Simple scoring or smart golf companion: which Garmin fits your game?

Display

The S50 wins here decisively. Its AMOLED screen is a major upgrade over the S12’s sunlight-readable display, with richer colours, sharper graphics and better visibility for detailed on-course information. If you regularly play in mixed light, like checking yardages at a glance, or simply prefer a more modern interface, the S50 feels far more premium. The S12 is still practical outdoors and perfectly usable in direct sunlight, but it is much more basic and less engaging. Winner: S50.

Performance

For pure golf GPS functionality, the S12 is excellent because it does one job very well: give you quick front/middle/back distances and course information with minimal distraction. It has preloaded 42,000+ courses and up to 30 hours of battery life in GPS mode, which is more than enough for most golfers. The S50 goes further with on-course features and wrist-based heart rate, which makes it more of a golf smartwatch than a simple GPS watch. If your idea of performance means speed, simplicity and reliability on the course, the S12 is arguably the cleaner tool. If it means having more data and extra features on and off the course, the S50 wins. Overall winner: S50, because it offers more capability without sacrificing core golf GPS performance.

Build quality and design

The S50 is the better-looking and more versatile watch. The slate aluminum bezel and black ComfortFit nylon band give it a more refined, premium feel, and it is easier to wear as an everyday smartwatch as well as a golf watch. The S12, by contrast, is functional and lightweight but clearly designed as a golf-first device rather than a style piece. If you want something that blends into daily life and looks more like a modern watch, the S50 takes this category. Winner: S50.

Battery life

The S12 wins battery life, and by a meaningful margin. Up to 30 hours in GPS mode is excellent for a golf watch and should comfortably cover long playing days, multiple rounds, or a weekend away without worrying about charging. The S50’s battery is not stated in the product title here, but AMOLED screens and smartwatch features typically draw more power than a simple GPS golf watch, so the S12 is the safer choice for endurance. If battery longevity is a priority, the S12 is the clear winner. Winner: S12.

Price and value for money

The S12 is the better value for most golfers. At £158.99, it costs £180.01 less than the S50, yet it still delivers the core essentials: Garmin GPS accuracy, 42,000+ preloaded courses and long battery life. That makes it a strong buy for golfers who want dependable yardages without paying for extras they may never use. The S50 at £339 is harder to justify unless you will actively use the AMOLED display, heart-rate tracking and extra on-course features. For pure value, the S12 wins comfortably. Winner: S12.

Game library/features

This is where the S50 pulls ahead. The S12 gives you the essentials: course mapping, yardages and a clean golf-first experience. That is enough for many players, but it does not try to help with broader training, health tracking or smartwatch-style convenience. The S50 adds wrist-based heart rate and more advanced on-course features, making it better suited to golfers who like to monitor effort, build habits and use their watch beyond the 18th green. While neither product is a launch monitor or simulator tool, the S50’s extra data and feature set make it the stronger all-round platform for a golfer who wants more insight from their tech. Winner: S50.

Overall user experience

The S12 is the easier watch to recommend for golfers who want a no-nonsense distance device. It is simple to use, has huge course coverage, and the battery life is excellent. You put it on, get your numbers, and play. The S50 is more impressive and more enjoyable if you like premium screens, extra features and a watch that can double as a lifestyle device. However, the S50’s higher price means you need to want those extras to get full value from it. For most golfers searching specifically for a golf GPS watch, the S12 offers the more focused and sensible experience. For golfers wanting the best overall product, the S50 is the more capable and polished watch.

Overall summary: The Garmin Approach S12 is the better buy for golfers who mainly want accurate, fast, long-lasting GPS yardages at the lowest sensible price. The Garmin Approach S50 is the better watch if you want a premium display, smarter everyday usability and extra on-course and health features. If your priority is to lower scores with straightforward course management, the S12 is the smarter value. If you want the nicer screen and a more advanced wearable, choose the S50.