Compare Withings ScanWatch Nova vs Garmin Approach S70

Reviewers generally found automatic activity detection useful, especially for walking, cycling, and everyday movement, though a few false detections show it is not flawless.

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

The Withings ecosystem is a major strength when paired with the app and other Withings health devices, with integrations into major phone health platforms.

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

Band quality is mostly praised for included metal and fluoroelastomer options, but sizing and micro-adjustment complaints keep it from being universally positive.

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 is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly reporting weeks of use and far less charging anxiety than standard smartwatches.

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 tracking is consistently treated as a useful core health feature, usually easy to trigger and presented clearly in the app.

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 is only lightly discussed, with one review tying workout drain to an extended phone connection rather than offering broad praise or criticism.

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

Brightness is generally adequate thanks to automatic adjustment, though direct-sun visibility and reflections can still be an issue depending on the model.

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

Build quality is repeatedly described as premium, watch-like, and appropriate for the price, especially because of the case, bezel, glass, and finishing.

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

The crown-based control system is simple and often intuitive, but one reviewer found the crown placement awkward because it presses toward the arm.

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

Call handling is basic: callers can be shown or alerted by vibration, but the watch does not replace phone-based call interaction.

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 receives limited but positive evidence, with one reviewer finding estimated calories more accurate than a previous Fitbit experience.

Charging convenience is mixed: the long battery life reduces how often charging matters, but several reviewers disliked the proprietary or cheap-feeling charger.

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

Charging speed is acceptable rather than exceptional, usually around two hours, with one reviewer reporting a faster recharge in real use.

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

Coaching is mostly app- and subscription-driven, with health scores, VO2 max context, and wellness programs providing guidance rather than deep on-watch coaching.

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 is widely positive, helped by lighter models, silicone strap options, and all-day wearability, although the metal band can feel heavy for some.

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 is a standout, repeatedly praised for clear presentation, useful explanations, seamless syncing, and dashboard-style health tracking.

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

Contactless payments are explicitly absent, reinforcing that this is not a full-featured smartwatch.

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 strong, with Android and iOS compatibility plus Apple Health, Google Health Connect, and Google Fit integrations mentioned.

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

Customization is practical rather than deep, covering notification permissions, menu order, workout order, OLED functions, goals, and strap choices.

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

Display quality is mixed-positive: the small OLED is sharp and legible, but its tiny monochrome format limits detail and smartwatch interaction.

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

Durability is supported by premium glass, water resistance, and real-world comments about the watch staying pristine through travel and use.

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

ECG functionality is one of the strongest health features, with repeated praise for on-demand readings, medical framing, and AFib-related capabilities.

Fit depends heavily on the band: some reviewers achieved an easy, secure fit, while others struggled with bracelet sizing or looseness affecting tracking.

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 is good for casual use and workouts, but reviewers consistently caution that the Nova is not aimed at serious athletes.

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 is a recurring weakness because the watch lacks built-in GPS, relying instead on connected phone GPS that limits phone-free workouts.

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

Health tracking accuracy is broadly praised, with reviewers comparing favorably against other devices and highlighting accurate sensor results.

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 earns strong marks in the reviews, including direct comparisons to other devices and even a chest strap.

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 is consistently premium in the evidence, with stainless steel cases, sapphire glass, ceramic bezels, and polished finishing repeatedly cited.

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

Menu navigation is simple and crown-driven, generally praised as intuitive despite the tiny display.

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

Music controls are explicitly missing, making the Nova a poor fit for users who want watch-based media 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.

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

Outdoor visibility varies by reviewer and model, with sunlight readability praised in one review but reflections and direct sun criticized in others.

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

Pairing and sync reliability are generally strong, with setup and app syncing described as simple or seamless.

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

Recovery insights are weak or future-facing in the evidence, with one review noting recovery-related features were expected later rather than present.

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

Reliability is mostly good for daily wear and forget-it use, but connection loss and false activity detection appear as caveats.

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

Safety features center on heart-health alerts, AFib detection, ECG, and illness-related temperature signals, making this a strong health-first wearable.

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

Size options are limited on the regular Nova but improved by the smaller Brilliant model, so the evidence is mixed by variant.

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

Sleep tracking is useful and often accurate enough for trends, but reviewers report missed split sleep, rosy or anxiety-provoking analysis, and limited sleep-stage detail.

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 are basic and polarizing: they can alert users, but the small display and lack of replies make them limited.

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 minimal, with reviewers repeatedly framing the Nova as a health-first hybrid rather than a phone-on-wrist device.

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

Software smoothness is strong around app syncing, although some activity/map issues suggest the software is not perfect.

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

Step counting is one of the more reliable daily metrics, with reviewers praising the subdial and accurate step results.

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

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

Style and design are the most consistent praise point, with reviewers emphasizing the luxury analog look and traditional-watch appeal.

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

Third-party app support is a clear limitation, with direct evidence that users wanting such access should look elsewhere.

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 watch has no touchscreen; all interaction is crown-based.

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

The user interface is intentionally minimalist: reviewers like its simplicity, but the small display makes notifications and richer interactions constrained.

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

Value for money is mixed: reviewers admire the quality and health features but repeatedly flag the high price and subscription angle.

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 face quality is positive overall, with analog hands, glow-in-the-dark indexes, subdial, and hidden display giving it a real-watch identity.

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 strength, especially on the 10 ATM standard Nova, though Brilliant models are rated lower at 5 ATM.

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

Wellness insights are strong in the app, especially for health scores, trends, ECG review, dashboards, and actionable explanations.

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 tracking variety ranges from limited basic modes in some reviews to more than 40 sports in others, so it is useful but not elite.

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