Compare Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite vs Garmin Approach S70

Reviewers found automatic workout detection useful for common activities, but one review noted limited controls over which activities can be toggled.

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

The app ecosystem is modest but useful, with evidence for Mi Fitness data sharing or integrations with Strava, Google Fit, Sunnto, and Zepp Life.

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

Band feedback is mostly positive: reviewers call the TPU or silicone straps comfortable, durable, replaceable, and better than expected for the price.

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 a major strength, with reviewers reporting roughly a week to two weeks depending on AOD, GPS, and usage intensity.

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 broadly present and configurable, with reviews noting SpO2 measurement, alerts, and one comparison that favored the Lite's reading.

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 connectivity is generally strong, with Bluetooth 5.4 and real-world comments that the nearby phone connection stayed solid.

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

Brightness is strong outdoors, but the lack of auto brightness is a repeated complaint and can make manual adjustment annoying.

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

Build quality is viewed as good for a budget watch: reviewers like the sturdy, sharp look, while still noting the plastic construction.

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

Button controls are functional but basic, with one physical side button and limited or unavailable customization depending on the review.

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

Call handling is a clear feature win, with reviewers able to make and receive calls, though loud environments and watch-phone limitations remain caveats.

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 weak support because one reviewer specifically found calorie burn estimates were often miscalculated.

Charging convenience is positive overall, helped by magnetic or pin charging that attaches securely, though it remains a proprietary-style 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 consistently described as acceptable to good, typically around 80 minutes to under 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 are better than basic for the price, with VO2 Max, training load, recovery time, running courses, AI pacer, and interval training mentioned.

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 a strength: reviewers repeatedly describe the watch as light, comfortable for long wear, and wearable overnight.

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 generally praised as easy to use and useful for health/workout data, with Mi Fitness serving as the main hub.

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

Contactless payment support is absent, with multiple reviewers noting no NFC or no support for wrist-based payments.

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

Cross-platform compatibility is strong, with reviewers confirming Android and iOS compatibility and use with both phone platforms.

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

Customization is mixed: widgets and watch faces provide options, but reviewers also note limits around app order, workout data, and watch-face depth.

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

Display quality is one of the strongest areas, with AMOLED contrast, sharpness, color, and resolution repeatedly praised over the Active model.

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

Durability is mixed: reviewers mention durability and no early scratches, but also warn the flat unprotected screen could take damage.

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

ECG functionality is not supported, with reviewers explicitly stating there is no ECG on the watch.

Fit is generally comfortable and grippy, though the large case can look big on smaller wrists.

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 suitable for casual use, but not uniformly precise; route, workout, and sensor impressions vary across reviewers.

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 accuracy is mixed: several reviews praise built-in GNSS, quick locks, and accurate routes, while others report deviations or unreliable reception in tougher areas.

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

Health tracking accuracy is context-dependent, with positive heart-rate and SpO2 comparisons balanced by cautions against treating readings as medical-grade.

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 is one of the better-supported health metrics, especially once workouts reach a steady state.

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.

LTE connectivity is absent, with review evidence stating there is no LTE version.

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 budget-conscious: the watch uses plastic or NCVM plastic that keeps weight low but lacks a true metal feel.

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

Menu navigation is simple, relying on straightforward swipes and easy access patterns rather than complex controls.

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

Music controls are useful for phone playback, including play, pause, track skipping, volume, or workout-accessible controls.

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 absent, with one reviewer explicitly stating there is no music on the watch.

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

The operating system experience is basic but capable, using Xiaomi HyperOS with a familiar smartwatch layout.

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

Outdoor visibility is generally good thanks to a bright AMOLED panel, although one reviewer still wished for slightly more brightness.

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

Pairing reliability is generally positive, with seamless pairing, quick setup, and no connection or syncing issues reported in several reviews.

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

Recovery insights are present through workout metrics such as training load and recovery time.

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

Reliability is mixed: app stability was praised, but one reviewer reported connection alerts did not work.

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

Safety features include emergency SOS behavior through repeated side-button presses, although phone connectivity is still required.

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

Size options are limited, with one review stating the watch comes in only one size.

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 is divisive: one reviewer found it very accurate, while others said sleep analysis or wake detection was weak.

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 work for reading alerts, but replies are limited or absent, making this a basic notification experience.

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 broad for the price, including calls, notifications, music controls, camera shutter, and core utilities, but not advanced platform features.

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

Software smoothness is a strength, with reviewers praising the smooth UI, lack of stutters, and responsive HyperOS behavior.

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

Step counting accuracy is a weak point because reviewers reported miscalculated or inaccurate daily steps.

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

Stress tracking is available, including all-day monitoring and reminders, though one comparison suggested readings may differ from other watches.

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 well liked for a low-cost device, with reviewers calling it classy, sleek, premium-looking, or clean.

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

Third-party app support is absent on the watch itself, according to the review evidence.

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 is strong, with reviewers describing the touch interface as responsive and free of obvious mistouch problems.

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

The user interface is considered simple and easy to use, helped by large tiles and a smooth swipe-driven layout.

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

Value for money is one of the strongest points, with reviewers repeatedly framing the Lite as hard to beat or a good value for its features.

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.

Voice assistant support is inconsistent by region or reviewer: some cite Alexa as useful, while others report no support or sluggish availability.

Watch face quality is good in variety, but storage and deep customization are limited because only a small number can be kept on the watch.

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 strength, with 5ATM support and several reviews tying it to swimming or water-sport use.

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

Wellness insights include sleep maps, suggestions, vitality score, breathing, stress, and activity-ring style feedback, though depth varies.

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 absent, with multiple reviewers stating there is no built-in Wi-Fi.

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

Workout tracking variety is excellent for the price, with reviewers consistently citing 140 to 150+ sport or workout modes.

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