Garmin has unveiled a new flagship golf GPS watch, with the Approach S70 becoming the first from the company to bring improved CourseView maps to an AMOLED display.
The brighter and more detailed screen and course mapping are the headline improvements over the Approach S62 that arrived in 2021, though the Approach S70 is also notably available in two sizes.
With golfers able to pick between a 42mm or 47mm case, this is the first time we’ve really seen a unisex and premium golf watch from the company.
And while we’ve already been impressed by how golf courses are presented on the AMOLED display of something like the Forerunner 965, the Approach S60 ramps things up another notch.
Garmin
Garmin now includes improved mapping for 43,000 preloaded courses, with more intricate details now highlighted alongside easier panning and zooming.
For Garmin Golf subscribers, green contour data is also available on select courses, which should really help club selection when planning approaches, as well as reading putts.
And that’s not all. Virtual Caddy has also been improved, now factoring in historical swing data, elevation, wind speed and direction, and more to help devise a strategy for each hole.
Garmin’s PlaysLike Distance feature is upgraded, too, and now takes into account wind, temperature, and air pressure, thanks to the all-new barometer.
Even the battery life remains solid, with the Approach S70 able to hold a charge for 16 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode.
Garmin
And, as with other Approach watches, a select array of Garmin’s typical features is also included here. Sleep monitoring, HRV Status, and Body Battery are just a few of the features involved, and tracking profiles for other sports and activities is also included.
Smart features like Garmin Pay, music playback from Spotify, and notifications are in tow, as well.
Stay tuned for our full review of the Approach S70 over the next couple of weeks, as we’ll be putting all these new features and the new AMOLED design through the wringer.
By Conor Allison
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable’s considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.
