Before 2020 came along, the Garmin Approach S60 sat at the very top of the golf watch food chain.
However, it has since been usurped by the Garmin Approach S62, which has more golfing features, more fitness features, a better screen and a much bigger battery.
Despite these obvious improvements, you might find it difficult to choose between the two, especially if you opt for the base model S60, which is about 100 dollars cheaper than the S62.To help you figure out which one to choose, we are going to uncover all the key similarities, all the key differences, and provide a few simple buying tips at the end.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Summary of Main Differences between the Garmin S60 and the Garmin S62
- Windspeed & Direction – From a golfing perspective, this is by far the biggest difference between the two watches. The Approach S62 gives you reasonably accurate measurements of windspeed and direction, which are hugely important variables during most rounds of golf.
- More Sports Modes – The Approach S62 has 5 more sports modes (18) than the original S60 (13).
- Larger, higher resolution screen – The S62 has a slightly larger screen, and the resolution has also been upgraded from 240×240 px to 260×260 px.
- The GPS battery life is twice as long – The original S60 has a relatively short GPS battery life (10 hours). The S62 rectifies this with a 20 hour GPS battery life.
- Pulse Oximeter – The S62 has a pulse oximeter which can measure your blood oxygenation levels.
- Improved Wrist-Based HRM – The S62 has Garmin’s elevate V3 HRM built-in. This is more reliable than the previous HRM found in the S60.
- Body Battery Score – The S62 gives you access to Garmin’s body battery score. This is basically a wholistic measurement of your energy levels, based on sleep data, training data and stress levels.
- Payments from the Watch – With the Garmin S62 you can make payments without carrying your wallet, using NFC payment technology. Just keep in mind that the payment limit is $30 in the US, so don’t splash out.
Key Similarities - Garmin S60 vs Garmin S62
Garmin S60
See PriceGarmin S62
See Price
Key Differences - Garmin Approach S60 vs S62
Sports Mode Comparison
Main Reasons To Choose the Garmin S60
1. You can save about $100
The recommended retail price of the S60 (standard version) is about 100 dollars less than the S62.
This is a compelling reason to opt for the older version, especially if you can find it in on a promotion somewhere, and save even more money.
That being said, price is literally the only reason to go for the older S60. The S62 is either equal or better in every single way, except for the more expensive price tag.
Main Reasons To Choose the Garmin S62
1. It's a better golf watch
There are 3 main reasons the S62 is a better golf watch than the original S60.
1 – Windspeed + Wind Direction: This is literally the biggest advancement from a golf perspective. Understanding wind dynamics on the course is challenging at the best of times. With the Approach S62 on your wrist, there’s no more guessing required.
2 – Virtual Caddie: This feature uses your shot data from previous rounds, along with elevation, wind and the layout of the hole to determine which club you should use and where you should aim on your next shot. It’s literally like having your very own, super reliable, data driven caddie.
3 – Extended GPS Battery Life: With the Garmin S60, you can only really get 1 round in on a full charge. You might be able to squeeze 36 holes on one charge in a single day, but it would be touch and go.
Fortunately, the GPS battery life of the S62 is literally twice as long. This should make it pretty easy to fit in 2 rounds during the week, on a single charge. Whichever way you look at it, the longer battery life is an advantage, and it makes using the watch a lot more convenient when you don’t have to worry about battery life the whole time.
2. It's a better fitness tracker
There are 2 main reasons the Garmin S62 is a better fitness companion than the original S60.
1 – Pulse Oximeter – The Pulse Ox built into the upgraded HRM on the Approach S62 can measure your blood oxygen levels. This is useful if you are exercising at altitude, and it also helps the watch determine your stress levels.
2 – Body Battery Score – This metric is an approximation of your energy levels throughout the day so you can find the best times for activity and rest. It uses a combination of sleep data, training data and stress data, and combines it into one over arching energy score called body battery. It’s a pretty cool feature for an activity tracker to have, and it’s only available on the Approach S62.
3. It's a better sports watch
We’ve already provided the full comparison of sports. Just to reiterate, the Garmin S62 can track all the same sports as the Garmin S60, and it can also track the following extra activitity modes:
- Cardio Training
- Elliptical Training
- Stair Stepping
- Yoga
- Indoor Track Running
Of these extra sports modes, cardio and yoga are the ones you will miss the most if you go for the cheaper S60, rather than the S62.
Final Thoughts
As promised, here are a few super simple buying tips that you can use to help make a final decision. Ultimately, you should…
Go for the Garmin S60 if:
- You’re on a tight budget
- You can find it on promotion, and thereby save even more money
Go for the Garmin S62 if:
- You want the better fitness activity tracker
- You want the better golf watch
- You can afford the extra $100 required to to get the upgrade
Resources Used In This Post
Official Garmin Approach S60 Product Page | Official Garmin Approach S62 Product Page | Garmin Virtual Caddie
Also, we just want to say thanks to the team at holetheputt.com that helped us with some of the research for this article.