Garmin Method S70: One minute assessment
The Garmin Method S70 is the model’s top-tier flagship golf watch and has all of the options and efficiency to match that mantle. Channeling all that makes Garmin watches nice for sport, the golf-centered options of the S70 go a protracted technique to put it other than its competitors.
Coming in at $649.99 / £549.99 / AU$1,099 for the bigger 47mm mannequin and $699.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199 for the marginally smaller 42mm, it does have a substantial worth of admission, however I broadly suppose it represents good worth and is price it for these golfers seeking to get essentially the most out of a companion watch.
Its design is instantly recognizable as a Garmin watch, and the slick black ceramic of the 47mm measurement I examined makes for a classy aesthetic, with its sleekness and pop of colour offered by the crimson accenting. The 1.4-inch display means all the pieces on the watch is straightforward to learn and digest at a look or in additional element, whereas the three buttons make it straightforward to navigate and get across the menus, apps, and options.
The options on provide are glorious too. From the 43,000 pre-loaded programs, to the digital caddie recommending golf equipment, all the way in which to the Enhanced PlaysLike Distance characteristic which takes into consideration climate, wind, and topography, gamers will discover loads to each assist their recreation and get their tooth into to get extra out of their recreation. You’ll be able to even unlock extra options, like inexperienced contour knowledge, by subscribing to Garmin Golf. Introduced on that lovely AMOLED show and with absolutely full-color maps, the watch is a pleasure to make use of on the course.
As a pure golf watch, the S70 is, merely, the best golf watch I’ve ever used. Its suite of options, on prime of its great show and established Garmin excellence in golf implies that the S70 performs brilliantly. The yardages had been correct (I in contrast it with one other golf watch I discover to be correct too), the brand new PlaysLike characteristic is extremely useful, and the digital caddie is tremendous after it’s realized and racked up a bunch of information out of your pictures.
The battery life can be very sturdy with the S70. I used to be capable of simply full two full rounds of 18 holes in GPS mode in addition to two weeks’ of day-to-day utilization on one cost.
All in all, the Garmin Method S70 is totally among the best golf watches cash can purchase proper now, and needs to be on the prime of your listing for those who’re after one thing that will provide you with essentially the most bang on your buck, from golf options to battery life, to show.
Garmin Method S70: Specs
| Part | Garmin Method S70 (42mm / 47mm) |
| Value | $649.99 (42mm), $699.99 (47mm) / £549.99 (42mm), £599.99 (47mm) / AU$1,099 (42mm), $AU$1,199 (47mm) |
| Dimensions | 42 x 42 x 12.6mm / 47 x 47 x 13.4mm |
| Weight | 44g / 56g |
| Case/bezel | Ceramic |
| Show | AMOLED, 390 x 390px / 454 x 454px |
| GPS | GPS+GLONASS+Galileo |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: 10 days / 16 days; GPS mode: 15 hours / 20 hours |
| Connection | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| Water-resistant | 5ATM |
Garmin Method S70: Value and availability
- Listing worth of $699.99 / £549.99 / AU1,199 (47mm) / $649.99 / £499.99 / AU1,099 (42mm)
- Premium finish of the market however reductions changing into extra widespread
- Launched in Could 2023
Given its punchy listing worth, the Method S70 is likely one of the costlier choices in the marketplace and its price ticket is formidable; probably placing it out of vary for many golfers. Nevertheless, for individuals who can afford it, I imagine the S70 goes a protracted technique to justify the value tag and gives sturdy worth for these trying on the prime finish of the golf watch spectrum.
It’s additionally price noting that it nonetheless prices comfortably lower than these super-premium fashions just like the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition and Garmin’s personal MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) watch. Thus, as a member of the top-end membership, it nonetheless is available in rather more affordably than these. Equally although, it is available in significantly greater than some glorious price range golf watches such because the Garmin S12 and the brand new S44.
Regardless that we’re seeing new watches from Garmin within the S44 and S50, the Method S70 stays the premium mannequin of the Method lineup. Nevertheless, it is usually seeing extra common worth cuts and reductions, making it much more engaging.
Garmin Method S70: Design
- 1.4-inch AMOLED display is crisp, brilliant, and clear
- Two sizes and three colorways accessible
- Good and stylish aesthetic total
The Method S70 very a lot seems to be just like the best Garmin watches proper out of the field, and is a symphony in black ceramic and crimson trim. It’s a delicate and really agreeable aesthetic for a golf watch. It’s not fairly as delicate as a traditional smartwatch, particularly alongside the likes of the best Samsung smartwatches – the S70 seems to be like a chunky sports activities watch, for positive.
Nevertheless it’s price noting at this level, that solely the 47mm mannequin that I examined comes on this colorway; the smaller 42mm variant is available in both a gray and peach or black and yellow unit, each with a gray strap versus the 47mm’s black strap.
The three buttons on the appropriate aspect of the S70 make navigation straightforward, and the display of the S70 is superbly crisp and clear making participating with the options on the course, in addition to selecting apps, capabilities and viewing messages easy.
Garmin’s proprietary charging port stays on the rear of the watch face which I feel is a seamless weak level within the design of Garmin watches. This implies you’ll at all times must have the watch face down on a floor whilst you press within the connector and go away it to recharge.
Mix this with a cable that by no means feels fairly lengthy sufficient, and it’s somewhat an inelegant charging answer, probably not befitting the value tag – even when the change to USB-C on the different finish of the cable is welcome.
Garmin Method S70: Options
- Intensive golf options are very good
- Garmin’s suite of health trackers current
- A month-to-month payment can open up extra options
The golf options on provide on the Method S70 will assist out virtually each sort of golfer, and be extremely helpful. From merely navigating a gap shot-by-shot, to studying extra about your recreation by monitoring distances holding rating and marking the place to hit pictures, to incorporating real-time climate knowledge to assist your subsequent shot, the feature-set on provide right here is beautiful. The addition of the Enhanced PlaysLike Distance characteristic is the standout on the S70, which means you will get correct help on what pictures are literally like, given the situations.
If you’d like even extra out of the Method S70, you may entry additional options for those who decide to the Garmin ecosystem with a Garmin Golf membership ($9.99 / £9.99 a month). The headline characteristic you get right here is the inexperienced contour knowledge you will get, including additional perception and help.
On prime of the golf-specific stuff, you’re additionally getting Garmin’s very good vary of health and sports activities monitoring apps that imply the S70 can flip its hand to an entire host of different actions and exercises.
Throw in some good strong however unspectacular smartwatch performance, and the S70 does go a protracted technique to tick all of the packing containers and provide the complete bundle in a single watch.
Garmin Method S70: Efficiency
- Fantastic on-course efficiency and options
- Nice battery life
- Smartwatch efficiency is simply OK
Briefly, the Method S70 is one of the best golf watch I’ve ever examined and used. Its suite of golf options and capabilities are almost second-to-none and translate into distinctive use out on the course – and contemplating it comes preloaded with 43,000 tracks from all over the world, you’re going to have the ability to use it just about wherever you go.
Garmin’s excellence in distance accuracy and assist with yardages is current as soon as once more, with the outlet map offering a transparent picture of what form the golf green and inexperienced are, in addition to what hazards are on the outlet, and the way distant, effectively, all the pieces is.
After taking part in some rounds, the shot monitoring knowledge is great too, and the digital caddie component of the watch will have the ability to present some assist by way of suggesting golf equipment. You too can workforce it with the Garmin Golf App to file all of your scores, penalties, and shot sorts too, in addition to errors and successes.
Elsewhere, I notably loved the Enhanced PlaysLike Distance characteristic that provides you correct yardage primarily based not solely on distance, but in addition topography (for those who’re above or under the outlet), wind route, and climate. I’ve a great grasp on my yardages usually, however the further help on the subject of exterior components was actually helpful.
I’ve briefly talked about the battery life above concerning two weeks’ price of use, and Garmin’s claims largely maintain up. I used the Method S70 for 2 weeks, in addition to day-after-day as a smartwatch, and threw in two 18-hole rounds of golf in GPS mode, and nonetheless had 9% of the battery left. Distinctive.
Virtually, nonetheless, charging the watch is somewhat awkward, and is especially attributable to Garmin’s proprietary connection. Whereas the USB-C connection is welcome, the oval-shaped connector for the again of the watch remains to be topic to coming free – and it additionally requires the watch to be on its face, all with a cable that by no means feels so long as it might or needs to be. I hope this informs future premium fashions as having a pad-like charging answer like Samsung smartwatches, or perhaps a good dock like my TAG Heuer has would really feel extra applicable for the value tag and expertise. Of us can have paid some huge cash for this, in spite of everything, so sticking a cable within the again, and awkwardly holding it face down near a socket feels a bit low cost.
As a golf-first watch the S70 excels, naturally, however this additionally exhibits in its use as an on a regular basis smartwatch and I want my TAG Heuer or Samsung Watch3 as a day by day smartwatch driver by a long way. One instance of my gripes with the S70 as a smartwatch is that my WhatsApp messages wouldn’t be displayed with the newest one first, so if I obtained a number of messages in a bunch in fast succession (and even not so rapidly) then I used to be unable to remain on prime of the dialog at a look.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see sooner or later how the S70 stacks up towards its new brethren within the S44 and S50, however the reality stays that it is a wonderful golf watch and one that you just’ll not remorse going for.
Garmin Method S70: Scorecard
| Class | Remark | Rating |
| Value | One of the vital costly golf watches, nevertheless it goes a protracted technique to justify this price ticket and gives good worth. | 4/5 |
| Design | The S70 has an excellent design and construct high quality that conjures up confidence on the course and in on a regular basis use. | 4.5/5 |
| Options | Chock filled with good golf options and instruments, in addition to Garmin’s trademark health and sports activities trackers. | 5/5 |
| Efficiency | The S70’s efficiency on the course is second to none; all capabilities of the watch are straightforward to make use of, present nice knowledge, and actually might help golfers across the course. | 4.5/5 |
| Complete | Practically the right combine of fantastic golf options and purposes and dependable smartwatch performance. | 4.5/5 |
Garmin Method S70: Ought to I purchase?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally think about
| Part | Garmin Method S70 (42mm / 47mm) | TAG Heuer Linked Calibre E4 Golf Version (42mm / 45mm) | Garmin Method S62 |
| Value | $649.99 (42mm), $699.99 (47mm) / £549.99 (42mm), £599.99 (47mm) / AU$1,099 (42mm), $AU$1,199 (47mm) | $1,750 (42mm), $1,950 (45mm) / £1,500 (42mm), £1,700 (45mm) / AU$2,500 (42mm), AU$2,800 (45mm) | $499 / £479 / AU$799 |
| Dimensions | 42 x 42 x 12.6mm / 47 x 47 x 13.4mm | 42 x 42 x 14.2mm / 45mm x 45mm x 15.3mm | 47 x 47 x 14.8 mm |
| Weight | 44g / 56g | 50g / 59.4g | 61g |
| Case/bezel | Ceramic | Titanium Sand-Blasted/Fastened Bezel Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Show | AMOLED, 390 x 390px / 454 x 454px | AMOLED 454 x 454px | 260 x 260px |
| GPS | GPS+GLONASS+Galileo | GNSS | Unspecified |
| Battery life | Smartwatch mode: 10 days / 16 days; GPS mode: 15 hours / 20 hours | Smartwatch mode: 2 days; GPS mode: 1 day (18 holes plus smartwatch use) | Smartwatch mode: As much as 14 days; GPS mode: as much as 20 hours |
| Connection | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC | Bluetooth, ANT+ |
| Water-resistant | 5ATM | 50m | 5ATM |
How I examined the Garmin Method S70
I used the Garmin Method S70 over the course of a number of months, utilizing it for summer season and winter golf rounds – and for extra rounds than I can keep in mind to place an precise quantity on. I put all of the options to the take a look at in all my rounds and relied on it solely as my solely GPS or digital caddie help.