Compare Garmin Approach S62 vs Apple Watch SE 3

P1 Garmin Approach S62
P2 Apple Watch SE 3

Comparison Takeaways

Garmin Approach S62

Where It Has the Edge

  • cross-platform compatibility is 4.5 vs 2.0. Cross-platform compatibility was strong, with support for both iOS and Android called out positively.
  • style and design is 4.7 vs 3.1. Style and design were a standout, with several reviewers calling it stylish, modern, premium, or among the best-looking...
  • battery life is 4.6 vs 3.4. Battery life was one of the clearest strengths, with repeated praise for multiple rounds, long GPS use, and...
  • fit is 4.1 vs 3.0. Fit was mostly positive for swing use, though one reviewer noted the watch sits high on skinny wrists.

Apple Watch SE 3

Where It Has the Edge

  • third-party app support is 4.8 vs 2.0. Third-party app support was praised for extending the native experience, with reviewers highlighting Apple’s App Store depth and...
  • voice assistant quality is 4.1 vs 1.5. On-device Siri was broadly seen as a useful upgrade, making commands faster and more practical for workouts, timers,...
  • heart rate accuracy is 4.3 vs 1.8. Heart-rate tracking drew strong praise across testing, with reviewers saying it aligned well with comparison devices and remained...
  • operating system experience is 5.0 vs 2.5. watchOS experience received very strong marks for polish, smoothness, and making the SE 3 feel similar to pricier...
Average score
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.6
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1
activity auto-detection
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.1

Automatic shot and activity detection was usually praised, but reviewers noted manual club entry and missed chips or putts kept it from being fully automatic.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.6

Auto-detection was useful but not flawless; reviewers found it adequate for walks and workouts, while one later review said it still lagged rivals.

app ecosystem
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

The Garmin app ecosystem was viewed positively when Garmin Golf and Garmin Connect worked together for golf and fitness data.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
5.0

The app ecosystem was one of the SE 3’s strongest advantages, repeatedly described as unmatched or far richer than competing budget watches.

band quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.9

Band quality was generally good, with praise for the silicone strap, but not everyone found it luxurious.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
5.0

Band quality evidence was limited but very positive, with praise for easily replaceable Apple Watch bands.

battery life
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.6

Battery life was one of the clearest strengths, with repeated praise for multiple rounds, long GPS use, and minimal charging needs.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.4

Battery life was the main practical compromise, ranging from excellent in some tests to daily-charge frustration in others.

blood oxygen tracking
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
No score yet
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
2.1

Blood oxygen tracking was consistently treated as a missing premium health feature, with reviewers noting it remains reserved for higher-end Apple Watches.

Bluetooth connectivity
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.5

Bluetooth connectivity was praised indirectly through fast, first-time pairing and auto-connection behavior.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
No score yet
brightness
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Brightness was strong enough for practical use, with one review calling the screen super bright and another saying it was not too bad.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.8

Brightness was usually adequate and sometimes praised, but reviewers acknowledged it is below the brighter Series and Ultra screens.

build quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Build quality was mostly premium, but one video reviewer felt the S62 did not feel meaningfully higher quality than cheaper models.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Build quality was considered solid for the price, with reviewers calling it well made and modern enough despite the older design.

button controls
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.8

Button controls were appreciated for gloved use and click feel, though the touch-button mix sometimes caused confusion.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Button and gesture controls were widely praised, especially Double Tap, Wrist Flick, the Digital Crown, and side-button shortcuts.

call handling
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
2.3

Call handling was limited because reviewers noted you cannot take calls on the watch, with some response options restricted to Android.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Call handling was rated highly where tested, especially voice isolation and gesture-based call management.

calorie tracking usefulness
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
No score yet
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Calorie tracking appeared as part of the useful core fitness toolkit, with one test finding calorie and distance figures matched a comparison watch exactly.

charging convenience
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
2.0

Charging convenience was a repeated complaint because Garmin's proprietary connector frustrated reviewers.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
2.8

Charging convenience was mixed because faster top-ups help, but sleep tracking still forces many users into a daily charging routine.

charging speed
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Charging speed was positive where mentioned because the dedicated cable was said to juice up fast.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.2

Charging speed improved substantially over the SE 2 and was usually praised, even when still slower than pricier Apple Watches.

coaching features
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.3

Coaching features were divisive: some praised Virtual Caddie, PinPointer, and wind-adjusted suggestions, while others distrusted the caddie or found early recommendations inaccurate.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.8

Workout Buddy and coaching features were appreciated as helpful motivation, though reviewers often described them as basic, repetitive, or hit-or-miss.

comfort
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.1

Comfort was consistently positive; reviewers said it was light, wearable, and did not interfere with golf swings.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Comfort was a consistent strength, especially for sleep, smaller wrists, and unobtrusive daily wear.

companion app quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Companion app quality was mostly strong, especially Garmin Golf's stat review, though one review found course updates missing and another warned data needs care.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.0

The companion app setup drew a mixed note because managing Watch, Health, and Fitness across multiple iPhone apps can feel tedious.

contactless payments
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.3

Contactless payments were useful in principle, but bank compatibility limitations made Garmin Pay less compelling for one UK-focused reviewer.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Apple Pay was positively mentioned as part of the compelling smartwatch feature set and deep Apple ecosystem integration.

cross-platform compatibility
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.5

Cross-platform compatibility was strong, with support for both iOS and Android called out positively.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
2.0

Cross-platform compatibility was a clear limitation because the SE 3 remains an iPhone-only smartwatch.

customization options
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.3

Customization was mixed: straps and faces were appreciated, but notification tailoring, especially with iPhone, was criticized.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.7

Customization was useful through watch faces, workout views, and settings, but limited by the lack of third-party watch faces.

display quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.1

Display quality was usually praised for color, size, and clarity, with some caveats versus Apple Watch-level display quality.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Display quality was a major upgrade thanks to always-on functionality, though reviewers still noted smaller bezels and lower specs than Series models.

durability
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Durability was supported by praise for Gorilla Glass, scratch resistance, and outdoor-ready construction.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.5

Durability was mixed: stronger Ion-X glass drew praise, but some reviewers noted weaker dust/scratch protection or actual scratching.

ECG functionality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
No score yet
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
2.1

ECG was the most repeated missing health feature, often framed as the main reason some higher-risk buyers might step up to the Series line.

fit
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.1

Fit was mostly positive for swing use, though one reviewer noted the watch sits high on skinny wrists.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.0

Fit evidence was limited and mixed, with one reviewer saying the older body did not sit as flush as the Series 11.

fitness tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.5

General tracking accuracy was praised in the TechRadar verdict as accurate and feature-rich.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.4

Fitness tracking accuracy was a clear strength, with reviewers reporting reliable workout, activity, and comparison-test results for the price.

GPS accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.6

GPS accuracy was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly saying yardages matched lasers, rangefinders, or real on-course expectations.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.8

GPS accuracy was mostly praised for everyday workouts, though reviewers noted single-band GPS can wander in dense urban or more challenging environments.

health tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
1.8

Health-tracking accuracy was questioned in video reviews where abnormal or implausible heart-rate behavior made the wellness alerts feel unreliable.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Reviewers described the core health basics as adequate or mostly complete, especially heart-rate alerts and general tracking, while noting that advanced sensors remain absent.

heart rate accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
1.8

Heart-rate accuracy drew concern in two video transcripts, including a frightening abnormal-rate alert and a reading while the watch was not being worn.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Heart-rate tracking drew strong praise across testing, with reviewers saying it aligned well with comparison devices and remained usable even in harder workouts.

LTE connectivity
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
No score yet
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Cellular connectivity was viewed as a useful option, with 5G improving coverage, efficiency, and phone-free use for calls, messages, and downloads.

mapping and navigation
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.3

Mapping and navigation were major strengths, especially hazard views, hole maps, PinPointer, layup targeting, and on-watch course planning.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Navigation evidence was limited but positive, with offline Apple Maps presented as helpful when away from the phone.

materials quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.5

Materials quality was mixed: the ceramic-bezel build was praised, but one reviewer felt it did not feel significantly higher quality than the S42.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Materials quality evidence was limited but positive, centered on the aluminum case, rounded body, and premium-looking construction.

menu navigation
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.1

Menu navigation was mostly easy and intuitive, though one review found the mixed touch-and-button flow took some acclimation.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Menu navigation evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer describing the basic home-screen and control flow as simple.

music controls
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
2.5

Music controls were only mixed because the control widget worked but did not automatically surface when music was playing.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.9

Music controls and speaker/media features were useful additions, though reviewers were split on how often they would actually use playback from the watch speaker.

onboard music storage
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
1.5

Onboard music storage was a clear weakness because one review listed lack of music storage as a con.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
No score yet
operating system experience
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
2.5

Operating system experience was limited versus Apple watchOS or Wear OS, and one reviewer said the smartwatch polish was not on that level.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
5.0

watchOS experience received very strong marks for polish, smoothness, and making the SE 3 feel similar to pricier Apple Watches.

outdoor visibility
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Outdoor visibility was generally strong in sun, though one reviewer said direct-sun readability was worse than other golf watches.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.5

Outdoor visibility was generally serviceable, but direct sunlight remained a repeated display limitation.

pairing reliability
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.5

Pairing reliability scored well because pairing and reconnecting were described as fast and dependable.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Pairing/setup evidence was limited but positive, with one review calling setup quick and easy.

recovery insights
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Recovery-style Body Battery guidance was described positively as clever when tied to energy and readiness insights.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Recovery-related evidence was limited, but one fitness-focused review valued training-load tracking as a way to monitor workout volume over time.

reliability
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.2

Reliability was mostly positive after setup, though one reviewer had initial GPS trouble before later trouble-free use.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

Reliability evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer concluding the SE 3 has what most users need.

safety features
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
No score yet
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
5.0

Safety features were strongly praised, especially fall detection, crash detection, emergency features, and real family anecdotes.

score tracking
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Score tracking was usually easy and straightforward, but fairway-hit accuracy and missed entries required cleanup for the best data.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
No score yet
size options
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
2.8

Size options and sizing were a caveat, with reviewers noting the thicker profile and 47mm case could suit some wrists better than others.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.0

Size options were viewed positively for offering 40mm and 44mm choices, especially for smaller wrists.

sleep tracking accuracy
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
No score yet
Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.8

Sleep tracking was generally useful and often accurate enough, though several reviewers felt Apple’s Sleep Score was simpler than competing systems.

smartphone notifications
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.3

Smartphone notifications were useful for staying off the phone, but iPhone notification control was criticized as too limited.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.6

Notification handling was a major everyday strength, with reviewers praising call, text, and response convenience from the wrist.

smartwatch features
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.1

Smartwatch features were a major strength overall, though one reviewer felt the S62 lacked Apple Watch-style quality-of-life polish.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Reviewers generally agreed the SE 3 delivers the core Apple Watch experience, making it feel much less like a compromised budget model.

software smoothness
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.7

Software smoothness was praised, with faster yardage/map behavior, fast GPS updates, and quick course loading called out.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.9

Software smoothness was one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers praising the S10 chip for snappy menus, fast apps, and fluid navigation.

style and design
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.7

Style and design were a standout, with several reviewers calling it stylish, modern, premium, or among the best-looking golf watches.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.1

Style and design were the main aesthetic tradeoff: reviewers liked the familiar Apple Watch look but repeatedly called it dated or bezel-heavy.

third-party app support
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
2.0

Third-party app support was a limitation because reviewers stressed that Wear OS and Apple watchOS apps are unavailable.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Third-party app support was praised for extending the native experience, with reviewers highlighting Apple’s App Store depth and useful fitness apps.

touchscreen responsiveness
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.8

Touchscreen responsiveness was mostly good and useful for maps, but some reviewers found touch navigation confusing or not especially responsive.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
5.0

Touchscreen responsiveness had limited but very positive evidence, with PCMag saying the watch responded promptly and consistently.

user interface
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.2

The user interface was generally considered intuitive and low-fuss after a short learning curve.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.5

The user interface was praised as easy, cohesive, and fluid, with gestures and Smart Stack improving quick interactions.

value for money
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.8

Value for money was context-dependent: reviewers praised value for serious golfers using all features, but questioned the price for basic yardages or casual play.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.9

Value for money was the strongest consensus attribute, with reviewers repeatedly calling the SE 3 a standout bargain or best-value Apple Watch.

voice assistant quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
1.5

Voice assistant quality was poor in the evidence because the watch lacked a Siri-style assistant.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

On-device Siri was broadly seen as a useful upgrade, making commands faster and more practical for workouts, timers, weather, and health questions.

watch face quality
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Watch face quality was positive, with reviewers appreciating downloadable/customizable faces and a normal analog-style look.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.3

Watch faces were viewed positively, especially the always-on versions and Apple’s high-quality built-in choices.

water resistance
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.0

Water resistance was treated as useful because reviewers noted swimming and water-based activity tracking.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.1

Water resistance was considered adequate for common needs, with several reviewers accepting the 50m/swimproof rating.

wellness insights
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
3.7

Wellness insights were generally useful, especially Body Battery and workout-related metrics, though one reviewer said those insights were not really for him.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
3.9

Wellness insights were considered helpful for beginners or casual users, especially Sleep Score, sleep apnea alerts, and the Vitals-style health context.

workout tracking variety
Product 1: Garmin Approach S62
4.2

Reviewers consistently liked the breadth of workout modes, treating the S62 as a legitimate multisport or fitness watch rather than only a golf device.

Product 2: Apple Watch SE 3
4.8

Workout variety was viewed very positively, with reviewers noting broad sport profiles and nearly the same workout options as pricier Apple Watches.