The Garmin Approach S60 is a premium GPS golf watch packed with golf specific features and a surprising number of sports modes.
The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a versatile activity tracker, stacked with sports modes and an impressive array of golfing features.
But which of these two watches is better suited to your needs? The goal of this post is to help you answer this question. Let’s dive into the details.
Table of Contents
Summary of main differences between the Garmin Approach S60 and the Garmin Vivoactive 4
- The Approach S60 has 10 extra golf specific functions than the Vivoactive 4 (which also has golf tracking)
- The Vivoactive 4 has 20 sports modes in total. The Approach S60 has 13.
- The Vivoactive 4 has music storage abilities. You can store up to 500 songs and use apps like Spotify and Deezer.
- The Vivoactive 4 is the better choice for runners and cyclists. This is mainly because of the barometric altimeter, support for Stryd running power and Garmin Varia compatibility.
- The Vivoactive 4 has a pulse oximeter which can measure your blood oxygen levels.
- The Vivoactive includes Garmin’s body battery metric.
- You can make payments without your wallet using the Vivoactive 4. The Approach S60 doesn’t support NFC payments.
Key Similarities Table - Garmin Approach S60 vs Vivoactive 4
Approach S60
See PriceVivoactive 4
See Price
Key Differences Table - Garmin Approach S60 vs Vivoactive 4
Approach S60
See PriceVivoactive 4
See PriceGolf Features Comparison
| Garmin Approach S60 Sports Modes | Garmin Vivoactive 4 Sports Modes |
|---|---|
| 01) YARDAGE TO FRONT, MIDDLE AND BACK OF GREEN | 01) YARDAGE TO FRONT, MIDDLE AND BACK OF GREEN |
| 02) YARDAGE TO LAYUPS/DOGLEGS | 02) YARDAGE TO LAYUPS/DOGLEGS |
| 03) MEASURES SHOT DISTANCE | 03) MEASURES SHOT DISTANCE |
| 04) DIGITAL SCORECARD | 04) DIGITAL SCORECARD |
| 05) STAT TRACKING (STROKES, PUTTS, GREENS AND FAIRWAYS HIT) | 05) STAT TRACKING (STROKES, PUTTS, GREENS AND FAIRWAYS HIT) |
| 06) GARMIN AUTOSHOT™ | 06) GARMIN AUTOSHOT™ |
| 07) GREEN VIEW WITH MANUAL PIN POSITION | 07) GREEN VIEW WITH MANUAL PIN POSITION |
| 08) HAZARDS AND COURSE TARGETS | 08) HAZARDS AND COURSE TARGETS |
| 09) PINPOINTER | 09) PINPOINTER |
| 10) ROUND TIMER/ODOMETER | 10) ROUND TIMER/ODOMETER |
| 11) AUTOMATIC CLUB TRACKING COMPATIBLE (REQUIRES ACCESSORY) | 11) AUTOMATIC CLUB TRACKING COMPATIBLE (REQUIRES ACCESSORY) |
| 12) FULL VECTOR MAP | |
| 13) AUTO COURSEVIEW UPDATES | |
| 14) PLAYSLIKE DISTANCE | |
| 15) TOUCH-TARGETING | |
| 16) HANDICAP SCORING | |
| 17) SWINGTEMPO | |
| 18) TEMPO TRAINING | |
| 19) TRUSWING™ COMPATIBLE | |
| 20) CUSTOM TARGETS | |
| 21) PRELOADED WITH 41,000 COURSES WORLDWIDE |
Sports Modes Comparison
| Garmin Approach S60 Sports Modes | Garmin Vivoactive 4 Sports Modes |
|---|---|
| 01) Running | 01) Strength Training |
| 02) Indoor Running | 02) Cardio Training |
| 03) Cycling | 03) Elliptical Training |
| 04) Indoor Cycling | 04) Stair Stepping |
| 05) Rowing | 05) Indoor Rowing |
| 06) Indoor Rowing | 06) Yoga |
| 07) Pool Swimming | 07) Running |
| 08) Skiing | 08) Treadmill Running |
| 09) Snowboarding | 09) Indoor Track Running |
| 10) XC Skiing | 10) Pilates |
| 11) Stand Up Paddleboarding | 11) Cycling |
| 12) Walking | 12) Indoor Cycling |
| 13) Golf Mode | 13) Pool Swimming |
| 14) Skiiing | |
| 15) Snowboarding | |
| 16) XC Skiing | |
| 17) Stand Up Paddleboarding | |
| 18) Rowing | |
| 19) Walking | |
| 20) Golf |
Main Reasons To Choose the Garmin Approach S60
1. Ten Extra Golf Features
Even though the Garmin Vivoactive 4 does have impressive golfing features built-in, it’s pretty clear that the Garmin Approach S60 is the better golf watch overall. To be more specific, you get 10 extra golf functions, namely:
- 41,000 Preloaded Courses
- Full Vector Maps
- Automatic course updates
- Playslike distance
- Touch-targeting
- Handicap score
- Swingtempo
- Tempo training
- TruSwing Compatibility
- Custom Targets
2. It's A Good Looking Watch
In our opinion, the Approach S60 is the better looking of the two watches. It could be the classic look of the numbers on the bezel or the traditional dials on the side of the watch. Long story short, the Approach 60 looks more like a classic watch, whereas the Vivoactive 4 looks more like an activity tracker.
Main Reasons To Choose The Garmin Vivoactive 4
1. Pulse Oximeter & Garmin Body Battery
The Pulse Oximeter on the Vivoactive 4 can be used to measure your blood-oxygen levels. It tells you how well your body is absorbing oxygen during the day and wen you sleep.
Garmin’s Body Battery score is like an overarching energy metric which helps determine when your body is drained and also when it is fully charged. It basically combines you heart rate data, training data and sleep data into one overarching statistic that can be pretty fun to track.
2 Built-In Music Storage
Simply put, the Garmin Vivoactive 4 can store up to 500 songs directly on the watch. The same cannot be said for the Approach S60. In addition, the Vivoactive 4 is also compatible with the following popular music apps:
- Spotify
- Deezer
- Amazon Music
- iHeart Radio
3. Payments From The Watch
If you choose the Vivoactive 4, you can leave your wallet at home during training sessions. This is because of the NFC payment technology baked into the watch. Just keep in mind that the current payment limit is $30 in the US.
4. Better Choice For Runners
It’s worth noting that the Garmin Approach S60 does include indoor running and outdoor running modes. However, the Vivoactive 4 has a few extra running specific benefits, namely:
- Barometric Altimeter
- Indoor Track Running
- Cadence
- Customized Running Workouts
- Compatible with Stryd Running Power Sensor
Collectively, these attributes make the Vivoactive 4 the more accomplished running watch.
5. Better Choice For Cyclists
Both watches include most of Garmin’s main cycling features, namely:
- Alerts when you reach your goals
- Indoor Cycling
- Outdoor Cycling
- Speed and cadence sensor support
- ANT+ Support
However, the Vivoactive 4 also includes support for:
- Garmin Varia Radar (Rear facing radar accessory)
- Garmin Varia Lights
Although these accessories aren’t required, they can make your cycling experience a bit safer if you do end up purchasing them.
6. Seven Extra Sports Modes
Given that the Approach S60 is technically a dedicated golf watch, it actually includes a surprising number of sports modes. With that being said, it still can’t match the number of sports modes found in the Vivoactive 4. In total, the S60 has 13 built-in sports modes, whereas the Vivoactive 4 has 20. These are the extra modes that are limited to the Vivoactive 4:
- Strength Training
- Cardio Training
- Elliptical Training
- Stair Stepping
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Indoor Tracking Running
7. Guided On Screen Workouts
The guided workouts built into the Vivoactive 4 are pretty impressive. You essentially get a visual preview of each exercise that you need to perform, while being guided from set to set during the workout. You can also download additional workouts if you need something new via the Garmin connect app.
Final Buying Tips
If you’re still undecided, these final buying tips may help you make a decision.
Go for the Garmin Approach S60 if:
- You’re an avid golfer
- You prefer the design
Go for the Garmin Vivoactive 4 if:
- You want the more well-rounded sports watch
- You want better value for money
- You’re into running or cycling
- You want the more accomplished activity tracker