| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Golf GPS watch |
| Series | Approach |
| Released | March 2021 |
| Price at launch | GBP 179.99 / USD 199.99 |
| Predecessor | Approach S10 |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Sizes | 43.7mm (small) |
| Colours | White, Black, Neo Tropic, Slate Gray, Granite Blue, Tidal Blue |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
Battery life is the reason to buy an S12, and it is a wide margin rather than a small one. Ten weeks in watch mode and 30 hours of GPS put it far beyond every AMOLED model in the range, which manage 10 to 16 days and 15 to 20 hours, so a golfer who plays weekly charges this watch a handful of times a season.
The memory-in-pixel screen is the trade that buys it. The display is sunlight-visible and button-driven at 175 by 175 pixels, and it shows yardages rather than a colour hole map. Shot distance is measured when the golfer marks the shot, where the AMOLED models detect it with AutoShot. What the S12 does carry is the full 43,000-course database, front, middle and back yardages, layups and doglegs, hazards, Green View with a manual pin, the digital scorecard and CT10 club tracking, which is the working set for most club golfers. At 34.1g it is also the lightest watch in the range.
Garmin Approach S12
Simple GPS golf watch that gives you front, middle and back distances on over 42,000 courses, with up to 30 hours of GPS golf between charges.
RRP $199.99
£118.00 / €144.97
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Garmin Approach S12 Also sold direct byWhat’s new versus the Approach S10
Hardware
- Larger 23 x 23mm memory-in-pixel display at 175 x 175 pixels, in a round 43.7mm case
- 20mm quick release straps, giving a choice of bands
- 125MB of storage
- Six colourways
Software
- Green View with a manual pin position
- Hazards and course targets on the hole
- Stat tracking for strokes, putts, greens and fairways
- Approach CT10 automatic club tracking through accessories
- Green contour data with a Garmin Golf membership
- Handicap calculation and leaderboards through the Garmin Golf app
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 23 x 23mm (0.9 x 0.9 inch) |
| Type | Sunlight-visible transflective memory-in-pixel |
| Resolution | 175 x 175 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Button operated |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 43.7mm (small) |
| Dimensions | 43.7 x 43.7 x 11.5mm |
| Weight | 34.1g |
| Strap material | Silicone, 20mm quick release |
| Wrist fit | 125 to 202mm circumference |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | GPS |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Storage | 125MB |
| Maps | 43,000 preloaded golf courses |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Watch | Up to 10 weeks |
| GPS | Up to 30 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner Garmin features hub.
Perform
- 43,000 preloaded courses with automatic CourseView updates
- Yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, and to layups and doglegs
- Hazards and course targets
- Green View with manual pin position
- Shot distance measured when the golfer marks the shot
- Digital scorecard with stat tracking for strokes, putts, greens and fairways
- Round timer and odometer
- Approach CT10 club tracking through accessories
- Green contour data with a Garmin Golf membership
- Tournament legal
Connect
- Pairs with the Garmin Golf app for handicap calculation and weekly leaderboards
- Time and date with GPS time sync and automatic daylight saving
- Sunrise and sunset times
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Golf | Golfing |
Garmin Approach S12
Simple GPS golf watch that gives you front, middle and back distances on over 42,000 courses, with up to 30 hours of GPS golf between charges.
RRP $199.99
£118.00 / €144.97
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Garmin Approach S12 Also sold direct byQuick answers
When was the Garmin Approach S12 released?
Garmin released the Approach S12 in March 2021. The launch price was GBP 179.99 or USD 199.99.
Is the Approach S12 waterproof?
Approach S12 has a water rating of 5 ATM.
How many golf courses does the Approach S12 have?
Approach S12 has 43,000 preloaded golf courses with automatic CourseView updates. It shows yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, layups, doglegs and hazards, and green contour data requires a Garmin Golf membership.
Does the Approach S12 have a touchscreen?
No, Approach S12 is button operated. It has a sunlight-visible memory-in-pixel display at 175 x 175 pixels.
What size and weight is the Approach S12?
Approach S12 measures 43.7 x 43.7 x 11.5mm and weighs 34.1g. It takes 20mm quick release straps.
How long does the Approach S12 battery last?
Garmin rates Approach S12 for up to 10 weeks in watch mode and up to 30 hours in GPS mode.
Further reading
- Garmin Approach S44 specifications
- Garmin Approach S72 specifications
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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