Compare Garmin Venu Sq 2 vs Garmin Approach S70

Only one review directly discusses automatic activity capture, saying the watch can credit elevated activity even without a manually started mode.

Auto-detection is supported mainly through automatic shot tracking and measured-shot behavior, with positive convenience but some manual confirmation or sensor caveats.

Reviewers describe Garmin’s Connect IQ ecosystem as useful for faces, widgets, and extras, but much smaller than Apple or Google-style app stores.

The Garmin ecosystem is praised for tying golf, fitness, watch faces, and Connect IQ-style additions together.

Band impressions are split: some reviewers found the silicone strap comfortable, while others called the bundled strap stiff or not especially comfortable.

Band quality is mixed: reviewers like comfort and integrated looks, but several dislike the molded strap not laying flat or prefer older straps.

Battery life is the clearest strength, with reviewers repeatedly reporting about nine to eleven days in normal smartwatch use and much less with always-on display.

Battery life is one of the strongest positives, with reviewers reporting long smartwatch use, multiple rounds, and much better endurance than Apple Watch comparisons.

Blood oxygen support is broadly present through SpO2 and Health Snapshot, though reviewers disagree on accuracy, with some readings described as low or unreliable.

Pulse ox and blood oxygen tracking are present in several reviews and treated as part of the S70’s higher-end health sensor package.

Bluetooth support is solid for sensors, headphones, and external heart-rate gear, with reviewers noting ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart accessory compatibility.

Bluetooth connectivity is supported through Bluetooth music and headphone pairing, though the evidence is functional rather than deeply evaluated.

Brightness is rated highly, with multiple reviewers saying the AMOLED screen is vibrant and readable outdoors or under direct sunlight.

Brightness is repeatedly praised, with reviewers describing the screen as bright, crisp, colorful, and clear.

Build quality is functional but not premium; reviewers note lightweight construction and a useful aluminum bezel while criticizing the plasticky or cheaper feel.

Build quality is viewed positively, with reviewers describing a lightweight, well-designed build and confidence-inspiring construction.

Button controls are usable but mixed: reviewers like glove-friendly physical buttons, while others find the two-button layout clunky or less intuitive.

Button controls are generally praised, with reviewers liking the three-button setup and easy navigation support.

Call handling is weak because reviews repeatedly state there is no Bluetooth call support, speaker, microphone, or Venu 2 Plus-style calling feature.

Call handling is limited because reviewers say the watch can show or manage calls but cannot be used to actually speak through the watch.

Calorie tracking appears as part of Garmin’s basic daily fitness metrics and sport alerts, but reviewers focus more on steps, intensity minutes, and workouts.

Charging convenience is mixed: the cable can plug in securely, but reviewers dislike the proprietary USB-A charger and Garmin-specific cable.

Charging convenience is mixed to negative, with reviewers repeatedly mentioning proprietary charging, USB-C adapter issues, and awkward face-down charging.

Charging speed is praised in one review, which says the watch charged from a low level to full in under 45 minutes.

Charging speed has limited but positive support from one reviewer who says it does not take long to fully charge.

Coaching features are strong for the price, especially Garmin Coach, downloadable workouts, training plans, and goal-based running or cycling support.

Coaching features are one of the S70’s strongest themes, with virtual caddie, PlaysLike, club suggestions, shot dispersion, and scoring advice appearing across many reviews.

Comfort is a consistent positive, with reviewers praising the light weight, slim case, 24/7 wearability, and ability to forget it is on the wrist.

Comfort is a major strength, with reviewers saying the watch disappears, sits comfortably, and does not bother them during golf or sleep.

The companion app is powerful and data-rich, but opinions split between clear presentation and complaints that Garmin Connect can feel buried or overwhelming.

Companion app quality is generally positive, especially Garmin Golf for round data, stats, and ecosystem value, with setup requirements noted.

Garmin Pay works and reviewers successfully used it, but support depends on banks and regions, so contactless payments are useful yet not universal.

Contactless payments are available through Garmin Pay, but evidence is mixed because bank support and setup can be limiting in some regions.

Cross-platform compatibility is a clear advantage, with reviewers noting support for both Android and iOS, unlike some platform-locked rivals.

Cross-platform compatibility is positive overall because the watch pairs with iPhone and Android, though notification controls differ by platform.

Customization is broad through shortcuts, glances, data screens, and watch faces, though some watch-face configuration and shortcut limits feel awkward.

Customization is strong, with reviewers noting data fields, colors, golf settings, watch faces, and movable pin or flag controls.

Display quality is strongly praised after the move to AMOLED, with reviewers calling it bright, colorful, vibrant, sharp, and a major upgrade.

Display quality is the strongest consensus attribute: reviewers repeatedly praise the AMOLED screen’s sharpness, clarity, color, and impact on maps.

Durability looks good for everyday use, with mentions of Gorilla Glass, aluminum, water resistance, and resistance to scuffs and scratches.

Durability has limited direct support but is positive where mentioned, with the scratch-proof lens cited.

ECG functionality is absent; reviewers repeatedly state the Venu Sq 2 has no ECG feature and that Garmin ECG support was limited elsewhere.

Fit is generally good for smaller or average wrists, though one reviewer needed time for the silicone strap to settle around the wrist.

Fit is positive, helped by wrist comfort, swing clearance, and the smaller 42mm option for users who found larger cases too big.

Fitness tracking accuracy is strong overall, with GPS, heart-rate, sports, and exercise tracking often described as great, reliable, or close to reference devices.

Fitness and shot-tracking accuracy is mostly positive, with reviewers praising Garmin-level sensor accuracy and convenient data, though some note shot-tracking limitations.

GPS accuracy is a major positive, with several reviewers reporting quick locks, accurate routes, and performance close to more expensive devices, aside from tougher city conditions.

GPS and yardage accuracy are consistently praised, including quick GPS lock, accurate yardages, and close agreement with rangefinder-style measurements.

Health tracking accuracy is mixed: heart-rate and sleep timing can be good, but some reviewers question how meaningfully Garmin combines health data.

Reviewers describe broad health tracking as useful and Garmin-level accurate, especially when combining sleep, stress, heart rate, pulse ox, and fitness metrics.

Heart-rate accuracy is mostly good to excellent, especially for steady workouts, though a few reviews note lag or higher max readings during harder intervals.

Heart rate appears as part of the S70’s fitness and wellness tracking, with reviewers treating it as a useful everyday metric rather than a golf-only add-on.

LTE connectivity is not available; one reviewer directly says the watch lacks built-in LTE or cellular connection.

Mapping and navigation are basic; reviewers note only simple back-to-start or compass-style help, with no maps, breadcrumb trails, or course support.

Mapping and navigation are a major strength, with detailed hole maps, hazard views, pin movement, blind-shot tools, and full-color course layouts repeatedly praised.

Materials are practical rather than luxurious, with fiber-reinforced resin, aluminum trim, silicone straps, and a design carried over from the original.

Materials quality is positive in the available evidence, especially the ceramic bezel and premium-feeling build.

Menu navigation is divided: some reviewers find it simple and easy after learning it, while a critical review calls it slow and inconvenient.

Menu navigation is mixed: several reviews praise simple starts and quick menus, while touch-heavy hole navigation frustrates one reviewer.

Music controls are useful on the base model for phone playback, while the Music Edition adds more independent playback options.

Music controls are present, but reviewers split between liking access and finding Garmin’s menu path less convenient than Apple Watch behavior.

Onboard music storage is useful on the Music Edition but widely criticized as an upcharge, since the base model lacks storage.

Onboard music storage is a clear plus, with multiple reviewers noting downloaded songs or playlists from services such as Spotify or Amazon Music.

The operating system experience is more Garmin-familiar and easier than the original Venu Sq, but still trails fuller smartwatch platforms.

Operating system experience is mixed: one reviewer finds Garmin software mostly intuitive, while another says the OS hurts enjoyment on the course.

Outdoor visibility is generally good after the AMOLED upgrade, though one review still notes squinting in bright sun.

Outdoor visibility is excellent across reviews, with several reviewers saying bright sunlight or sun glare did not prevent easy reading.

Pairing support is present for Bluetooth headphones and accessories, but direct evidence is mostly about pairing capability rather than long-term reliability.

Pairing reliability has limited but positive evidence, with one reviewer calling phone pairing straightforward through Garmin’s apps.

Recovery insights are useful through Body Battery, but the watch lacks more advanced training readiness, load, and structured recovery metrics from higher Garmin models.

Recovery insight evidence is limited but supported by HRV readiness language, tying recovery-style feedback to sleep and heart-rate variability.

Reliability is generally positive, especially for running-watch use and GPS chipset behavior, with reviewers calling it reliable or a solid option.

Reliability is mixed: GPS/course lock and battery endurance are praised, but one reviewer reports missed shot detections.

Safety features are a plus, including Assistance, Incident Detection, and LiveTrack, though phone pairing is required for some features.

Safety features have limited support, with one guide noting an assistance/fall-detection-style safety feature.

Size options are limited, as reviewers note a single 40mm case or no size differences between versions.

Size options are widely praised because the S70 offers both smaller and larger versions, though color choices are limited in some reviews.

Sleep tracking is mixed to positive: timing is often accurate, but reviewers question stages, note no nap tracking, and mention occasional over-reporting.

Sleep tracking gets frequent attention, with reviewers noting sleep scores, deep sleep or REM data, and morning feedback, though one reviewer questions how helpful the messaging feels.

Smartphone notifications work well for alerts and basic viewing, but reply features depend on Android and richer notification actions are limited.

Notifications are useful but mixed: reviewers like seeing messages and alerts, yet some call them distracting or limited for replies and conversation flow.

Smartwatch features are serviceable but limited, with repeated criticism of missing calls, voice support, richer apps, and fuller phone-like functionality.

Smartwatch features are strong for a golf watch, but reviewers still flag limitations compared with dedicated Apple or Android smartwatches.

Software smoothness is mixed, with several reviewers noticing lag, slow glances, or slower responsiveness than Apple or Samsung watches.

Software smoothness is a noted weakness in limited evidence, especially around pan-and-zoom behavior on the course.

Step counting is presented as a standard fitness-tracker feature, and one reviewer found step counts close to an Apple Watch comparison.

Step counting is mentioned positively in limited evidence, mainly as an advanced counter one reviewer found useful.

Stress tracking is useful through HRV, stress widgets, and Relax Reminders, though one quote frames it as part of broader wellness logging.

Stress tracking is widely mentioned; some reviewers found it surprisingly accurate or habit-changing, while one reviewer considered it less valuable.

Style and design are polarizing, with praise for wearability but repeated criticism that the square design is ordinary, cheaper-looking, or unattractive.

Style and design are positive, with reviewers calling the S70 stylish, modern, and suitable beyond the course.

Third-party app support is limited; reviewers say Connect IQ has useful tools but pales beside Apple, Google, and Samsung app libraries.

Third-party app support is useful but not always seamless, with Connect IQ and downloadable apps/features appearing as the main support path.

Touchscreen responsiveness is mostly good, with some reviewers calling it responsive and predictable, while others notice lag or less snappy motion.

Touchscreen responsiveness is mixed: some reviewers find it good or responsive, while others find on-course panning and zooming fiddly.

The user interface is basic but usable, with Garmin’s revised UI helping, though some reviewers still find the layout underused or plain.

User interface evidence is limited but negative where cited, focused on the touchscreen interface feeling fiddly during golf use.

Value for money is strong for fitness-focused buyers thanks to battery, accuracy, and Garmin features, but weaker for shoppers wanting full smartwatch features or cheap pricing.

Value for money is mixed but generally favorable for advanced golfers: reviewers praise value if using the full feature set, while warning basic-yardage users can spend less.

Voice assistant quality is poor because there is effectively no voice assistant support on the Venu Sq 2.

Watch face quality is mixed: there are customizable and downloadable faces, but some reviewers dislike limited default customization and square-face support.

Watch face quality is well supported, with reviewers praising built-in faces, Connect IQ options, and the AMOLED screen making faces look better.

Water resistance is well supported, with multiple reviewers noting 5ATM or 50-meter protection suitable for swimming and shower use.

Water resistance is positive, with reviewers citing 5 ATM or 50-meter ratings and shower/swim use.

Wellness insights are a core strength, including Body Battery, stress, sleep score, SpO2, Health Snapshot, respiration, and energy-level guidance.

Wellness insights are a major differentiator, especially Body Battery, sleep, stress, energy, and Garmin’s explanations of what the metrics mean.

Wi-Fi is available on the Music Edition for music syncing, while the base model is described as limited to Bluetooth and ANT+.

Wi-Fi connectivity is lightly supported by setup/menu evidence showing the watch can connect to Wi-Fi for updates.

Workout tracking variety is broad for casual fitness, with more than 25 profiles, HIIT, yoga, swimming, running, cycling, and structured workouts.

Workout variety is a clear strength, with reviewers citing running, cycling, swimming, yoga, skiing, pickleball, and other activity modes.