Garmin Approach S42 review: Great golf watch

For well over a decade, Garmin has been the industry standard when it comes to golf GPS devices. Over that period, We have used or evaluated various Garmin’s golf watch models. Yet despite having the opportunity to test out the more pricey Garmin Approach S62, the Garmin Approach S42, which retails for $299, has quickly become my preferred watch for the course.

The Garmin Approach S42 is my current partner on the golf course as well as in the clubhouse. This watch has everything we look for in a golf watch, including an accurate GPS, a long-lasting battery life, and fantastic looks. The midrange golf watch offered by Garmin comes with very few items missing.

Which makes it accessible to a wider audience than simply golf enthusiasts. Because it does not have a heart rate sensor, it cannot be considered a true fitness tracker in the same vein as the majority of the top Garmin watches. Instead, the S42 was developed with the experience of committed golfing in mind.

Garmin Approach S42 review: Design

It is a nice-looking, high-quality watch that you can wear both on and off the golf course. The 1.2-inch touchscreen is made to be easy to see even on the brightest days. The 20mm silicone strap isn’t as thick or soft as the straps on Garmin’s more expensive watches, but it feels good on the wrist.

If you want to change things up and not want to use silicone, you can get replacement bands in different colors. If you want something different, you can get a Garmin with suede, leather, nylon, or milanese. You can buy this smartwatch from its official website.

Garmin Approach S42 review: Tracking

In addition to being an exceptional and remarkable smartwatch, it tracks your exercise and health. You will now be able to receive notifications regarding the number of steps you took during the day. On or off the course, it will keep track of your steps and keep you informed of your fitness level. In addition, it keeps track of how many shots you play throughout the game and gives you updates based on that information.

Garmin Approach S42 review: Features

As usual for Garmin, there are a lot of golfing features on the Garmin Approach S42. The watch comes with 42K courses already on it and is very accurate. It also has player-friendly options like scoring and yardage to lay-ups. The S42 was easy to connect to the Garmin Golf app on my iPhone.

Even though the app isn’t required to use the watch, it has everything you need to map any course in the database. We dare all but the most tech-savvy golfers not to be happy with all the tools this watch and app give them. But you can add the Approach CT10 sensors to take your game management to the next level.

These devices go on the grips of your clubs and give you more detailed information about how you swing. We like that the sensors can map almost any shot, record it so we can look back on it, and use this information to help me choose a better course and clubs.

Having said that, we don’t think the sensors are needed for every round. Even though the S42 has a lot of high-tech features, what we like most about it is how simple it is. It seems like Garmin listened to players like me, who value accuracy and ease of use over fancy features.

Garmin Approach S42 review: Battery life

The Approach S40 was one of Garmin’s most popular golf watches, and its successor, the S42, is one of the best golf watches for the money. It has a bigger screen and a much longer battery life than the S40, but most of the golf functions are the same. In a way, you’re paying more for the better battery, since the S42 can run in full GPS mode for 15 hours. That’s impressive, and even if you play 36 holes, it’s more than enough.

The S42 is best at helping you get around the golf course, but it can also be used as a smart watch. You can get smart notifications for calls, texts, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc., and there is also a nice step counter. It can also keep track of your sleep. The S42 does not come with Garmin Pay, though.

Garmin Approach S42 review: Price

The S42 is priced in the middle, which is more reasonable than some of Garmin’s more expensive golf watches. It costs $299, which is a good price for golfers who can’t get enough of smart watches with lots of cool features. It is also worth the money and gives you everything you need to take your golf game to the next level.

Garmin Approach S42 review: Final words

For the price, this is a great watch. You get a lot of features, the battery life is great, and it looks good enough to wear in the clubhouse after the game. Do you want to buy it? Well, it depends on how much money you have.

If you have a little more money to spend, the S62 is probably the better choice because it’s built better and has more features. If you don’t have a lot of money, you might want to look at the S40, which is still available and is now selling for a lot less than it used to.

FAQs

Is Garmin S42 worth it?

Is It Appropriate To Invest In A Garmin S42. Garmin creates some of the most well-known golf watches, and one of their models, the S42, is notable for the many features it provides at an affordable price. It’s not something I’d recommend to everyone, but there is a lot of value to be had from it.

Does Garmin Approach S42 track steps?

The feature known as activity tracking keeps a record of your daily step count, step goal, distance travelled, and number of calories burned for each day that is recorded. The calories you burn come from both your base metabolism and the calories you burn through activity.

Does Garmin require monthly fee?

There is a need for a separate subscription plan for each inReach product. Prices are subject to change at any time. Every plan has a monthly payment requirement. The user’s selected plan will continue to renew each month automatically unless the user either makes a different plan selection or cancels their subscription before the next renewal date.

Does Garmin s42 track your sleep?

The device will automatically recognize when you are sleeping and track any movement you make during your typical hours of rest while you dozing off. Within the user settings of your Garmin ConnectTM account, you will find the option to customise your typical sleeping hours.