Compare Withings ScanWatch 2 vs Garmin Approach S50

Reviewers found auto-detection useful in concept but inconsistent in practice, with some praising automatic walking/running recognition and others reporting flaky, false, or missing detection.

Auto-detection evidence is strongest around golf-shot detection, score prompts, and Move IQ-style automatic activity interpretation.

The broader ecosystem is strongest for people already using Withings or health-platform integrations, though app changes and paid layers made the experience less universally satisfying.

The Garmin ecosystem is a strength, especially app syncing, accessory support, Garmin Golf membership upgrades, club sensors, and cross-device benefits.

Band impressions were split: several reviewers liked the fluoroelastomer or silicone strap, while others found it itchy, slippery, or poorly fitted enough to replace.

Band quality is polarizing: several reviewers liked the lightweight nylon ComfortFit band, while others found it fiddly, sweaty, or less premium.

Battery life was the most consistently praised attribute, with reviewers regularly getting multiple weeks and sometimes close to a month between charges.

Battery life is strong overall, with multi-day to near-week-long use reported, but it remains below the S70's rated endurance.

Blood oxygen support was widely noted as a useful health feature, though reviewers varied from calling readings accurate to noting occasional inconclusive or basic behavior.

Blood oxygen tracking is present through Pulse Ox, with reviewers noting both the sensor and sleep/on-demand measurement behavior.

Bluetooth-connected use is functional for phone pairing and connected GPS, but the watch depends on the phone/app rather than offering a fully independent connection experience.

Bluetooth connectivity is useful for accessories, especially rangefinder yardages and connected golf hardware.

Brightness was generally adequate and sometimes praised, but one reviewer found the small screen harder to see in bright light.

Brightness is generally praised, but one Florida-sun review found smaller text could be hard to read in direct sunlight.

Build quality was a clear strength, with repeated praise for the stainless case, solid feel, and premium analog-watch construction.

Build quality is generally positive for slimness and lightness, but one reviewer felt the S50 was somewhat plasticky versus pricier models.

The crown-based controls were usually seen as simple and tactile, though the one-button design can feel limiting compared with touch-first smartwatches.

Button controls are functional with two side buttons, but several reviewers preferred the extra physical controls on higher-end Garmin watches.

Call handling is minimal: reviewers repeatedly noted that the watch can show or alert for calls but cannot take or answer them from the wrist.

Call handling is basic: reviewers found phone-call notifications and answer/reject controls, but no full calling experience from the watch.

Calorie data appears as part of workout or activity summaries, but reviewers treated it as basic supporting information rather than a standout coaching metric.

Calorie tracking is available as part of the daily health metrics, but reviewers mostly mentioned it as a tracked stat rather than deeply evaluating its usefulness.

Charging convenience was mixed: the newer cradle is more secure for some reviewers, while others found the proprietary dock flimsy, fiddly, or clunky.

Charging convenience is mixed: the cable is familiar for Garmin users, but proprietary charging was criticized as inconvenient for trips.

Charging speed was consistently acceptable, with reviewers generally reporting roughly 90 minutes to two hours for a full charge.

Charging speed has limited evidence, but one reviewer said the initial charge only took a few hours.

Coaching features mostly live in the app or Withings+; reviewers liked some gentle prompts and sleep tips but often questioned the subscription's value.

Coaching features include Garmin coaching, meditation or breathing prompts, sleep coach, and training-program support, though they are secondary to the golf feature set.

Comfort was usually good for all-day wear, helped by the lighter hybrid design, though sleep comfort and strap fit were not consistent for everyone.

Comfort is one of the S50's standout strengths thanks to its lightweight, low-profile design, though the nylon strap can feel less comfortable when sweaty.

The companion app drew mixed reviews: it can show detailed health data and reports, but reviewers also criticized glitches, busy layout, and unclear insights.

The companion app experience is positive, with reviewers citing Garmin Golf setup, connectivity, and flawless syncing after pairing.

Contactless payments are effectively absent, with multiple reviewers explicitly noting no payment support.

Contactless payments are supported through Garmin Pay/NFC, but reviewer evidence points to limited bank compatibility in the UK.

Cross-platform support is a strength, with reviewers citing iOS, Android, Apple Health, Google Fit or Health Connect compatibility.

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed: the S50 works with iPhone and Apple users, but reviewers found Garmin's iPhone experience less flexible than Apple Watch integration.

Customization is decent for bands, sizes, colors, menus, and app-controlled screens, but limited for watch faces and deeper interface changes.

Customization is strong for golf settings, data screens, flag position, watch upgrades, and optional feature toggles.

Display quality is sharp and readable for its size, but the tiny grayscale screen remains a major limitation for messages and rich fitness data.

Display quality is a major strength, with repeated praise for the AMOLED/OLED screen, crispness, color, and modern look.

Durability was praised thanks to sapphire glass, stainless steel, water resistance, and reports of no visible scratches after use.

Durability evidence is limited but positive, centered on the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens.

ECG functionality was one of the strongest health features, repeatedly described as medical-grade, easy to use, FDA-approved, or shareable with doctors.

Fit depended heavily on wrist size and strap choice: some reviewers found it lighter and comfortable, while others found the case or supplied strap awkward.

Fit is strong for many wrists due to the low profile and adjustable fabric strap, though some reviewers questioned larger-wrist suitability.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mixed, with some strong heart-rate and pace comparisons but enough missing, incomplete, or high-intensity issues to keep it from sports-watch territory.

Fitness tracking accuracy is more mixed: reviewers liked the broad activity tracking and stats, but one noted the S50 cannot track elevation as accurately as the S70.

GPS was a recurring weakness because most reviewers reported no built-in GPS and reliance on phone-connected GPS, despite some acceptable connected-GPS results.

GPS accuracy was one of the strongest points, with reviewers reporting quick satellite lock, reliable course selection, and yardages within a few yards of a laser rangefinder.

Health tracking accuracy was broadly promising for core metrics, but confidence varied due to sleep, heart-rate, and app-data inconsistencies.

Reviewers treated the S50 as a credible health tracker, especially through body battery, HRV, blood oxygen, sleep, and daily activity insights, though the evidence is stronger on feature coverage than lab-level validation.

Heart-rate accuracy was inconsistent: some tests matched straps or other devices closely, while others found daytime, swim, or high-intensity readings unreliable.

Heart-rate tracking was repeatedly cited as the key hardware difference that unlocks the S50's health and fitness value, with one reviewer noting it uses Garmin's older Gen 4 sensor.

Mapping and navigation are core strengths for yardages, hazards, green views, PinPointer, and course data, but fuller maps and green contours often require Garmin's paid membership.

Materials quality was consistently strong, with repeated praise for stainless steel, sapphire glass, premium build materials, and high-grade construction.

Materials are mixed-to-good, with Gorilla Glass and aluminum noted positively while the lightweight body drew a plasticky caveat.

Menu navigation was understandable once learned, but reviewers often described scrolling, submenus, or crown-only navigation as clunky or tedious.

Menu navigation is mostly straightforward once learned, though one reviewer found the golf features a bit complicated at first.

Music controls are absent, and reviewers repeatedly mentioned the lack as part of the watch's limited smartwatch feature set.

Music controls are present and useful, including phone music control and a music-controller feature in the watch interface.

Onboard music storage is not supported; the only direct reviewer mention grouped offline music among missing smartwatch features.

Onboard music storage is available, but storage is modest compared with the S70 and one review specifically called out the 4 GB limit.

The HealthSense software platform was presented as modern and health-focused, supporting the newer temperature and wellness tracking features.

The operating-system experience is familiar and Garmin-consistent, but reviewers still saw some iPhone-related limitations.

Outdoor visibility was serviceable overall, with some reviewers calling the display readable outdoors and others finding bright-light viewing harder.

Outdoor visibility is mostly strong thanks to the bright AMOLED screen and big-number options, but direct sun can make fine details harder to see.

Pairing and connection reliability were praised in the reviews that discussed setup, including instant pairing, straightforward setup, and a rock-solid app connection.

Pairing reliability is a strength, with reviewers describing Garmin Golf app pairing as simple, seamless, and reliable after setup.

Recovery insights are a meaningful upgrade, especially through HRV and temperature tracking, though some recovery-related features or analysis remain basic or subscription-tied.

Recovery insights were supported by body battery, sleep-recovery feedback, and post-exercise recovery guidance, making this one of the stronger wellness features.

Reliability was a concern in several reviews, especially around app syncing, missed notifications, sleep misclassification, and confidence in sensor output.

Reliability is strong, with reviewers saying Garmin golf watches simply work, though one review mentioned a reduced GPS-signal course issue.

Safety features are a strength, with reviewers citing temperature alerts, overheating warnings, sleep-apnea detection, AFib/ECG support, and related health alerts.

Safety features are present through LiveTrack and fall/emergency-contact settings, but they were covered mainly in a feature walkthrough.

Size options were well covered, with repeated mentions of 38mm and 42mm cases, though reviewers differed on which size best fit smaller wrists.

Size options are limited compared with the S70, and reviewers repeatedly flagged that the S50 may feel small for larger wrists.

Sleep tracking accuracy was mixed: some reviewers found it comparable or useful, while others reported missed sleep, overestimates, or poor handling of wake periods.

Sleep tracking drew strong praise across reviews, with reviewers highlighting detailed scoring, sleep coach features, and comfort for overnight wear.

Smartphone notifications are limited by the small scrolling display and inconsistent delivery, useful for quick glances but poor for long messages or interaction.

Smartphone notifications are useful for triage and can be muted in golf mode, but reviewers noted limited iPhone notification controls and limited actionability from the watch.

Smartwatch features are intentionally sparse, with reviewers repeatedly describing the ScanWatch 2 as more watch or tracker than full smartwatch.

Smartwatch features are solid for a golf-focused device, adding alarms, timers, health metrics, notifications, weather, calendar, and broader daily-use tools.

Software smoothness received limited direct evidence, with one reviewer finding the app decent but inconsistent enough to need fixes.

Software smoothness scored well based on seamless Garmin app pairing and the reviewer's statement that it works flawlessly after initial setup.

Step counting was generally acceptable but not perfectly aligned with other devices, with reviewers describing it as precise, conservative, or occasionally uneven.

Stress tracking is indirect rather than a full stress platform, relying on HRV, recovery, and breathing data while lacking richer readiness-style stress features.

Stress tracking appeared consistently as part of the S50's wellness package, often tied to body battery, sleep, and heart-rate-based insights.

Style and design were the strongest consensus positives, with reviewers repeatedly praising the traditional analog look, premium elegance, and subtle hybrid design.

Style and design are widely praised, with reviewers calling the S50 sleek, lightweight, understated, and better looking than bulkier alternatives.

Third-party app support is essentially absent on the watch itself, even though the phone app can share health data with outside platforms.

Third-party app support is limited and mixed, with restrictions around iPhone app notifications but some music-provider support.

Touchscreen responsiveness scores low because the ScanWatch 2 does not have a touchscreen; interaction relies on the crown and small display.

Touchscreen responsiveness is a repeated strength, with reviewers calling the screen responsive, intuitive, and central to navigation.

The user interface is simple and elegant for basic health data, but constrained by the small screen and crown-only interaction.

The interface is generally intuitive, with reviewers praising the touchscreen, simple golf start flow, and easy feature-to-feature movement.

Value for money was mixed to weak: reviewers liked the premium health-watch concept but often questioned the price versus smarter or cheaper alternatives.

Value depends on buyer priorities: reviewers liked the golf-plus-health package, but subscription-locked maps and the cheaper S44 created meaningful tradeoffs.

Voice assistant support is weak, with the reviewer specifically noting that Siri-style talking from the watch is not available.

The watch face quality was praised for its traditional analog appearance, secondary step dial, and discreet hybrid integration.

Watch-face quality is decent with many selectable faces, though the S70 was described as having better customization options.

Water resistance is a clear plus, with reviewers repeatedly citing 5ATM protection, swimming, shower, or 50-meter suitability.

Water-related evidence is indirect: reviewers discussed swimming and shower use, but mainly as a nylon-band drying consideration.

Wellness insights are broad and health-focused, but reviewers split on whether the free app and Withings+ make the data actionable enough.

Wellness insights are a major strength, especially body battery, sleep, stress, respiration, recovery, and health snapshots that make the watch useful off the course.

Wi-Fi support is present for updates, though reviewer evidence is limited to feature walkthrough coverage.

Workout variety is respectable for casual users, with 30 to around 50 activities mentioned, but the depth and athlete-focused metrics remain limited.

Workout variety is broad for a golf watch, with support called out for runs, rides, swims, gym sessions, and other sports, though reviewers still framed it below higher-end Garmin fitness watches.