Compare Withings ScanWatch 2 vs Garmin Approach S70

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 perfectly aligned with other devices, with reviewers describing it as precise, conservative, or occasionally uneven.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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 differentiator, especially Body Battery, sleep, stress, energy, and Garmin’s explanations of what the metrics mean.

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

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