- Better: display quality The S62 display is judged behind Apple Watch-level screen quality.
Garmin Approach S62 Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Garmin Approach S62 if you want premium golf GPS maps, strong battery life, shot tracking and useful course tools in a daily wearable. Skip it if price, sleeker smartwatch features, calls or simpler yardages matter more.
Best for
Best for serious golfers who want accurate GPS yardages, rich hazard and hole maps, scoring, shot data, and a watch they can also wear for fitness. It especially fits users willing to manage Garmin Golf data after rounds.
Not for
Not for casual golfers who only want front-middle-back yardages, people who need Apple Watch-level apps and calls, or users who dislike manual score and club data cleanup.
Verdict
Reviewers describe the Garmin Approach S62 as a premium golf-first watch that earns much of its reputation through accurate GPS yardages, rich hazard and hole mapping, useful scoring, strong battery life, and enough fitness features to stay on the wrist beyond a round. The main tradeoff is that its best golf tools reward engaged users who are willing to enter clubs, manage score data, and learn the interface. Virtual Caddie and shot tracking can be genuinely helpful, but they are not flawless, especially with inconsistent swings, chips, putts, or limited data. As a smartwatch, it is capable but not as polished as Apple Watch-style devices for calls, app choice, notifications, or display quality.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: premium golf GPS functionality at lower price The S62 is framed as comparable to TAG Heuer's golf edition while being more affordable.
Apple Watch 5
- Cheaper: wearable price The review notes the S62 costs more than Apple Watch 5 while still preferring Garmin for daily wrist use.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
49 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 16% 8 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 55% 27 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 14% 7 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 14% 7 features
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
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Style and design were a standout, with several reviewers calling it stylish, modern, premium, or among the best-looking golf watches.
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Software smoothness was praised, with faster yardage/map behavior, fast GPS updates, and quick course loading called out.
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Battery life was one of the clearest strengths, with repeated praise for multiple rounds, long GPS use, and minimal charging needs.
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GPS accuracy was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly saying yardages matched lasers, rangefinders, or real on-course expectations.
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Bluetooth connectivity was praised indirectly through fast, first-time pairing and auto-connection behavior.
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Cross-platform compatibility was strong, with support for both iOS and Android called out positively.
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General tracking accuracy was praised in the TechRadar verdict as accurate and feature-rich.
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Pairing reliability scored well because pairing and reconnecting were described as fast and dependable.
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Mapping and navigation were major strengths, especially hazard views, hole maps, PinPointer, layup targeting, and on-watch course planning.
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Reviewers consistently liked the breadth of workout modes, treating the S62 as a legitimate multisport or fitness watch rather than only a golf device.
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Reliability was mostly positive after setup, though one reviewer had initial GPS trouble before later trouble-free use.
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The user interface was generally considered intuitive and low-fuss after a short learning curve.
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Comfort was consistently positive; reviewers said it was light, wearable, and did not interfere with golf swings.
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Fit was mostly positive for swing use, though one reviewer noted the watch sits high on skinny wrists.
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Menu navigation was mostly easy and intuitive, though one review found the mixed touch-and-button flow took some acclimation.
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Display quality was usually praised for color, size, and clarity, with some caveats versus Apple Watch-level display quality.
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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.
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Smartwatch features were a major strength overall, though one reviewer felt the S62 lacked Apple Watch-style quality-of-life polish.
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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.
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Outdoor visibility was generally strong in sun, though one reviewer said direct-sun readability was worse than other golf watches.
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Score tracking was usually easy and straightforward, but fairway-hit accuracy and missed entries required cleanup for the best data.
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Build quality was mostly premium, but one video reviewer felt the S62 did not feel meaningfully higher quality than cheaper models.
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Brightness was strong enough for practical use, with one review calling the screen super bright and another saying it was not too bad.
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Durability was supported by praise for Gorilla Glass, scratch resistance, and outdoor-ready construction.
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Watch face quality was positive, with reviewers appreciating downloadable/customizable faces and a normal analog-style look.
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Water resistance was treated as useful because reviewers noted swimming and water-based activity tracking.
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The Garmin app ecosystem was viewed positively when Garmin Golf and Garmin Connect worked together for golf and fitness data.
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Charging speed was positive where mentioned because the dedicated cable was said to juice up fast.
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Recovery-style Body Battery guidance was described positively as clever when tied to energy and readiness insights.
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Band quality was generally good, with praise for the silicone strap, but not everyone found it luxurious.
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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.
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Button controls were appreciated for gloved use and click feel, though the touch-button mix sometimes caused confusion.
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Touchscreen responsiveness was mostly good and useful for maps, but some reviewers found touch navigation confusing or not especially responsive.
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Wellness insights were generally useful, especially Body Battery and workout-related metrics, though one reviewer said those insights were not really for him.
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Materials quality was mixed: the ceramic-bezel build was praised, but one reviewer felt it did not feel significantly higher quality than the S42.
Cons
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Contactless payments were useful in principle, but bank compatibility limitations made Garmin Pay less compelling for one UK-focused reviewer.
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Coaching features were divisive: some praised Virtual Caddie, PinPointer, and wind-adjusted suggestions, while others distrusted the caddie or found early recommendations inaccurate.
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Smartphone notifications were useful for staying off the phone, but iPhone notification control was criticized as too limited.
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Customization was mixed: straps and faces were appreciated, but notification tailoring, especially with iPhone, was criticized.
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Size options and sizing were a caveat, with reviewers noting the thicker profile and 47mm case could suit some wrists better than others.
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Operating system experience was limited versus Apple watchOS or Wear OS, and one reviewer said the smartwatch polish was not on that level.
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Music controls were only mixed because the control widget worked but did not automatically surface when music was playing.
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Call handling was limited because reviewers noted you cannot take calls on the watch, with some response options restricted to Android.
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Charging convenience was a repeated complaint because Garmin's proprietary connector frustrated reviewers.
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Third-party app support was a limitation because reviewers stressed that Wear OS and Apple watchOS apps are unavailable.
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Health-tracking accuracy was questioned in video reviews where abnormal or implausible heart-rate behavior made the wellness alerts feel unreliable.
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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.
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Onboard music storage was a clear weakness because one review listed lack of music storage as a con.
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Voice assistant quality was poor in the evidence because the watch lacked a Siri-style assistant.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smart Watch, this product is above average in mapping and navigation, below average in health tracking accuracy, heart rate accuracy, voice assistant quality.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 13% 1 feature
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 88% 7 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| health tracking accuracy | 1.8 | 3.9 | -2.1 |
| heart rate accuracy | 1.8 | 3.8 | -2.1 |
| voice assistant quality | 1.5 | 3.0 | -1.5 |
| charging convenience | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
| onboard music storage | 1.5 | 2.8 | -1.3 |
| operating system experience | 2.5 | 3.8 | -1.3 |
| mapping and navigation | 4.3 | 3.4 | +0.9 |
| third-party app support | 2.0 | 3.2 | -1.2 |
FAQ
Is the Garmin Approach S62 accurate for golf yardages?
Yes. Multiple reviewers compared its GPS distances with lasers, rangefinders, or on-course expectations and found them accurate or spot on.
How good is the battery life?
Battery life is one of the strongest areas. Reviewers repeatedly described multiple rounds between charges and praised the long GPS and smartwatch-mode endurance.
Is Virtual Caddie worth using?
It can be useful, especially once enough club data is collected, but reviewers were mixed. Some found it impressive, while others distrusted it or found early recommendations inaccurate.
Does the S62 work well as an everyday smartwatch?
It works well enough for notifications, fitness, Garmin Pay, and daily wear, but reviewers said it is not as polished as Apple Watch-style devices for apps, calls, display quality, or notification control.
Are shot tracking and score tracking fully automatic?
No. Long shots and shot distances can be tracked automatically, but several reviewers noted that chips, putts, club selection, and score details often require manual entry or cleanup.
Who gets the most value from the S62?
Serious golfers who will use the maps, hazard views, shot data, Virtual Caddie, and fitness features get the most value. Casual golfers who only need basic yardages may find the price hard to justify.
Consider This Instead
If you want better voice assistant quality
Choose Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for voice assistant quality, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better heart rate accuracy
Choose Garmin Instinct Crossover AMOLED. It scores 5.0 vs 1.8 for heart rate accuracy, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better health tracking accuracy
Choose Garmin Lily 2 Active. It scores 5.0 vs 1.8 for health tracking accuracy, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better onboard music storage
Choose Garmin Fenix 8. It scores 4.7 vs 1.5 for onboard music storage, with a 4.0 overall score.
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