Buying guide
Garmin Approach range compared
Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick
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Top picks at a glance
Compare them allBest overall
Approach S44: AMOLED watch, CT10 ready
Colour AMOLED display with 43,000+ preloaded courses.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkBest value
Approach S12: simple buttons, 30 h battery
Up to 30 hours in GPS mode, the longest in the range shown here.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate linkMost features
Approach S60: touchscreen with CourseView maps
Full colour CourseView mapping shows yardages to greens, hazards and doglegs.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Garmin's Approach name covers several kinds of golf device: watches from the simple S12 to the touchscreen S60 and the newer S44, the G80 handheld with a built-in launch monitor, and CT10 sensors that screw into your grips to track every shot. They share the Garmin Golf app, so scores and stats end up in one place, but they suit different golfers. The questions are whether you want a watch or a handheld, how much map detail you want to see, how long the battery must last and whether automatic shot tracking interests you. This guide lines up the Approach models available here using the facts in their listings, with what each one adds over the simpler model.
All products compared
- Approach S44: AMOLED watch, CT10 ready
- Type
- Watch
- Display
- 1.2 inch colour AMOLED
- Battery
- Up to 15 h GPS, 10 days watch
- Course maps
- 43,000+ preloaded
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Approach S12: simple buttons, 30 h battery
- Type
- Watch
- Display
- Sunlight-readable round display
- Battery
- Up to 30 h GPS
- Course maps
- 42,000+ preloaded
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Approach S60: touchscreen with CourseView maps
- Type
- Watch
- Display
- 1.2 inch colour touchscreen
- Battery
- Up to 10 h golf mode
- Course maps
- 40,000+ with CourseView
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Approach G80: handheld GPS with launch monitor
- Type
- Handheld GPS
- Display
- 3.5 inch colour touchscreen
- Battery
- Up to 15 h with GPS
- Course maps
- 41,000+ colour maps
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Approach CT10: 14 club sensors for shot tracking
- Type
- Club sensors
- Display
- None (uses watch)
- Battery
- Up to 4 years
- Course maps
- Uses paired watch
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
| Product | Type | Display | Battery | Course maps | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approach S44: AMOLED watch, CT10 ready | Watch | 1.2 inch colour AMOLED | Up to 15 h GPS, 10 days watch | 43,000+ preloaded | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Approach S12: simple buttons, 30 h battery | Watch | Sunlight-readable round display | Up to 30 h GPS | 42,000+ preloaded | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Approach S60: touchscreen with CourseView maps | Watch | 1.2 inch colour touchscreen | Up to 10 h golf mode | 40,000+ with CourseView | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Approach G80: handheld GPS with launch monitor | Handheld GPS | 3.5 inch colour touchscreen | Up to 15 h with GPS | 41,000+ colour maps | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
| Approach CT10: 14 club sensors for shot tracking | Club sensors | None (uses watch) | Up to 4 years | Uses paired watch | Check price on AmazonAffiliate link |
Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.
The products in detail
No. 1 · Garmin
Approach S44: AMOLED watch, CT10 ready
Up to 15 h GPS, 10 days watch
A slim watch with a bright AMOLED screen, hazard view, smart notifications and support for CT1 or CT10 trackers. Extra map features come with a Garmin Golf membership.
In its favour
- Colour AMOLED display with 43,000+ preloaded courses.
- Hazard view for bunkers, water and layups, plus distance to front, middle and back.
- Supports automatic shot tracking with CT1 or CT10 sensors.
Good to know
- CourseView, green contours and PlaysLike Distance need a Garmin Golf membership.
- 15 hours in GPS mode is half the S12's stated figure.
Listing title: Garmin Approach S44 43mm essential GPS golf watch, Twilight
No. 2 · Garmin
Approach S12: simple buttons, 30 h battery
Up to 30 h GPS
The entry Approach watch: buttons, a high-resolution sunlight-readable display, front, middle and back yardages plus hazards, and up to 30 hours of GPS battery.
In its favour
- Up to 30 hours in GPS mode, the longest in the range shown here.
- Simple button control and clear yardages suit golfers new to GPS.
- Scores upload to the Garmin Golf app for weekly leaderboards.
Good to know
- No colour hole maps or green shape are described.
- Shot tracking needs separately sold CT10 sensors.
Listing title: Garmin Approach S12, Easy-to-Use GPS Golf Watch, 42k+ Preloaded Course...
No. 3 · Garmin
Approach S60: touchscreen with CourseView maps
Up to 10 h golf mode
An older premium Garmin watch with a colour touchscreen, full colour CourseView maps and Quick Fit bands. Suits golfers who want hole maps on the wrist.
In its favour
- Full colour CourseView mapping shows yardages to greens, hazards and doglegs.
- Quick Fit 22 mm bands swap without tools.
- Listed in the CT10 sensor compatibility list for shot tracking.
Good to know
- Up to 10 hours in golf mode is the shortest stated battery in this lineup.
- It is an older model, so check software support with Garmin.
Listing title: Garmin Approach S60, Premium GPS Golf Watch with Touchscreen Display a...
No. 4 · Garmin
Approach G80: handheld GPS with launch monitor
Up to 15 h with GPS
A GPS handheld for the course that doubles as a launch monitor, showing club speed, ball speed, smash factor, tempo and estimated distance. For golfers who want one device for both.
In its favour
- One device covers course GPS with 41,000+ maps and range practice.
- Practice and game modes let you set targets during sessions.
- Up to 15 hours of battery with GPS, according to the listing.
Good to know
- Distance is estimated, and the listed club speed accuracy is plus or minus 5 mph.
- No spin or launch angle data is listed for this handheld.
Listing title: Garmin Approach G80, All-in-One Premium GPS Golf Handheld with Integra...
No. 5 · Garmin
Approach CT10: 14 club sensors for shot tracking
Up to 4 years
A full set of 14 sensors that screw into your grips and log each shot with club, location and distance on a compatible Garmin watch. For golfers who want strokes gained style stats.
In its favour
- Tracks every shot automatically, including location, distance and club type.
- Stats per club appear on a compatible watch after you pull the club.
- Listed battery life of up to 4 years per sensor.
Good to know
- Needs a compatible Garmin watch; check your model in the listing's compatibility list.
- Adds nothing on its own, so it only makes sense alongside an Approach watch.
Listing title: Garmin Approach CT10 Automatic Golf Club Sensor, 14 pack (Full Pack)
Read before you buy
- How to update courses on a Garmin golf watchUpdating course maps on a Garmin Approach watch with the Garmin Golf app or Garmin Express, plus what to try when a course does not show up.
- How do golf GPS watches work?How a golf GPS watch turns satellite signals and a mapped course into yardages, whether it needs internet or a phone, and what affects accuracy.
- Golf GPS without a subscription: what you getWhich golf GPS watches, handhelds and hybrids include course maps with no yearly fee, which sell optional memberships, and what the paid tiers add.
- Golf GPS watch vs laser rangefinderFront, middle and back of the green against an exact number to the flag: how GPS watches and laser rangefinders compare, and when owning both makes sense.
- Golf GPS watch vs handheld GPSGolf GPS watches and handheld units compared on screen size, battery, hazard and green detail, and convenience on the wrist against in the pocket or trolley.
More buying guides: GPS watches
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