Compare Garmin Approach S62 vs Garmin Lily 2 Active

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.

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

The app ecosystem is praised as comprehensive for wellness data and long-term health interpretation.

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

Band quality is praised for comfort, quick-release swapping, and easy removal.

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

Battery life is strongly praised, often beating or matching expectations and lasting around a week or more in real use.

One reviewer was very positive about Pulse Ox readings, saying the watch routinely matched their normal SpO2 range.

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

Bluetooth connectivity is viewed positively because the watch pairs easily with phones and other devices.

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

Brightness is generally acceptable, with one reviewer noting easy viewing, while another says the screen itself is not ultra-bright.

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

Build quality draws criticism from one reviewer who dislikes the cheaper-material feel.

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

Button controls are a unanimous strength because they make workouts and navigation much easier than touch-only Lily models.

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

Call handling is useful for glancing at calls on the wrist without pulling out a phone.

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

Charging convenience improves because the watch uses the standard Garmin cable rather than the older Lily clip style.

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

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

Coaching features are well received, with reviewers praising Garmin Coach, adaptive plans, and guided structured workouts.

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

Comfort is one of the most consistent strengths, with reviewers saying the small, light watch is easy to forget on the wrist.

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.

The companion app is useful for setup, coaching, and deeper tracking, with one reviewer preferring it for faster, clearer health logging.

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

Garmin Pay is considered useful and easy to set up, though one reviewer notes its value drops if a phone is still needed for music.

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

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed because Android users get quick replies while iPhone users cannot reply from the watch.

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

Customization is mixed-to-good: notifications and data views have useful controls, but watch-face flexibility is more limited than other Garmins.

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

Display quality is divisive: reviewers like the contrast and hidden-display style, but some dislike the monochrome screen or limited visual richness.

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

Durability is a concern for one reviewer, who connects the aluminum casing to easier scratching and reduced durability.

ECG is a clear limitation: a reviewer explicitly wished Garmin had included the hardware for ECG-related features.

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

Fit is excellent for the intended user, especially people who want a small watch that sits comfortably on smaller wrists.

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

Fitness tracking accuracy is a major strength, with multiple reviewers finding pace, distance, and overall workout data accurate.

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

GPS accuracy is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly finding quick locks, solid routes, and close agreement with other devices.

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

One review gives the broader health-tracking package a very strong assessment, describing fitness tracking as excellent within Garmin’s health ecosystem.

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.

Heart-rate accuracy is consistently praised, with reviewers noting only minor delays or brief misses during harder efforts.

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

Mapping and navigation are mixed-to-weak: GPS mapping after workouts works, but reviewers note no detailed map display and no hiking profile.

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

Materials quality is criticized by one reviewer for relying on cheaper materials.

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

Menu navigation is viewed positively, with one reviewer describing swiping and app opening as smooth.

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

Music controls work well for controlling phone playback from the wrist.

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

Onboard music storage is a repeated downside because the watch lacks local music even though it now has built-in GPS.

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

The operating experience may feel unusual to traditional Garmin users, but the reviewer says the approach makes sense for this type of watch.

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

Outdoor visibility is mostly strong in sunlight, although one reviewer found bright outdoor conditions could make it harder to read.

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

Pairing reliability is praised across sensor use, with reviewers noting easy sensor connections and appreciation for expanded external sensor support.

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

Recovery and readiness tools are praised for helping shape training decisions and fine-tune workouts.

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

Reliability is positive in one review, with the reviewer saying GPS remained spot-on and did not drop.

Safety features are praised as reassuring for solo runs and emergency-contact situations.

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

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

Sleep tracking earns strong marks overall, especially for wake/sleep timing and presentation, though one reviewer wanted more refinement in stages.

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

Smartphone notifications are considered helpful for quickly checking messages during outdoor activity.

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

Smartwatch features are mixed: some reviewers see a well-rounded compact device, while one finds the smart-feature set limited for the price.

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

Software smoothness is positive, with reviewers noting smooth syncing and smooth navigation between widgets.

Step counting is described as close but slightly high, with limitations when the arm is not moving normally.

Stress tracking is viewed as a useful interpretive metric, especially because it helps explain Body Battery changes.

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

Style and design are major strengths, with reviewers repeatedly praising the fashionable, subtle, non-smartwatch look.

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

Third-party app support is positive, especially syncing workout data outward and broadcasting heart rate to other devices.

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

Touchscreen responsiveness is split, with one reviewer finding it very sensitive and simple, while another calls the controls finicky.

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

The user interface is praised as simple to learn and easy to swipe through.

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.

Value is mixed-to-positive: many reviewers think the upgrades justify the price, while a few criticize the cost versus fuller smartwatches.

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

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

Watch face quality is mixed, with one reviewer liking the selection and another finding the options very limiting.

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

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

Wellness insights are a standout, especially Body Battery, women’s health context, sleep, stress, and overall body-awareness feedback.

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

Workout variety is broadly praised because the Active adds many sports, workout modes, and training tools for a compact Lily watch.