The watch can automatically recognize at least some activities and add them if you forget to start tracking manually.
One review describes Garmin’s wellness ecosystem as comprehensive, especially for turning health data into useful summaries.
Reviewers liked Garmin's broader ecosystem, especially easy switching between Garmin devices and shared value across Garmin products.
The silicone band is described positively for comfort and feel.
The nylon ComfortFit band is a clear differentiator: reviewers liked its light, stylish feel, but others found it sweaty, awkward, or less premium-looking than silicone.
Battery life is widely praised, with most reviews citing around nine days and some testers stretching well beyond a week.
Battery life was consistently strong in review use, with reports of roughly a week of wear and enough endurance for multiple rounds, though it is still behind higher-end Garmin models.
Pulse Ox is present and generally viewed positively, with one reviewer calling the SpO2 readings spot-on.
Pulse Ox support is included, with blood oxygen tracking described as part of the S50's broader health feature set.
Bluetooth support is consistently mentioned for sensor links, heart-rate broadcasting, and phone connectivity.
Bluetooth connectivity supports accessory pairing, including direct rangefinder integration.
One reviewer said the screen can be hard to read in very bright conditions, even at maximum brightness.
The AMOLED screen is generally described as bright and crisp, though one reviewer wanted more brightness for smaller details in harsh sun.
The move from a plastic case to a metal case is presented as a quality upgrade.
Build impressions were mostly positive thanks to durable glass and a slim, useful design, but one reviewer said the light case felt a bit plasticky.
The new physical buttons are one of the most praised upgrades, especially for workouts and easier navigation.
The two-button layout is easy enough to use, but reviewers noted it offers fewer physical controls than pricier Garmin models.
Call handling is basic; you can answer or reject calls, but functionality stops there.
Calorie data is available, but one review said calories burned ran slightly off compared with another watch.
Calorie burn tracking is present as part of the health dashboard, but reviewers did not provide deep evidence on how actionable it is.
Charging is improved by the standard Garmin cable or simple magnetic setup, and reviewers call the new approach more convenient.
Charging is easy for existing Garmin owners because it uses Garmin's familiar cable, but the proprietary connector is less convenient than USB-C.
Charging speed is good, with reviewers reporting roughly a full charge in about an hour.
Charging speed was described as reasonably quick, with one reviewer ready to go after only a few hours of initial charging.
Garmin Coach and structured workouts are widely praised for offering guided plans and flexible goal-based training.
Guided breathing tools and Garmin health coaching add useful coaching beyond raw stat collection.
Comfort is a standout strength, with reviewers repeatedly saying the watch is light, easy to sleep in, and easy to forget on the wrist.
Comfort is one of the S50's biggest strengths, with repeated praise for the light, low-profile case, though the band can feel less ideal once sweaty.
Garmin Connect gets mixed marks: reviewers praised setup and data usefulness, but one found the app less clear than it could be.
The Garmin Golf app pairing and day-to-day connection were repeatedly described as simple, seamless, and reliable.
Garmin Pay is repeatedly noted as convenient and easy for on-the-go payments.
Garmin Pay is supported, but usefulness depends heavily on bank compatibility and was described as limited in at least one market.
One review explicitly says the watch works with both iOS and Android phones.
Cross-platform support is functional but uneven; one reviewer specifically found iPhone notification control restrictive.
Reviews note good customization for watch faces, widgets, data pages, training plans, and notifications, even if flexibility is not unlimited everywhere.
Customization is strong, with support for custom photos and broad watch-face personalization.
The hidden monochrome display earns praise for clarity and contrast, though it remains intentionally simple rather than rich or colorful.
Display quality is a standout, with repeated praise for the crisp, vibrant AMOLED panel.
Durability impressions are mixed, with Gorilla Glass noted positively but aluminum scratch resistance called out as a weakness.
Durability looks solid from review evidence, especially the Gorilla Glass lens.
Reviews explicitly note that the Lily 2 Active does not include ECG support.
The compact size and lightweight build earn strong praise for smaller wrists and all-day wear.
Fit is generally praised thanks to the flat profile and flexible strap adjustment, though one reviewer found the band loop tight when putting the watch on.
General fitness tracking is reviewed very positively, with performance described as accurate and comparable to pricier Garmin models.
One reviewer said the body battery and related fitness tracking felt true to how they actually felt day to day.
GPS is a standout strength, with multiple reviews calling it accurate, fast to connect, and very close to higher-end Garmin devices.
Golf GPS accuracy was consistently strong, with distance readings reported within a couple of yards and quick satellite acquisition.
Review evidence points to credible health insights, with one reviewer saying the watch's body battery matched their real fatigue levels well.
Multiple reviews say heart-rate tracking was very solid or spot-on, with only minor lag during quick changes in effort.
Materials get mixed feedback: Gorilla Glass and aluminum are appreciated, but one reviewer still viewed the aluminum as easier to scratch than pricier materials.
Materials are solid for the price, with anodized aluminum and Gorilla Glass called out positively.
Menus and widget navigation are generally viewed as straightforward, with swipes and buttons making the watch easier to move around.
Once the key gestures and long-press actions are learned, menu navigation is described as straightforward.
Phone-based music controls work well for basic playback tasks like volume and track skipping.
Music controls are available, but the experience is more utility-focused than polished and does not always surface controls automatically.
Multiple reviews explicitly say there is no onboard music storage, so you still need your phone for music.
The watch can store music locally for direct playback from the device.
Core navigation is easy and intuitive, but some smartwatch interactions feel less refined than Apple Watch-style experiences.
One review specifically said the screen stayed readable outdoors, even in direct sunlight.
Outdoor visibility is good for main yardage data, but small on-screen details can get harder to read in very bright sunlight.
Pairing is described as easy and dependable for phones and supported external sensors.
Pairing reliability is excellent in review use, with setup described as seamless and stable afterward.
HRV, Body Battery, Training Readiness, and related guidance give useful signals about recovery and when to push or rest.
Recovery features are useful, with reviewers calling out nightly recovery insight and hours-to-recover guidance.
One reviewer explicitly described the watch as very reliable during GPS use.
Reliability is a major strength, with one reviewer calling Garmin golf watches totally dependable.
Incident detection, fall alerts, and emergency contact sharing are repeatedly mentioned as reassuring safety features.
Safety support includes fall detection and emergency contact options when set up.
Size choice is limited compared with Garmin's pricier alternatives, and reviewers who prefer larger watches may find the S50 too small.
Reviewers consistently said the watch nailed sleep and wake timing and caught wake-ups well, though one review still wanted deeper sleep-stage detail.
Sleep tracking was well regarded, with reviewers praising the detail and overall usefulness of the sleep scoring system.
The watch reliably mirrors smartphone notifications, with support for calls, texts, and app alerts.
Notifications work for triage and golf-mode quality-of-life features, but replies and granular app control are limited.
Core smartwatch basics are here, including notifications, music control, and Garmin Pay, but the feature set stays focused rather than expansive.
Beyond golf, the S50 adds meaningful smartwatch and health functionality, which several reviewers saw as its main differentiator.
One review says day-to-day swiping and opening apps feels smooth.
General software behavior feels smooth once the basic control scheme is learned.
One reviewer found step counts close in casual testing, though arm-free walking can still miss steps.
Stress tracking is included across reviews and is described as useful for understanding energy and daily load.
Stress tracking is included as part of the watch's everyday wellness toolkit.
Style is one of the biggest selling points, with reviewers consistently praising the fashionable, minimalist look.
Reviewers repeatedly described the S50 as sleek, slim, and stylish.
Reviews confirm syncing and compatibility with third-party services such as Strava, TrainingPeaks, and similar fitness platforms.
Third-party media support exists, with named support for services like Amazon Music and Spotify.
Touch input is the clearest weakness in the reviews, with repeated complaints about touches not registering cleanly.
Touch input was praised as very responsive.
One reviewer describes the interface as very simple to swipe through and interact with.
The interface is broadly intuitive and easy to learn, though one reviewer still found the golf side a bit complicated at first.
Value is mixed but mostly positive: several reviews say the added GPS and upgrades justify the price, while others think rivals offer more for similar money.
Most reviewers saw strong value in the S50's mix of golf and health features, though the subscription model and overlap with cheaper or pricier Garmin models complicate the value story.
Voice assistant support is effectively absent in review use; one reviewer noted you cannot use the watch to talk to Siri.
Watch face options get mixed feedback: the designs suit the look of the watch, but several reviewers wanted more variety or more color.
Reviewers liked the stock face aesthetics and noted plenty of additional face options.
One review states the watch is water resistant to 5 ATM.
Reviewers treated the S50 as suitable for swimming or shower use, with the main caveat being that the nylon band dries more slowly.
Body Battery, sleep scores, hormone guidance, and other wellness summaries are a major strength and frequently described as useful.
Wellness insights are a clear strength, with sleep coach, nap tracking, reminders, breathing tools, and body battery called out repeatedly.
Wi-Fi connectivity is available for updates and related syncing.
Reviews repeatedly highlight the wide range of sport profiles and workout modes, with the Active adding many more than earlier Lily models.
Workout support extends well beyond golf, with multiple sports modes and activity profiles available.