Compare Garmin Approach S70 vs Google Pixel Watch 3

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

Auto-detection was usually praised for reliable workout or bedtime recognition, though one reviewer said it missed training sessions.

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

Reviewers liked Wear OS app availability and found the platform close enough to mature smartwatch ecosystems for most users.

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

The default band could be comfortable, but reviewers disliked the proprietary connector, strap mechanism, and 45mm band reset.

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

Battery life was a consistent improvement, especially on 45mm models, generally landing between a full day and close to two days.

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

Blood oxygen data appears as part of the health metrics stack, but reviewers discussed it as one metric rather than a headline strength.

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

Bluetooth was viewed positively for upgraded specs and stable phone pairing, with some ecosystem unlocking benefits tied to connectivity.

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

Brightness drew strong praise after the jump to 2,000 nits and better sunlight readability.

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

Build quality felt refined and premium, though ruggedness concerns remain separate from the basic construction impression.

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

The crown and side buttons were generally responsive, with reviewers appreciating the haptic crown and physical controls.

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

Call features were useful, especially Ask to Hold and watch-based call handling, with Pixel phone integration adding value.

Calorie tracking was treated as useful for general fitness context, not as a dedicated precision tool.

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

Charging convenience was mixed: the puck could be secure and useful for quick top-ups, but some found accessory options or cable behavior limiting.

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

Charging speed improved meaningfully, with multiple reviewers noting fast partial top-ups and shorter full-charge times.

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.

Coaching improved substantially through custom runs, voice cues, Cardio Load, and AI-style suggestions, though it still leans runner-first.

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

Comfort was a recurring strength, with reviewers finding both the strap and larger model wearable day and night.

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

The Fitbit app and data presentation were repeatedly praised for clarity and explanation, though Premium still complicates the value.

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

Contactless payments are well supported through Google Wallet or Google Pay and treated as a normal smartwatch strength.

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

Compatibility is good across Android phones but limited by no iPhone support and a few Pixel-exclusive features.

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

Customization is decent for watch faces, tiles, and runs, but sport data screens and non-running workouts remain constrained.

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

Display quality was one of the strongest upgrades thanks to bigger screens, slimmer bezels, sharper visuals, and more usable space.

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

Durability was a repeated caveat because Gorilla Glass and the domed design lack the rugged protections of some rivals.

ECG is present as part of the health suite, but reviewers tended to mention it alongside other sensors rather than testing it deeply.

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

Fit was praised through the flush case, comfortable underside, and wearable larger size.

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

Fitness tracking accuracy was generally strong for workouts and heart-rate-based exercise logging, especially for casual and mainstream use.

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

GPS opinions were mixed to negative: lock-on and casual tracking could be fine, but precision lagged behind stronger sports watches.

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

Health tracking accuracy was praised when compared with Apple Watch, Fitbit expectations, and reviewer lived experience.

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.

Heart rate accuracy was a standout, with several reviewers finding it close to chest straps or leading wearables.

LTE is available but typically framed as an optional paid upgrade rather than a transformative feature.

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.

Offline Google Maps improved navigation utility, but workout-integrated navigation still lagged specialized sports watches.

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

Materials felt premium with aluminum cases and curved Gorilla Glass, though the absence of sapphire limited rugged confidence.

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

Menu navigation improved with the grid launcher and intuitive controls, but some Wear OS screens still required extra scrolling.

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

Music controls and media access were useful, including workout-screen controls and phone or streaming-player control.

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

Onboard storage helps with offline maps and music, making phone-free runs more practical.

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

Wear OS was usually described as smooth, polished, and increasingly mature, especially in Google’s own ecosystem.

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

Outdoor visibility was very strong thanks to the 2,000-nit display and better sunlight readability.

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

Pairing and setup were reliable in the scored reviews, including easy setup and stable use across Android phones.

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

Recovery guidance improved through Readiness, Target Load, and Cardio Load, giving more actionable daily training context.

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

Reliability was strongest around battery consistency and stable software, though GPS and durability kept it from being flawless.

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

Safety features were robust, including fall detection, emergency calls, check-in tools, and loss-of-pulse detection.

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

The new 45mm option was one of the most agreed-upon wins, broadening appeal and improving screen and battery life.

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.

Sleep tracking was generally viewed as accurate or useful for timing and sleep context, though not always deeply insightful.

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

Notifications were a core strength, with prompt delivery and enough wrist interaction to reduce phone use.

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

Smartwatch features were broad, including Google app integrations, smart home control, Recorder, TV remote, Wallet, and safety tools.

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

Software smoothness was highly rated, with reviewers noting snappy app loading, no perceptible lag, or no stutters.

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

Step counting tested very accurately in one review and reasonably close in another.

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

Stress tracking was useful for some, especially cEDA responsiveness, but other reviewers found the explanations less actionable.

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

Style and design were a major strength, with repeated praise for the pebble-like, elegant, distinctive look.

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

Third-party support was good for apps, but external sensor pairing and some data export workflows were limiting.

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

Touch input was responsive in normal use, though sweat or water could make it less dependable.

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

The interface was clean and straightforward overall, despite some round-screen inefficiencies and sparse layouts.

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.

Value was mixed: reviewers liked the watch but cited high pricing, cheaper alternatives, or weak upgrade need.

Google Assistant worked well for some tasks, but the lack of Gemini and awkward voice experiences limited enthusiasm.

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

Watch faces were mixed, with some reviewers liking Active but others wanting more variety and better defaults.

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

Water resistance was consistently supported through IP68 and 5ATM claims, suitable for showers and swimming contexts.

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

Wellness insights improved through Morning Brief, Readiness, Cardio Load, and Fitbit health summaries.

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

Wi-Fi connectivity improved through faster 5GHz support and was referenced as part of stable daily connectivity.

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

Workout variety is broad enough for casual users, but reviewers repeatedly noted the strongest new tools favor runners.