Golf Buddy Aim W10 vs Garmin S60

Golf watches can change the way you play and perceive the game. Imagine having a virtual caddie that you carry all the time while playing.

Well, no need to imagine anymore. Golf GPS watches are evolving every day to include features we never thought we’d have on the course.

Two of the most renowned watches on the market are the S60 from Garmin and the Aim W10 from Golf Buddy. The W10 GPS golf watch costs a lot less, but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices features. Meanwhile, the Garmin packs some features that’ll put you a mile closer to Tiger Woods.

Here’s a complete comparison of Golf Buddy Aim W10 vs Garmin S60 GPS devices.

GPS Golf Watch Comparison in a Nutshell

If you’re in a hurry to know the final verdict, let me make it brief for you. The significant difference between both GPS golf watches is the price. The Garmin Approach is more expensive because it has some features that the W10 lacks, including the sleep monitor, touch targeting, and manual club tracking.

Not to mention, it has modes for many other sports, including swimming, jogging, and cycling. That way, you can use it outside of the course and use Quick-Fit bands to change its aesthetic.

Of course, for the high price, I’d take any extra uses you give me!

Does that mean the Garmin Approach S60 is better than the W10 golf watch?

No, it depends on your preference and your budget. If you can live without the extra advanced features and pay less, the W10 is the wise choice for you. It has all the basics you need, and it’s a durable golf GPS watch with a reasonable battery life.

The Garmin Approach S60 – An Overview

More than 40,000 preloaded golf courses, a fully waterproof design, distances to the front with green view and a color screen with touch technology. What more could you ask for?

The Garmin Approach S60 has taken the market by storm since its launching, and for all good reasons. It’s more expensive than most similar watches on the market, but that’s only because it offers you the best features money can buy you. It took the excellent features of Garmin Approach S40, like the Green view and distances to the front of the green. And made them better.

Its 1.2-inch display screen is large enough for comfortable vision, and it’s designed to be bright in full sunlight without a problem. The watch’s slope measurements feature has accurate distances to hazards and to the green locations, like the back of the green. Plus, it charges in short to no time, offering you two complete rounds before its battery starts needing food.

Last but least, the Garmin is compatible with Quick-Fit bands, which means you can buy a few and change the color according to the outfit of the day. Not all golf watches can boast trendy looks outside of the course, but the S60 GPS device is one of a kind. It’s also highly comfortable and light on your wrist.

It doesn’t hurt to look good while playing, does it?

The Golf Buddy Aim W10 GPS Watch – An Overview

The strongest selling point of the Aim W10 is its competitive price. I won’t go all the way and say it’s inexpensive, but it’s perfectly priced for the value it offers. Its 1.3-inch display screen is also a tad larger than the S60 showing your shot distance and digital scorecard.

The W10 comes with a scorecard mode that helps you keep track of your score without having to write anything down. You’ll also be able to keep a record of your progress because it shows your score history.

In addition to that, the W10 comes fully equipped with 40,000 preloaded golf courses with automatic hole recognition and course detection.

On the topic of holes, the Golf Buddy watch has a unique hole layout feature that gives you an insight into the hole’s parameters. You’ll be able to see the distances to the pin, green, and all hazards around the hole. There’s also zooming available if you want to see the entire hole on your screen.

Generally, the W10 offers excellent value for the price. It comes with all the basic features you need, and it has a couple of advanced features that are worth the shot. It doesn’t have all the options the S60 has, but the price difference says it all.

Golf Buddy Aim W10 Vs Garmin Approach S60 – The Full Comparison

Now that we have the overviews out of the way, we can get into the nitty-gritty and compare both watches in detail. Here’s a complete comparison of the watches’ performance, technical features, and battery life.

Performance

Golf Buddy Aim W10

The W10’s performance on the course is something to speak of. Firstly, it’s highly comfortable to wear for long hours. It won’t get in the way of your eyesight when swinging, and you won’t feel like you’re wearing something.

Comfort aside, the watch changes its distance gradually when you’re moving. That way, it places your location precisely, not with every ten steps as most watches do. Giving you accurate shot distance for each shot, no matter where the pin placement is.

The hole layout feature in the watch allows you to aim at blind shots and still get them right. You’ll be able to see the hole and its surroundings clearly on the screen, increasing your chances of scoring.

Garmin S60

The Garmin S60 improves your experience on the course in ways you’d never thought possible. It loads the pre loaded info on 40,000 courses in mere minutes, and the yardages are exceptionally accurate. It’ll show you the front, back, and center yardages, covering all the green.

You probably think these features are still not enough for the high price, and I agree with this one.

The feature that’ll convince you to pay is the mapping feature. There’s no other golf watch on the market that offers the same technology. It allows you to track your exact yardages to rule out water hazards and bunkers. Besides, you’ll be able to zoom into the hole and explore all its different points.

The W10’s hole layout feature is a bit close to this one, but it doesn’t offer the same options. Still, it gives it a head start into this competition.

Technical Features

Golf Buddy Aim W10

The W10 comes with pre loaded 40,000 golf courses, and their updates are available for no extra fees through the Golf Buddy smartphone application.

When you start using it, the watch first identifies the golf course automatically. If it doesn’t recognize the course until you walk down the first fairway, you’ll need to wait until you’re on the second tee for it to load the course.

The watch’s pedometer will measure your steps and the calories you burn as you walk. Your smartphone probably already does that, but it’s still a nice quality to have.

The watch has four screens. The first one shows the shot distance calculator to the front, back, and center of the green. The second one shows the hole with distance rings from your current location. Meanwhile, the third one shows the hazards, and the fourth one allows pin placement, also showing the green.

If you like to have your mobile phone on you while playing, the watch can send notifications via Bluetooth once it’s paired and connected.

Garmin S60

When it comes to technical features, the Garmin Approach S60 is hard to compare. It carries an AutoShot feature that records the distance and precise location of each detected shot. That way, you can analyze your score and stats after each round when you log your score.

The S60 also offers touch targeting technology that shows you the distance when you click on any point you want to check on the hole map.

Not only that; there’s a Green View feature that shows you the shape of the green. Through this feature, you’ll be able to manually identify and mark the pin placement. In the end, you’ll be getting precise measurements. It also has a slope adjusted GPS mode to really dial in that shot and improve your game.

When you pair the S60 with the Garmin smartphone application, it’ll show the weather forecast for the day. The watch also connects to your phone and enables you to receive notifications for emails, calls, and texts.

Last but not least, the Garmin comes fully equipped with swimming, cycling, and running functions. This way, you can make use of the watch outside the golf course.

Smart Watch Display

Golf Buddy Aim W10

The W10’s display is comfortable for golfing in all weather conditions. It comes with several dimming settings so that you can adjust it according to the lighting around you. However, users usually complain that it’s a bit dim in bright light.

You can get around that by using the motion settings, though, They allow the display to brighten up when you tap it or rotate it.

Generally, the display isn’t one of the W10’s impressive features. It’s pretty basic, which is expected out of the affordable price.

Garmin Approach S60

The Garmin golf watch display is one of its praise-worthy features. It’s not too different from displays you usually see on golf watches, but its sun readability seals the deal for me.

The bright sunlight is the main issue when using golf watches because it causes the display to dim. So, it’ll be hard to see the gadgets clearly. The S60 simply doesn’t have this issue, thanks to its smart, sun-readable design.

Some users complained that you sometimes need to click twice on the features, but that’s the way it is with most touch-technology watches, anyway.

Battery Life

Golf Buddy Aim W10

According to Golf Buddy, the W10 offers 11 hours of battery life. Some users who tried the watch confirm the claim, saying the watch works for more than 10 hours on a single charge.

The battery life goes down to eight hours on the GPS mode, though.

Garmin Approach S60

Users often complain about the Garmin S60’s battery, saying it should’ve offered a longer life seeing as the watch is more expensive than its competitors. The watch only offers 10 hours in GPS mode, but it can stay on a single charge for 10 days in watch mode.

Some users were obviously not impressed, and I’ll have to agree on this one. For the high price, you’d think the watch will stay awake for longer than that.

The Pros and Cons of the Golf Buddy Aim W10

Now that we’re done comparing both products, let’s see the pros and cons of each one of them. This way, you’ll be able to rule out the watch that doesn’t have what you’re looking for.

Smart Watch Features Pros

• Automatic course detection
• 40,000 pre loaded golf courses
• Automatic green undulation for loaded courses
• Stat Tracking
• Digital Scorecard
• Built-in LCD full-color screen
• Long-lasting lithium battery included in the purchase
• Front Middle and Back yardages
• Bluetooth connection available for iOS and Android devices
• Zooming function available
• Water-proof body for downpours and storms
• Both Bluetooth and Micro USB connections are available
• Fitness tracking pedometer calculates your steps and burned calories

Cons

• The green undulation isn’t available for all preloaded courses
• No sun readability in the display

The Pros and Cons of the Garmin Approach S60

Smart Watch Features Pros

• The display is readable under the bright sunlight
• Full-color touch display
• More than 40,000 courses preloaded
• Wind Speed and Direction
• Compatible with Quick-Fit colorful bands
• Green View to show shape of the green
• Front Middle and Back yardages
• Stat Tracking
• Digital scorecard
• Waterproof to protect against storms and heavy rain
• Sleep monitor feature available
• Fitness tracking for Swimming, cycling, running, and snowboarding modes are available
• Manual club tracking is available
• Touch targeting feature available
• Automatic shot tracking

Cons

• The watch is more expensive than most similar ones
• The battery should’ve been longer considering the high price

Golf GPS Watch Verdict

If you want the final verdict, the choice between the two renowned GPS golf watches depends primarily on your preference.

The Garmin S60 is loaded with features that you can’t find in the W10, but you’ll pay for each one of them, no thanks to its exceptionally high price.

To give you an idea of what you’ll be missing if you go for the W10, it doesn’t have the manual club tracking, Green View, automatic shot tracking, countdown timer, or touch targeting features that are found in the S60.

If you’re willing to pay a lot, the Garmin S60 is the obvious better choice. If you don’t want to poke a hole through your wallet, it’s better to buy the Aim W10. It still has all the basic features you need, plus some advanced options like the hole layout.