoothness evidence was modest but positive, with one reviewer describing operation as easy and mostly automatic.

Reviewers generally found health tracking solid, with strong Samsung Health breadth and close-enough or very accurate results, though not every metric was treated as medical-grade.

Health tracking accuracy was supported by the Body Battery feedback, which one reviewer said closely matched how they felt during the day.

Notification handling was mixed, with one reviewer liking the redesigned notification flow and others finding alerts too easy to miss or slow to wake.

Smartphone notifications were polarized: they helped triage alerts for some users, but iPhone notification controls were described as limited and frustrating.

Recovery guidance had limited evidence, but one reviewer appreciated that the watch leaned toward rest rather than pushing overreaching.

Recovery insights were useful for sleep-related recovery in one review but easy to ignore for another reviewer during daily use.

Fit was mixed: some reviewers loved how naturally it disappeared on the wrist, while others noted band sizing or snugness issues.

Fit was highly wrist-dependent: smaller and average wrists generally fared well, while larger wrists or bigger-watch preferences created concerns.

Workout variety was praised as broad, with plentiful modes and a long list of activities to track.

Workout tracking variety was considered enough for most golfers, though not as deep as higher-end Garmin fitness watches for specialized training.

Charging speed was mixed, ranging from quick top-ups or roughly one-hour charges to complaints about nearly two-hour full charges.

Charging speed received mild praise, with one reviewer needing only a few hours for the initial charge before use.

Touchscreen responsiveness was praised overall, with reviewers describing swipes, taps, and controls as snappy or very responsive.

Touchscreen responsiveness was a highlight, with reviewers calling the screen responsive, intuitive, and faultless in use.

Cross-platform compatibility was a recurring caveat: reviewers noted important Samsung-exclusive features and weaker appeal for non-Samsung Android users.

Cross-platform compatibility was weaker for iPhone users, especially compared with the Apple Watch experience and notification controls.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mixed-to-positive: reviewers praised general workout accuracy but noted treadmill offsets, mixed intense-workout results, and GPS-related limitations.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mixed; reviewers found it broadly useful, but elevation tracking was called less accurate without a barometric altimeter.

Sleep tracking was one of the stronger health areas, with reviewers noting complete data, accurate duration, useful reports, and good alignment with other wearables.

Sleep tracking was praised for detailed, useful scoring and for being comfortable enough to wear overnight.

Smartwatch features were praised as comprehensive and helpful, especially with AI and health tools, though some reviewers framed the package as better for Samsung users.

Smartwatch features were a central strength for golfers who wanted more than a golf GPS watch, especially health, fitness, and everyday watch functions.

Coaching features were useful for many reviewers, especially Running Coach and sleep/running guidance, but one experienced runner found the plan too beginner-focused.

Guided wellness coaching evidence was positive, especially around breathing and relaxation exercises that one reviewer said they enjoyed.

Build quality was mixed, with praise for toughness and durability ratings offset by concern about the raised glass and one reviewer’s material doubts.

Build quality was mostly positive for the slim, lightweight construction, though one reviewer felt the watch was a little plasticky out of the box.

Brightness was a clear strength, with reviewers praising the move to 3,000 nits and strong direct-sunlight readability.

Brightness was mostly praised for AMOLED clarity, but one reviewer found the screen could be brighter in harsh Florida sunlight.

The user interface drew positive evidence for better organization, a useful Now Bar, cleaner notifications, and easy navigation.

The user interface was mostly friendly and easy to use, though one reviewer called the golf features a bit complicated until learned.

The app ecosystem received limited but strong praise because Wear OS gives the watch access to Google Play.

Reviewers liked the Garmin ecosystem because devices and data transfer felt easy to manage, especially for people already using multiple Garmin products.

Comfort was the clearest consensus strength, with many reviewers saying the thin, light redesign made it easy to wear for workouts, sleep, and all-day use.

Comfort was one of the clearest strengths, with multiple reviewers saying the lightweight watch disappeared on the wrist or was easy to wear all day and during sleep.

Activity auto-detection was mostly praised as prompt and reliable, though one reviewer saw some repeated auto-pausing.

Shot detection drew praise as a useful automatic tracking aid during rounds, though the evidence focused on golf shots rather than broader daily activity detection.

Display quality was consistently praised as vivid, colorful, gorgeous, and enjoyable, with reviewers repeatedly highlighting Samsung’s AMOLED panel.

Display quality was a major strength across reviews, with repeated praise for the AMOLED screen’s color, resolution, and on-course usefulness.

Music controls received mixed evidence because one reviewer found gesture music control limited to Samsung Music Player in testing.

Music controls were criticized because controls did not automatically appear when music was playing on a phone.

Stress tracking evidence was limited but positive, centered on the watch clearly presenting stress levels through vascular-load-related insights.

Stress tracking was useful in connection with bedtime and recovery prompts, though evidence focused on wellness reminders rather than measured precision.

Antioxidant Index was the weakest new health feature overall, with reviewers calling it interesting or quick but repeatedly questioning usefulness, consistency, and anxiety potential.

Call handling was limited because the watch could answer or reject calls but could not be used to speak through the watch.

ECG functionality was viewed as dependable and easy to use, with reviewers noting accessible readings and clear reports.

Onboard storage was treated positively, with one reviewer saying the regular Watch 8’s capacity should be more than enough for most people.

Step counting was considered good overall, with manual checks lining up and only small offsets in one comparison.

Third-party app support was praised strongly, with one reviewer saying the watch supports every major smartwatch app they wanted.

Water resistance had limited positive evidence from a reviewer who swam with the watch without issues.