Compare Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4 vs Garmin Approach S70

Workout auto-detection appears in several reviews and covers common modes, so it is a useful convenience rather than a standout training feature.

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

The watch handles built-in basics, but reviewers repeatedly note that there is no real app store or downloadable app ecosystem.

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

Strap feedback is split: quick-release hardware is welcomed, but several reviewers criticize the clasp, feel, or friction of the stock band.

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 commonly getting a week or more and quoting up to two or three weeks depending on settings.

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 present and can run continuously, but reviewers disagree on whether the readings are dependable enough for deeper health insight.

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 adequate for pairing and calls, with reviewers treating it as a basic but functional connection layer.

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

Brightness is consistently praised, with the 600-nit AMOLED panel considered strong for the price and usable in bright conditions.

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

Build quality is a major upgrade over prior Redmi watches thanks to the aluminum/metal frame and generally sturdy feel.

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

The rotating crown is useful for navigation, though some reviewers dislike its lack of tactility or note accidental presses.

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

Bluetooth calling is consistently treated as a useful smartwatch feature, with positive comments about making, receiving, or hearing calls from the wrist.

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 is only supported as a rough estimate, not a reliable training metric.

Charging convenience is limited because reviewers identify the cable as proprietary, making it less travel-friendly than universal charging.

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

Charging speed is not a strength; one review specifically notes there is no fast charging and a full charge takes well over an hour.

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 expected for the price, with running workouts, warm-ups, and training details, but they remain basic.

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.

The large watch is still light enough for all-day wear and sleep tracking, though its size can affect smaller wrists.

Comfort is a major strength, with reviewers saying the watch disappears, sits comfortably, and does not bother them during golf or sleep.

Mi Fitness is functional and covers settings and stats, but reviewers describe it as plain, dated, or merely adequate rather than polished.

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

Contactless payment support is a repeated limitation outside China, with several reviewers saying payment/NFC functionality is missing or region-bound.

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

The watch is broadly compatible with Android and iOS, and reviewers reported using or setting it up across both platforms.

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

Customization is decent for watch faces, widgets, shortcuts, straps, and personal photos, though some reviewers want deeper software customization.

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

The large AMOLED display is one of the strongest features, though one reviewer found colors slightly washed out and bezels can be noticeable.

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

Durability looks good from the aluminum body and water resistance, but sharp-edge scratch concerns appear in one review.

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

Fit is context-dependent because the large case helps readability but may feel oversized 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 accuracy is mixed: some reviewers praise it for casual use, while others find it too rough for serious training.

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 feedback ranges from stellar to merely okay, with multiple reviewers saying competitors or phones can track more accurately.

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

Overall health accuracy is mixed to weak because richer health metrics are undermined by questionable heart-rate and blood-oxygen data.

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 the most disputed health metric, with several reviewers reporting poor or iffy readings and one positive reviewer seeing good reference data.

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 or cellular independence is absent, so connected features like SOS and assistant use still depend on a nearby phone.

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 widely praised for the aluminum or metal frame, which makes the watch feel less budget than older plastic models.

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

Menu navigation is generally easy thanks to swipes, widgets, and the crown, with the large screen helping readability.

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, but reviewers do not describe true onboard music playback as a strength.

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 effectively absent in the reviewed evidence; one review lists a music player among missing features.

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

HyperOS is smooth but basic, and one Chinese-version review disputes whether it behaves like a real HyperOS smartwatch.

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 strong, with repeated praise for the bright screen being readable outside or in sunlight.

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

Pairing and syncing appear generally reliable in the main written review, though this is not heavily discussed across sources.

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

Recovery insights exist, but reviewers question their usefulness because they rely on imperfect exercise and heart-rate data.

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

Reliability is mixed: one reviewer reports a recurring DND sync bug, while another praises good connection.

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

Safety features center on emergency SOS through the crown, but reviewers note the phone must be nearby.

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

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 often good for bedtime and duration, but more advanced sleep or heart-rate details are less trustworthy.

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 useful and readable on the large screen, but reply support, emoji display, or notification limits are recurring caveats.

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 cover basics like calls, notifications, weather, calendars, and controls, but reviewers repeatedly frame them as basic.

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

Software smoothness is a standout; reviewers repeatedly call the interface smooth, snappy, fluid, or minimally laggy.

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

Step tracking is good enough for casual use, with reviewers finding it generally in line or not wildly off.

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

Stress tracking is included and can run with other wellness metrics, though reviews provide limited proof of its accuracy.

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

Reviewers generally like the design, especially the big square look and more premium metal frame at a budget price.

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

Third-party support is mixed: there is no watch app store, but Mi Fitness can sync with services like Strava and Apple Health.

Third-party app support is useful but not always seamless, with Connect IQ and downloadable apps/features appearing as the main support path.

Touch and interaction responsiveness are positive where discussed, with reviewers calling the display responsive and the interface snappy.

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

The UI is generally clear, colorful, and optimized for the large square screen.

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

Value is strong for shoppers prioritizing battery, display, and design, but several reviewers say rival budget watches can offer smarter features or better tracking.

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: Alexa or Mi AI appears in some versions, while other reviewers note no assistant or China-only limitations.

Watch faces are polarizing, ranging from limited and boring to a large free selection depending on version, region, and reviewer expectations.

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 consistently strong for the category, with 5ATM/50m claims and real swim or shower use noted.

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

Wellness insights are broad for the price, including sleep animals, Vitality, training load, and scores, but accuracy limits reduce trust.

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 variety is excellent for the price, with reviewers repeatedly citing more than 150 sports or workout modes.

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