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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesGarmin announced the Approach S72 on October 6, 2026, as its new flagship golf smartwatch. Its golf-specific features and everyday smartwatch tools make it an appealing release; I’m still disappointed that the announcement wasn’t for a new MARQ. Garmin’s announcement and the newsroom listings reviewed here did not include one, and they provide no future MARQ launch date.
What Garmin announced for the Approach S72
The S72 comes in 43 mm and 47 mm sizes, with an AMOLED display, titanium bezel, sapphire lens and ComfortFit fabric band. Garmin says it adds real-time heart-rate information and on-wrist swing metrics, including hand speed, backswing length and wrist rotation. The announcement also lists driving-range tracking, putting analytics, aerial imagery and green reading on select courses.
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There is an important membership condition: Garmin says green reading, putting analytics and aerial imagery require an active Garmin Golf membership. Green reading is also limited to select courses. These are features Garmin announced, not independently tested results.
Beyond golf, Garmin lists a speaker and microphone for calls and basic tasks, a built-in flashlight with white and red light, and wellness features including stress tracking, Body Battery energy monitoring and advanced sleep monitoring. Garmin says the watch is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or monitor medical conditions.
#1 Best Overall
- Premium golf smartwatch features a lightweight titanium bezel, durable sapphire lens, ComfortFit fabric band, built-in flashlight, speaker and microphone
- Preloaded with 43,000+ full-color CourseView maps; option to get an enhanced view of the shot ahead with aerial imagery (requires a Garmin Golf membership)
- Up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours of battery life in golf activity mode, so you can play round after round
- Look back on your round to see how heart rate affected your performance and start to see trends in how your biometric data and score relate (data presented is intended to be a close estimation of metrics tracked)
- Gain a better understanding of your swing during your range session and after your round with swing metrics, which include hand speed, backswing length, wrist rotation and more
Price and battery claims
Garmin’s October 6, 2026 announcement gives a starting suggested retail price of $799.99. It says the larger model offers up to 20 hours of battery life on the course and up to 16 days with GPS turned off. Those are manufacturer figures, not independent measurements; the release does not state the corresponding battery figure for the 43 mm model.
Why I was hoping for a MARQ instead
The S72 is built around golf, and its announced mix of swing metrics, course tools and smartwatch features makes that specialization clear. My interest was in seeing Garmin announce a new MARQ: a different kind of release, rather than another golf-first watch. That preference is personal, not a claim that golfers broadly wanted the same thing.
Rank #2
- Stunning 1.4” AMOLED display brings more than 43,000 preloaded full-color CourseView maps to life on your wrist
- Look good on and off the course with a lightweight, stylish design and ceramic bezel
- Battery life: up to 16 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode
- Enhanced golf course maps allow you to see intricate details with the ability to pan and zoom for narrowing in on your target distance
- Improved virtual caddie feature shows your shot dispersion data and suggests a club based on a variety of factors, including your historical swing data, elevation, wind speed, wind direction and more
Garmin’s official Approach S72 announcement and the Sports and Fitness and Outdoor press release archives reviewed here do not announce a new MARQ. That absence does not establish that Garmin has cancelled the line, or that a new model is imminent. There is no announced date to plan around.
What to take from the announcement
If you want a golf-focused Garmin watch, the S72 is the product Garmin has actually announced, with a stated starting price of $799.99 and membership requirements for several listed golf features. If what you wanted was a new MARQ, this announcement does not answer when—or whether—one will arrive.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Slim design with a stunning 1.2” color AMOLED display that brings 43,000+ preloaded courses to life on your wrist
- Get distance to the front, middle and back of the green and navigate bunkers, water hazards and layups with hazard view
- Pair with optional Approach CT1 or CT10 club trackers (sold separately) for shot-tracking capabilities, so you have a clearer picture of which parts of your game to focus on
- Easily keep score as you play, and upload to the Garmin Golf smartphone app for advanced stat tracking and handicap calculation
- Leave your phone in the cart and get smart notifications sent to your wrist — including emails, texts and alerts when paired with your iPhone or Android smartphone
Rank #4
- New round watch design with a high-resolution sunlight-readable display
- Battery life: up to 30 hours in GPS Mode
- More than 42,000 courses preloaded from around the world
- Keep score right on the watch and upload directly to the Garmin Golf app (when paired with a compatible smartphone) to participate in weekly leaderboards
- Automatically keep track of your score and how far you hit with each club with compatible Approach CT10 club tracking sensors (sold separately)
Rank #3
- Stunning 1.2” color AMOLED display brings 43,000+ preloaded courses to life on your wrist
- Be comfortable on and off the course with the lightweight ComfortFit nylon strap
- Battery life: up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 15 hours in GPS mode
- Get distance to the front, middle and back of the green and navigate bunkers, water hazards and layups with hazard view
- Playslike Distance feature tells you how far each shot truly is, with adjusted yardage for elevation changes
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
