Compare Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) vs Garmin Approach S70

Reviewers generally found automatic activity detection reliable and convenient, especially for walks, runs, and auto pausing, with only minor caveats.

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

Wear OS and Google/Samsung integration were treated as major strengths, though one long-term reviewer still found smartwatch apps somewhat limited.

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

Band feedback was sharply mixed: some reviewers praised the attachment system and comfort, while others disliked the stock or Marine bands.

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 was consistently better than ordinary Galaxy Watches, commonly reaching roughly two days or more, but still short of serious sports-watch endurance.

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 appeared in sleep and apnea-related tracking, but reviewer confidence varied because one outlet saw unusually low overnight readings.

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 exists, but the clearest reviewer evidence focused on frustrating power-meter pairing rather than broad Bluetooth reliability.

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

Reviewers strongly agreed the 3,000-nit display is a standout, with excellent brightness in sunlight and outdoor use.

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

Build quality was repeatedly praised as premium, rugged, and solid, with reviewers calling out top-notch construction.

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

The Quick Button was often useful, but reviewers repeatedly criticized the missing rotating bezel, absent crown-like control, and limited customization.

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

Call handling worked well as a phone-extension feature, with reviewers using or highlighting calls from the wrist.

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 was present in daily stats and workout targets, but reviewer evidence focused more on availability than accuracy or depth.

Charging convenience was mixed to weak because wireless charging exists, but reverse wireless charging was removed and top-ups still require planning.

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

Charging speed was a recurring drawback, with reviewers reporting roughly 1.5 to 3 hours for a full recharge.

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

Coaching support was clearest through Wellness Tips and audio feedback tied to goals, but evidence was narrower than for core tracking.

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 depended heavily on wrist size and use case: several reviewers wore it comfortably, while others found it too large or disruptive for sleep.

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

Samsung Health was praised for useful aggregation and free features, but the broader app setup was criticized for requiring multiple Samsung apps.

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

NFC and wallet payments were useful and reliable for several reviewers, though one long-term user disliked the PIN friction.

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

Compatibility was a major caveat: the watch is Android-only and many advanced features are best or only available with Samsung phones.

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

Customization was a clear strength, covering data pages, complications, watch faces, tiles, and the Quick Button.

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

Display quality was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising the AMOLED panel, clarity, size, sharpness, and visual impact.

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

Durability was widely praised, with evidence around titanium, sapphire, rugged ratings, scratch resistance, and long-term wear.

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

ECG was valued as an advanced health feature, but multiple reviewers noted Samsung-phone or app restrictions.

Fit was polarizing because the 47mm body felt comfortable to some but bulky, wide, or wrist-dominating to others.

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

Fitness accuracy was broadly positive for runs and GPS workouts, but reviewers still reported sport-specific weaknesses and mixed conclusions.

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 was one of the product’s clearest wins, with many reviewers finding it accurate, fast-locking, or finally competitive.

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

Health accuracy was mixed: some scores and sensors seemed useful or consistent, while AGEs, body composition, and broader insights drew skepticism.

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 was usually strong for running and everyday workouts, but reviewers reported weaknesses in cycling, rowing, or certain conditions.

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 was part of the Ultra’s default configuration and supported independent smartwatch use, though reviewers did not deeply stress-test it.

Navigation was mixed: GPX, compass, Track Back, and turn-by-turn features helped, but reviewers criticized missing maps and limited routing depth.

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 quality was consistently praised, especially titanium, sapphire crystal, and the more premium feel versus aluminum Galaxy Watches.

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

Navigation was mixed to weak: touch and touch-bezel controls can work, but reviewers missed a rotating bezel or crown.

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

Music and media controls were useful as a phone-free convenience for pausing, skipping, and playback control.

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

The Wear OS 5 and One UI Watch experience was considered modern and capable, with performance and efficiency improvements.

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

Outdoor visibility was excellent in most situations thanks to the bright screen, though one reviewer noted underwater visibility limits.

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

Pairing was mixed: phone setup could be easy and Samsung integration strong, but cycling power-meter pairing was poor.

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

Recovery and readiness insights were useful but uneven, with Energy Score and post-workout recovery data sometimes lacking sensitivity.

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

Reliability was mostly positive over time, especially battery health, but reviewers noted isolated workout stoppage and power-warning issues.

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

Safety features were a plus, especially the loud emergency siren and outdoor-focused emergency positioning.

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

Size options were weak because the Ultra only comes in one 47mm case, leaving smaller-wrist users with no Ultra-sized alternative.

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

Sleep tracking accuracy was mixed: several reviewers found sleep/wake times close, while others saw gaps, optimistic scoring, or idle-time confusion.

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.

Notifications generally worked well as a phone-extension feature, with reviewers appreciating wrist-based texting and alerts.

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 were broad and capable, with reviewers highlighting Wear OS tools, Samsung ecosystem functions, sports modes, and phone-extension use.

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

Software smoothness was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly reporting fast, fluid, lag-free performance.

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

Step counting was generally acceptable but not flawless, with reviewers noting close controls in one case and phantom or hand-motion-related steps in others.

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

Stress tracking was present but weakly reviewed, with one reviewer calling it an afterthought and another simply listing it among Samsung Health tools.

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

Design was polarizing: some reviewers loved the bold rugged look, while others disliked the squircle body and Apple-like cues.

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

Third-party app support was a Wear OS advantage, especially popular apps like Komoot, Strava, Spotify, and broader Wear OS options.

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

Touch input was fine in dry conditions but a weakness in sweat, rain, or wet sports situations.

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

The UI was generally refined and familiar, though some reviewers found Samsung’s watch experience less straightforward than rivals.

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

Value was a recurring concern because the Ultra costs far more than Watch 7 while sharing many features, despite its rugged advantages.

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.

Watch faces were praised for attractiveness, customization, complications, and useful at-a-glance information.

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 was stronger than standard Galaxy Watches and good for swimming/open water, but reviewers noted it is not a true dive-sports watch.

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

Wellness insights were promising but mixed: Energy Score and Wellness Tips helped some reviewers, while AGEs and score sensitivity drew criticism.

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

Wi-Fi setup and connectivity were supported through the Galaxy Wearable flow, but review evidence was limited to basic connection behavior.

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

Workout variety was strong, covering multisport, triathlon, gym machines, runs, hikes, swims, rides, and many activity profiles.

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