Average score
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.9
Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.2
activity auto-detection
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

One review says Free Train can automatically identify movements and log reps and sets, though it may still need occasional edits afterward.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
No score yet
app ecosystem
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.5

Garmin’s Connect IQ ecosystem adds useful extras like apps, widgets, and watch faces, but reviewers still see it as behind Apple and Google.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.8

Garmin’s broader golf ecosystem was praised for keeping practice, round, and device data inside one connected setup.

band quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.9

Strap feedback is mixed overall: some reviews praise comfort and practicality, while others find certain bands stiff or underwhelming.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.6

The integrated strap feels comfortable on the wrist, but several reviewers disliked that it does not lay flat when removed.

battery life
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.4

Battery life is strong for an AMOLED Garmin, though real runtime varies a lot with always-on display, GPS, music, and other power-heavy features.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.7

Battery life was one of the strongest themes, with reviewers consistently reporting multi-round endurance and far longer runtime than an Apple Watch.

blood oxygen tracking
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

Pulse Ox and SpO2 tracking are available and useful for spot checks or overnight data, though reviews note extra battery draw and better results when still.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.2

Pulse ox and blood-oxygen tracking are included and were cited as part of the S70’s broader health monitoring suite.

Bluetooth connectivity
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.3

Reviews note straightforward Bluetooth syncing and direct headphone use for phone-free audio.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.0

Bluetooth audio support is present for music listening, with reviewers noting headphone pairing and Bluetooth music use.

brightness
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.8

Screen brightness is a major strength, with reviews calling it especially vivid and easy to see.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.8

The screen was consistently described as bright enough for sunny rounds and easy to read in strong light.

build quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
5.0

The build is presented as a core reason the watch feels premium and better justified as a luxury sports watch.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.3

Reviewers described the watch as well built, with a premium feel that matches its flagship positioning.

button controls
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

The physical button setup is repeatedly praised for tactile control and workout usability.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.3

The three-button layout was generally seen as easy to learn and helpful for navigating golf functions.

call handling
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
1.0

Reviews explicitly say the MARQ line lacks the microphone and speaker setup needed for on-watch calling.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
2.9

Call support is limited: reviewers noted caller alerts and some answer or reject options, but not full on-watch calling.

charging convenience
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.4

The magnetic charger is generally seen as easier and nicer to use than Garmin’s older plug-in cables.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.1

Charging drew frequent criticism because of the proprietary cable, face-down setup, and lack of an included adapter in some boxes.

charging speed
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
5.0

Fast charging is one of the clearest differentiators, with repeated reports of near-full charges in about an hour.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.4

At least one reviewer said the watch tops up quickly enough that short charging windows are practical.

coaching features
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Suggested workouts, Training Readiness, and coaching-style guidance are a consistent strength across reviews.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.1

Virtual Caddie, PlaysLike tools, and tempo coaching were major selling points, though the tempo feature was not equally useful for every reviewer.

comfort
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Comfort is generally strong despite the luxury build, especially with softer sport bands.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.6

Comfort was a consistent strength, with reviewers saying the watch wears lightly and remains comfortable for all-day and overnight use.

companion app quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.3

Garmin Connect is detailed and powerful, though one review notes some internet dependency.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.5

Garmin Golf was described as one of the better golf apps for stats, post-round review, and tying watch data together.

contactless payments
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.8

Garmin Pay is useful in a pinch, though bank support and PIN friction keep it from feeling seamless.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.7

Garmin Pay is built in, but support can be uneven depending on bank compatibility and region.

cross-platform compatibility
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

At least one review says the watch works well with both iPhone and Android.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.0

The watch works with both iPhone and Android, though some reviewers noted better notification control on Android.

customization options
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
5.0

Reviews repeatedly praise deep customization across watch faces, widgets, shortcuts, and data screens.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.5

Reviewers liked the ability to change watch faces, colors, data fields, and golf display settings.

display quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.6

The AMOLED display is widely praised for clarity, color, and map readability.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.8

The AMOLED display was one of the product’s standout strengths, praised for crisp detail, color, clarity, and a premium look.

durability
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Reviews consistently say the materials resist scratches and hold up well in regular use.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.5

Evidence pointed to solid durability, including a scratch-proof lens and confidence for regular golf use.

ECG functionality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
1.0

Reviews explicitly note the MARQ line lacks ECG hardware and that Garmin reserves ECG support for other models.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
No score yet
fit
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
2.8

Several reviews say the watch can feel bulky or less natural on the wrist, especially for smaller wrists or sleep wear.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.6

Fit was widely praised, and the added 42mm option helped make the watch more comfortable for smaller wrists.

fitness tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Reviewers broadly trust the watch’s activity metrics and say the tracking output generally lines up with reality.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.4

At least one reviewer explicitly said the S70’s fitness and sensor data are as accurate as expected from Garmin.

GPS accuracy
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.7

GPS is a standout strength, with repeated praise for multi-band accuracy on roads, trails, and tougher environments.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.7

Reviewers repeatedly praised fast GPS lock and very accurate on-course yardages, with some comparisons landing within about a yard.

health tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

One review found Body Battery matched how the reviewer felt and generally trusted the watch’s broader health readouts.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.4

Health tracking was generally viewed as trustworthy, with reviewers calling the readings accurate in typical Garmin fashion.

heart rate accuracy
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.1

Most reviews call heart-rate performance strong or close to chest straps, but interval spikes and short hard efforts can still challenge it.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.4

Heart-rate tracking was included in the praised sensor package, with one reviewer explicitly describing Garmin-level accuracy.

LTE connectivity
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
1.0

Reviews explicitly note there is no LTE option here.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
No score yet
materials quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.8

Grade 5 titanium, sapphire, and other premium finishes are a standout strength across reviews.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.5

Ceramic bezels and quality strap materials gave the watch a more premium feel than cheaper golf models.

menu navigation
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.3

Button-plus-touch navigation is flexible and generally effective, especially once the user learns Garmin’s menus.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.8

Navigation was mostly described as intuitive once learned, though one reviewer felt the interface had a steeper learning curve.

music controls
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

Music controls are useful and easy to access, even if the watch is stronger as a fitness tool than a communication device.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.0

Music controls are available, but some reviewers found them less immediate than on an Apple Watch.

onboard music storage
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Offline playlist support and onboard storage make phone-free listening a genuine strength.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.2

Reviewers confirmed on-watch music storage and offline playlist support from services like Spotify and Amazon Music.

operating system experience
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.5

Garmin’s software is capable and feature-rich, but it still takes time to learn.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.7

The software experience is capable and feature rich, but several reviewers still preferred mainstream smartwatches for daily smartwatch polish.

outdoor visibility
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.8

Reviews say the display stays readable outdoors, including in direct sunlight.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.7

Outdoor readability was a clear strength, with reviewers repeatedly saying the screen stays visible in bright sunshine.

pairing reliability
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
No score yet
Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.7

Initial phone pairing was described as simple and straightforward in setup.

recovery insights
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.1

Training Readiness, recovery time, and related recovery views are widely seen as genuinely useful, even if sleep issues can sometimes skew them.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.5

Body Battery, HRV, and readiness-style insights added useful recovery context, though not every reviewer found them equally valuable.

reliability
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.8

Reviews describe the watch as dependable in daily use and core tracking tasks.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.0

Core performance was strong, but one reviewer did flag missed shot detections as a reliability blemish.

safety features
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

One review highlights incident detection with location sharing via a phone connection.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
No score yet
size options
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
2.0

One review specifically criticizes the lack of a smaller case size option.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.5

The new two-size lineup was seen as a meaningful improvement, especially for golfers who found earlier Garmin golf watches too large.

sleep tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.2

Sleep start and end detection can be solid, but multiple reviews report premature sleep detection or inflated time-asleep estimates.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.1

Sleep tracking was viewed positively overall, with reviewers calling it strong and engaging enough to check regularly.

smartphone notifications
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
3.8

Notifications are easy to view and dismiss, but interaction is limited compared with fuller smartwatch platforms.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.3

Notifications are available and customizable to a degree, but multiple reviewers said they can feel distracting or limited versus Apple Watch behavior.

smartwatch features
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.2

Smartwatch basics are solid, with maps, payments, music, and notifications, but the feature set is still more tool-watch than app-heavy lifestyle watch.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.4

Beyond golf, reviewers consistently saw the S70 as a full-featured smartwatch with strong everyday usefulness.

software smoothness
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Reviews describe the software and touchscreen operation as stable and smooth in regular use.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.5

Software smoothness was mixed: some reviewers said the watch is enjoyable to use, while others found parts of the interface annoyingly clunky.

stress tracking
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

Reviews mention stress as part of the watch’s ongoing wellness readouts and recovery ecosystem.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.3

Stress tracking was repeatedly called useful, and at least two reviewers said the readings felt surprisingly accurate.

style and design
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.6

Styling is a major selling point, with repeated praise for the watch’s premium, luxury-watch look.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.6

The S70’s styling was widely praised as modern, premium, and suitable away from the course.

third-party app support
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
2.5

One review says third-party app support exists but remains fairly limited compared with full smartwatch rivals.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.4

Support for services like Spotify and Apple Music added useful flexibility beyond Garmin’s own apps.

touchscreen responsiveness
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

The touchscreen is generally responsive and usable, with no major issues noted.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.9

Touch response was generally good, but several reviewers said on-course map interaction can feel fiddly compared with the best smartwatches.

user interface
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

The interface offers lots of depth and customization, but it can feel dense before you get used to it.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.6

The interface is functional and often intuitive, but some reviewers still found it less elegant than Apple Watch-style software.

value for money
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
2.1

Nearly every price-focused review says the watch is hard to justify unless you specifically want the premium materials and luxury styling.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
3.9

Value was judged through the lens of needs: reviewers often felt the S70 earns its price for serious golfers, but agreed it is overkill for basic yardage users.

voice assistant quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
1.0

Reviews explicitly note there is no voice assistant support on the watch.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
No score yet
watch face quality
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Watch face options are seen as strong and improved, with both built-in designs and extra downloadable choices.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.6

Watch faces were praised for looking better on the AMOLED screen and offering better everyday appeal than older golf watches.

water resistance
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Reviews describe the 10 ATM / 100 m water rating as suitable for swimming and wet conditions.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.6

Reviewers cited shower and swim use plus a 5 ATM rating as evidence that the S70 handles water exposure confidently.

wellness insights
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.5

Body Battery, sleep, HRV, and readiness-style guidance give the watch strong day-to-day wellness context.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.7

Wellness insights were a major positive, especially when the watch explained what sleep, workout, and energy metrics actually meant.

Wi-Fi connectivity
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
4.0

Wi-Fi is available for syncing and related tasks, supplementing phone and cable connections.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
No score yet
workout tracking variety
Product 1: Garmin MARQ Athlete (Gen 2)
5.0

Reviews describe the sport list as extremely broad, covering nearly any activity most buyers are likely to track.

Product 2: Garmin Approach S70
4.2

The S70 supports a wide range of non-golf workouts, including running, swimming, cycling, yoga, and other activity profiles.