🆕 2026 Rankings Now Available

You're viewing our archived 2025 picks. See our updated rankings for the latest recommendations.

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The Garmin Approach S62 was the gold standard for golf GPS watches in 2025. With 42,000+ preloaded courses, a full-color mapping display, Green View with moveable pin placement, Virtual Caddie powered by Garmin's AutoShot round analyzer, and comprehensive health and fitness tracking, the S62 delivered a complete package that no competitor could match at its price. The stunning AMOLED display is crisp and readable in any light, wrapped in a premium build that looks as good off the course as on it. For golfers who want the most capable GPS watch without stepping into the $1,000+ smartwatch tier, the S62 was the clear pick.

The Garmin Approach S70 features a large, bright AMOLED display that sets a new standard for readability on the golf course. In direct sunlight — the condition that exposes the weakness of most GPS watch screens — the S70 remains crisp and clear at a glance. Full course mapping with hazard overlays, Green View, and Garmin's most polished watch design make the S70 the premium choice for golfers who refuse to squint. It carries all of the S62's GPS capabilities wrapped in a larger, more refined package. If smartphone-level screen quality on your wrist matters to you, the S70 delivers it.

The Garmin Approach S42 is the right answer for golfers who want a reliable GPS watch without paying for features they won't use. It covers the essentials cleanly: 42,000+ preloaded courses, a 38mm color touchscreen, front, back, and center distances to the green, hazard and layup distances, and health tracking for daily wear. The 38mm case is trim and comfortable on smaller wrists. It doesn't have Virtual Caddie or the large AMOLED display of the S62, but for golfers who just want accurate GPS data on their wrist at a fair price, the S42 delivers everything that matters.

The Shot Scope V5 solves a problem that GPS watches with manual shot tracking never fully address: remembering to press a button on every shot. The V5's automatic shot detection records every shot without any input from the golfer — it simply works in the background while you play. Pair that with excellent GPS accuracy, clear hazard and layup distances, and a clean easy-to-read display, and the V5 is the definitive pick for data-driven golfers who want to understand their game without adding any friction to their round. After 18 holes, the companion app delivers a complete picture of how you played.

The Bushnell Ion Elite strips golf GPS down to exactly what most recreational golfers actually need: clear yardages, big buttons, and zero learning curve. Hazard and layup distances auto-populate on every hole without any setup or scrolling. The display is large and high-contrast. There's no subscription required — no ongoing fees, no account to manage, no app you have to remember to sync. Just charge it, put it on, and play. For golfers who find GPS watches with full mapping and virtual caddies more confusing than helpful, the Ion Elite is the right tool.

Close, But Not Quite

These GPS watches are genuinely excellent — they just didn't edge out our 2025 category winners. Here's exactly why, and who they might actually be the right pick for.

The Garmin Approach S12 is a capable entry-level GPS watch that covers the basics well — front, back, and center distances, 42,000+ courses, and a simple interface. It nearly took Best Budget on Garmin pedigree and price alone. But the S42 wins because its color touchscreen and slightly larger feature set are worth the extra $50 for most golfers stepping into the GPS watch category. The S12 remains the right pick if you want the absolute cheapest Garmin GPS watch that still does the job reliably.

The Voice Caddie T9 offers automatic shot tracking alongside a clean interface and solid GPS accuracy, making it a legitimate contender in the data-driven golfer category. It nearly challenged the Shot Scope V5 for the shot tracking crown. The V5 wins because its automatic detection is more consistent and its post-round analytics are deeper. The T9 is the right choice if you also want voice distance readouts — the T9's audio feature is genuinely useful for golfers who prefer ears-up play.

The Garmin Approach G12 is a clip-on GPS device rather than a traditional watch, which makes it a different kind of simple: clip it to your bag, belt, or glove and glance at your yardage. No wrist required. For golfers who don't want to wear a watch at all, it's the most friction-free GPS option available. It didn't take Most User Friendly because the Bushnell Ion Elite offers more on-wrist convenience with hazard distances and a more complete hole view — but the G12 is the correct pick for anyone who has already decided a watch isn't for them.