Compare CMF Watch 3 Pro vs Garmin Approach S70

Activity auto-detection exists and can work for walks and common activities, but one reviewer warns that manual workout starts are still safer.

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 limited: syncing with fitness services helps, but the proprietary OS lacks the breadth of Wear OS or full third-party app access.

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

Band quality is mixed: several reviewers like the soft, replaceable strap, while others call it floppy, lighter-quality, or irritating.

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 strongest points, with many reviewers seeing multi-day to week-plus endurance and some highlighting 13-day claims or better-than-expected results.

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, with alerts or spot readings mentioned, and one reviewer found readings close to a pulse oximeter, though reviewers did not deeply validate it.

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 mostly stable once paired in positive reviews, though one reviewer notes the connectivity stack is limited to Bluetooth Low Energy.

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

Brightness is adequate in some normal situations, but reviewers often call it low by current standards or wish it were brighter.

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

Build quality divides reviewers: several find the fit and finish surprisingly good for the price, while others call it cheap, plasticky, rattly, or toy-like.

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

Button controls are mostly liked, especially the crown, haptics, and shortcuts, but reviewers also note size or underused crown interactions.

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

Call handling is better than expected for a budget smartwatch, with reviewers reporting usable microphones and clear calls, though speaker loudness can limit outdoor use.

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 data is useful as part of workout summaries for casual tracking, but reviewers treat it as general guidance rather than laboratory-grade measurement.

Charging convenience is a consistent complaint because the proprietary magnetic connector is flimsy, easy to dislodge, or awkward to use.

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

Charging speed is acceptable rather than exceptional, usually described around 90 to 99 minutes for a full charge or decent partial top-ups.

Charging speed has limited but positive support from one reviewer who says it does not take long to fully charge.

Coaching features are a clear selling point, especially the running coach and AI plan guidance, although reviewers treat it as helpful rather than flawless.

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 generally helped by the low weight, though size, poor fit for some wrists, and one uncomfortable experience keep it from being universally comfortable.

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 cleaner and more polished than before, but limitations around workout records, battery drain, language issues, exports, and data depth remain.

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

Contactless payments are a clear miss: multiple reviewers note the absence of NFC or wallet 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 a strength for a budget watch, with reviewers noting Android and iPhone support and basic assistant use across platforms.

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

Customization is mixed: watch faces, widgets, gestures, AOD and bands give flexibility, but the lost interchangeable bezel and limited widget or face storage disappoint reviewers.

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

Display quality is generally praised for the AMOLED panel, larger size, sharpness, and readability indoors, even when brightness has limits.

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

Durability evidence is limited but mixed: one reviewer noticed an early screen scratch, while another found the body and screen held up after daily use and a drop.

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

Fit is a weakness for smaller wrists in the available evidence, with reviewers noting poor fit or the watch being too large.

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 acceptable for casual use in some reviews but unreliable in others, especially for sleep-related confidence, workouts, running, and weightlifting.

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 is generally praised after the upgrade to dual-band tracking, with fast lock times and strong route accuracy, though one scientific reviewer questioned recording frequency.

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

Reviewers describe the health suite as broad for the price, with heart rate, sleep, stress and blood oxygen options, but accuracy and depth are inconsistent across tests.

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 most divided areas: some reviewers saw close agreement with reference devices, while others found misses during runs, workouts, or loose wear.

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.

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 are mixed, with metal or aluminum elements helping the watch feel better than expected, but plastic backs, bezels, and sensor areas reduce the premium feel.

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

Menu navigation is straightforward and crown-assisted, though some reviewers note the interface does not fully exploit the crown or gestures.

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 album artwork in one review, but the watch is not presented as a standalone music device.

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, limiting the watch for phone-free exercise with wireless earbuds.

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 repeatedly described as polished, smooth, and quality-feeling for the price.

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 a recurring weakness, especially with the always-on display, direct sunlight, or polarized sunglasses.

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

Pairing reliability is mixed: some reviewers found setup or phone switching easy, while others had a difficult pairing process or disconnections from the app.

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

Recovery insights show up as estimated recovery time, VO2 max, training load, and recovery metrics, giving runners and casual athletes more guidance than expected at this price.

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

Reliability is mixed, with reviewers citing notification sync issues, app optimization problems, app disconnects, and work-in-progress software behavior.

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

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

Size options are limited to one case size, which reviewers repeatedly flag as a problem for smaller wrists.

Size options are widely praised because the S70 offers both smaller and larger versions, though color choices are limited in some reviews.

Sleep tracking ranges from impressive duration or comparative results to very poor awake detection, so reviewers do not agree that it is dependable for serious sleep analysis.

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 for quick wrist checks and preset replies, but syncing and clearing behavior can be one-way or limited depending on phone platform.

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 such as notifications, camera shutter, calls, recorder, weather, music control, calendar, assistant access, and news, 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 generally strong, with several reviewers praising fluid animations and scrolling, but one negative review saw lag and another saw small pauses.

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

Step-counting evidence is limited and mixed, with one reviewer seeing a sizeable difference between the watch and Google Fit by the end of the day.

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

Stress tracking and guided breathing are repeatedly mentioned, but at least one long-term reviewer found stress readings temperamental and not reflective of real stress.

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 among the most praised areas, although a few reviewers dislike the plasticky or average feel.

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

Third-party app support is weak because reviewers repeatedly note that apps cannot be installed or accessed like on fuller smartwatch platforms.

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 mixed: some reviewers praise smoothness while others report lag, missed swipes, or always-on behavior that does not work as expected.

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

The user interface earns praise for being clean, polished, readable, and visually appealing, especially with Nothing's minimal monochrome style.

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

Value for money is strong overall because many reviewers find the design, display, battery, GPS, and basics impressive for around $99, despite harsher dissent.

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 useful when it triggers Siri, Gemini, or ChatGPT through a compatible phone, but ChatGPT support is limited and inconsistent across phones.

Watch faces are a standout design strength, with many reviewers praising the quantity, style, AOD support, and creative video or AI face options.

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 major caveat: ratings are mentioned repeatedly, but reviewers stress that swimming, pools, oceans, or showers are not recommended.

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

Wellness insights are shallow compared with the raw metrics: reviewers wanted more written explanations or practical advice from sleep and health data.

Wellness insights are a major differentiator, especially Body Battery, sleep, stress, energy, and Garmin’s explanations of what the metrics mean.

Wi-Fi is not available according to the reviewer evidence, which limits independent connectivity.

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

Workout variety is a major strength: reviewers consistently note the huge list of sports modes, often around 131 options, covering mainstream and niche activities.

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