Garmin Approach S72: Features, Battery Life & What's New
October 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Garmin has launched a new flagship golf watch. The Approach S72 was announced on 6 October 2026 and went on sale a few days later.
It is built for golfers, but it is also an everyday smartwatch. You get course data, swing metrics and putting tools, plus heart rate, sleep and stress tracking.
This guide covers what is new, what needs a paid membership, and who should look at it. VitalHub has not tested the S72 yet. Everything below comes from Garmin's announcement and published specifications.
Garmin Approach S72 at a glance
| Sizes | 43 mm and 47 mm |
|---|---|
| Display | 43 mm: 1.3-inch AMOLED (416 x 416) · 47 mm: 1.4-inch AMOLED (454 x 454) |
| Bezel and lens | Titanium bezel, sapphire lens (both sizes) |
| Band | ComfortFit fabric band (both sizes) |
| Smartwatch battery | 43 mm: up to 10 days · 47 mm: up to 16 days |
| Golf GPS battery | 43 mm: up to 15 hours · 47 mm: up to 20 hours |
| Courses | 43,000+ preloaded |
| Storage | 64 GB, four times the Approach S70 |
What's new on the S72
Heart rate on the course
This is the headline addition. The S72 shows your heart rate in real time and tracks how it changes before and after each shot. After the round, you can review the trends. Golf Monthly describes it as a first for Garmin's golf watches.
Swing metrics from your wrist
The watch measures hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation and more, straight from the wrist. You do not need an extra sensor on your club.
Green reading and putting analysis
On supported courses, green reading shows break direction and average slope. After the round, the Garmin Golf app shows putting analytics such as speed bias, direction bias and make rate.
Aerial imagery
Real imagery of each hole helps with layup and safe-miss decisions.
Driving range tracking
Range sessions are logged to Garmin Connect, so practice counts too.
A speaker and microphone
The S72 can take phone calls and voice commands. Garmin says it is its first golf smartwatch with a speaker and microphone.
A flashlight
There is a built-in flashlight with adjustable white light and a red light. It is handy for finding gear in the dark.
ECG
Spec listings show a Garmin ECG app on the S72. The S70 does not have one. ECG features are not available in every region, so check Garmin's site for your market before relying on it.
What needs a Garmin Golf membership
This is the catch. Several of the best features need an active paid Garmin Golf membership:
- Green reading
- Aerial imagery
- Putting analytics in the app
- Green contours
The watch works without it, but you will not get the full experience. Factor the membership into your decision.
Everyday health features
Outside golf, the S72 behaves like a Garmin smartwatch. It tracks:
- Wrist-based heart rate
- Stress
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Sleep
- Strength and mobility activity profiles
Garmin states that the watch is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or monitor medical conditions. If wrist heart rate accuracy matters to you, read our guide on how accurate smartwatches are.
Battery life explained
- 47 mm: up to 16 days as a smartwatch, up to 20 hours in golf GPS mode
- 43 mm: up to 10 days as a smartwatch, up to 15 hours in golf GPS mode
A typical round of golf lasts a few hours, so on paper either size should cover several rounds between charges. Real-world results will depend on how much you use the AMOLED display and GPS. Independent testing will show how these claims hold up.
Build, sizes and colours
The S72 uses a lightweight titanium bezel and a sapphire lens. It comes on a new ComfortFit fabric band. The retailer comparison for the S70 notes it used a ceramic bezel and a silicone strap, so the S72 is a clear step up in materials.
There are four launch colourways, including Carbon Gray with Heritage Bronze (43 mm) and Silver with Citron (47 mm). For a watch you wear all day, the 43 mm is a good fit for smaller wrists. The 47 mm gives you the bigger screen and longer battery.
Is the Garmin Approach S72 for you?
A good fit if you:
- Play golf regularly and want course data on your wrist
- Like the idea of swing metrics and on-course heart rate
- Want one watch for golf and everyday tracking
- Prefer an AMOLED screen and a premium titanium build
Think twice if you:
- Do not want a paid membership for the best golf features
- Only need basic distances. A simpler golf watch will do the job
- Want a multisport adventure watch. Our Garmin Fenix 9 review covers Garmin's flagship for that
- Mostly want everyday health tracking. See our smartwatch guide for biohackers
Sources
- Garmin – Approach S72 announcement
- Garmin – Approach S72 product page (43 mm)
- Garmin – Approach S72 product page (47 mm)
- Golf Monthly – New Garmin Approach S72
- Notebookcheck – Garmin releases new smartwatch with ECG, flashlight and AMOLED display
- Garmin Rumors wiki – Approach S72
Frequently asked questions
Affiliate disclosure: VitalHub may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. This article is based on Garmin's announcement and published specifications. We have not tested the Approach S72 yet. This article is not medical advice.