Garmin’s Approach S72 adds sensor-free swing metrics, stronger materials and broader smartwatch features, but its higher price and subscription limits make upgrading from the S70 a measured decision.
Garmin’s new Approach S72 is a measured update rather than a wholesale redesign, but it does shift the balance of the premium golf watch line. According to the5krunner, the 47mm version launches at $799.99, compared with $699.99 for the equivalent Approach S70 and $649.99 for the smaller 42mm model. On the larger watch, Garmin has kept the 1.4-inch AMOLED display and the claimed 16-day smartwatch battery life, along with 20 hours of golf use, while adding a new sensor platform, upgraded case materials and several features aimed at both on-course and everyday use.
The biggest change is in swing analysis. Garmin says the S72 can measure the swing from the wrist without requiring a club sensor, adding four data points that were not available on the S70: hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation and swing plane. The company’s guidance says peak hand speed should arrive before impact. Tempo remains part of the package, but that metric was already present on the S70, along with tempo training. The new measurements can be reviewed after each shot during a round or in a dedicated driving range activity, and users can choose one metric to keep visible as a data field while playing.
Garmin has also expanded the watch’s green-reading tools, although some of the functionality still sits behind a Garmin Golf subscription. The S72 can now estimate putt distance, side slope and elevation change once a player walks to the pin and marks it. The5krunner notes that green contours were already available on the S70 through the paid membership tier, while aerial imagery of the hole is also included with the subscription. Putt tracking remains available on both watches, but the deeper putting analysis in Garmin Connect, including speed bias, direction bias and make rate, still requires the membership.
The smaller model shows how Garmin has repositioned the range. Wearables Arena and Garmin Rumors both note that the 43mm S72 is only slightly larger than the 42mm S70, yet it brings a higher-resolution display, lower weight and the newer feature set, while battery life drops to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 15 hours on the course. Because both S72 sizes are priced the same, the smaller watch effectively asks buyers to pay the larger-watch price for less endurance. That makes the choice less about value and more about fit, styling and wrist size.
The hardware changes go beyond golf. According to Garmin Rumors and iTechGuides, the S72 moves to an Elevate Gen 5 heart-rate sensor with ECG support and skin temperature sensing, while titanium and sapphire replace the ceramic bezel and Gorilla Glass 3 used on the S70. Storage rises from 16GB to 64GB, and Garmin has added preloaded road and trail maps, point-to-point navigation and ClimbPro for off-course use. The watch also includes a speaker, microphone and LED flashlight, with the latter described by the5krunner as a first for the Approach line. Garmin’s wider training functions, including daily suggested workouts and training readiness, are also part of the package.
There is one caveat for current owners with accessories. The5krunner notes that TruSwing appears on the S70 specification sheet but not on the S72 sheet, so golfers using Garmin’s club sensor will want to check compatibility before upgrading. For most buyers, though, the decision is straightforward: S70 owners who mainly use the watch for a round may find the new model hard to justify, while anyone moving up from an older Approach watch, or buying into Garmin’s premium golf ecosystem for the first time, gets a more complete feature set in one step.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
