Product · Garmin
Garmin Approach S12: 34.1 g, 30 h GPS battery
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This Granite Blue Approach S12 is the easy-to-use option in Garmin's golf watch line, built for players who want buttons rather than touchscreens and a battery that lasts. It is the longest running watch in the Approach range here, with up to 30 hours in GPS mode.
- Case size
- 43 mm
- Weight
- 34.1 g
- Display
- Sunlight-readable, 175 x 175, buttons
- GPS battery
- Up to 30 h
- Subscription
- Not stated
In its favour
- Lightest watch here at a listed 34.1 g, with a 43 x 43 x 11 mm case.
- Up to 30 hours in GPS mode covers several rounds between charges.
- Over 42,000 preloaded courses with yardages to the green, hazards and doglegs.
Good to know
- Button control only; the listing does not mention a touchscreen or a colour hole map.
- Display is a 175 x 175 LCD rather than the brighter AMOLED panels on newer models.
Our take
Yardages and scorekeeping
The S12 shows distances to the front, back and middle of the green, plus hazards and doglegs. More than 42,000 courses come preloaded. When paired with a compatible smartphone, scores can be uploaded to the Garmin Golf app for weekly leaderboards.
Adding Approach CT10 sensors, sold separately, allows the watch to track scores and club distances automatically.
For golfers who simply want to know how far to the front edge and how far to carry a bunker, this covers everything without menus to navigate.
Display and build
A high-resolution, sunlight-readable round display shows 175 x 175 pixels according to the product details. The case is resin, measuring 43 x 43 x 11 mm and weighing 34.1 g. A grey silicone band with a loop clasp is fitted, and the watch is water resistant to 50 metres.
Control is entirely by buttons, which works well with gloves or wet hands.
At just over 34 g, it is light enough that you may forget you are wearing it during a swing, which some golfers find matters more than any feature.
Battery and connectivity
Thirty hours of GPS covers several rounds between charges, which suits golfers who play a few times a week or go on golf trips. Bluetooth connects the watch to Android and iOS phones. The box holds the watch, a charging cable and documentation.
Weekly leaderboards in the Garmin Golf app add a light competitive element for friends who all use Garmin devices.
S12 within the Approach range
The S44 brings an AMOLED touchscreen, smart notifications and membership map features with 15 hours of GPS. The S60 offers CourseView colour maps on a touchscreen. The G80 is a handheld with a launch monitor, and the CT10 sensor pack adds shot tracking. The S12 is the plain, long-lasting choice.
Who might outgrow it
Golfers who want to see hole maps or receive phone notifications should look at the S60 or S44. Those who want swing speed figures need the G80.
Verdict
Pick the Approach S12 in Granite Blue if you want simple button controls, accurate green and hazard yardages and a battery that lasts for days of golf. For colour maps on a touchscreen, the Approach S60 is the alternative, and for a slim smartwatch with an AMOLED display, the Approach S44.
Compared with alternatives in: Best golf GPS watches for women, Garmin Approach range compared
Amazon listing title: Garmin Approach S12, Easy-to-Use GPS Golf Watch, 42k+ Preloaded Courses, Granite Blue, 010-02472-01