We have not tested this product ourselves; this page summarises the maker's published specifications.

The Garmin Approach S40 is a lightweight (43 grams) golf GPS watch. See Garmin Approach S60 vs S40 or all four models in Approach S10 vs S20 vs S40 vs S60.

The S40 features a 1.2 inch (240×240 pixels) color touchscreen display made of chemically strengthened glass. Garmin lists up to 15 hours of battery life in GPS mode.

This watch is also compatible with Garmin’s Approach CT10 automatic club tracking system.

This watch comes pre-loaded with 41,000 courses from around the world. The Approach S40 comes features such as:

  • AutoShot Detection: The Approach S40 detects when you hit a ball and starts tracking from that spot. When you get to your ball the watch will diplay your distances to the green – along with how far you hit your tee shot.
  • Green View: When you are hitting an approach shot or a shot on a par 3, the Garmin Approach S40 will show you the distances to the front, center, and back of the green. You can zoom into the green and move the pin around on the watch to adjust the yardage to the pin.
  • Distances to Hazards: When you are on a hole that has hazards in play, simply press the down arrow on the watch to get distances to all hazards on the course. 
  • Live Scoring: The Garmin Approach S40 features a live scorecard that will keep track of how far over or under par you are.
  • Pedometer: When you connect to Garmin’s Fitness app – you get more features such as a pedometer, heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and more!
  • Text, Call & Email Updates: The Approach S40 can connect to your phone and display any texts, phone call notifications, or email updates that come to your phone.
Where to buy

Garmin Approach S40, Stylish GPS Golf Smartwatch, Lightweight with Touchscreen Display, Black

Garmin Approach S40 Highlights

Style

The Garmin Approach S40 has a modern design with a full color display and red accents.

Display

The display of the Garmin Approach S40 is 1.2 inch color touchscreen display, 240×240 pixels, made of chemically strengthened glass.

The screen shows hazards, bunkers and greens in color on the course map.

Battery Life

Garmin lists battery life of up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 15 hours in GPS mode.

Garmin Approach S40 Watch Hardware

The Garmin Approach S40 features a 1.2 inch color touchscreen display.

The watch comes in a black stainless model with a black silicone band, a stainless steel version with a gray band or in a light gold model with a white band.

There is only one button on the top right of the watch with a red ring around it.

On the back of the watch there is a place to charge your watch. You will also find the quick release pins that are apart of the silicone band so you can swap out other 22mm bands.

The Approach S40 weighs 43 grams.

Garmin Approach S40 Watch Software

The watch face can be changed from the watch settings.

Swiping up or down will let you scroll through various widgets oladed on the Approach S40.

The widgets included are:

  • Notifications
  • Steps Taken
  • Last Recorded Round
  • Calendar
  • Sunrise/Sunset
  • Weather

If you press and hold the red button the S40 will give you access to the golf settings, do not disturb toggle, the lock screen, watch face, and phone connection button.

There is a gear icon button at the bottom of the list that gives you access to auto-lock, back-light toggle, activity tracking toggle, manage widgets, user profile, language, time, units, and reset.

Golf settings include:

  • Scoring
  • Start Tracking
  • Club Prompt
  • Scoring Method
  • Handicap Scoring
  • Driver Distances
  • Major Numbers
  • Club Sensors

When you are ready to play, go to the main display showing the watch face. Press the cog once and you should see an area that says “play golf” and a flag icon. Tap that icon and you can get started. The numbers around the watch display will light up and show you what hole you are on.

The Garmin Approach S40 comes with 41,000 golf courses pre-loaded.

On the first tee, the watch displays the hole number, distances to the front, center and back of the green, a green overview, and distance to the flag. You can tap on the green to move the flag around and get a more accurate yardage to the flag. 

Finding Layups

Tap the down arrow at the bottom of the display and more details of the approach will show. You should see key distances including a 100, 150, 200 and 250 layup. You will also have distances to the bunkers, water and other hazards on the course.

By pressing the red button while playing a hole you will see the options to change the hole, scorecard, round info (distance, steps, time played), measure your last shot, save your location, and view the sunrise and sunset times. You can also end your round from this menu.

Tracking Your Swings

As you play your round, each time you hit your ball your swings are counted and captured with large plus and minus signs to change the number of swings, in-case there is a misread. You can go back after your round and edit everything if you don’t want to mess with it on the course.

Other Golf Modes

If you want to play a different type of game you can tap the four color dots below the words “Play Golf”. You will have the options for:

  • Activity
  • Stopwatch
  • Timer
  • Alarm Clock
  • Phone
  • TruSwing

Truswing is another Garmin sensor that you can buy to help dial in your swing. 

When you are using the watch for another activity, your watch can track your time, distance, pace, calories burned, lap time, steps, pace, speed and average speed. You can pick what data is tracked.

Sleep Tracking

If you wear your watch at night, the watch will automatically track when you sleep. You will have to sync your phone with the Garmin Connect.

You will see the data that is recorded when you wake up! 

Where to buy

Garmin Approach S40, Stylish GPS Golf Smartwatch, Lightweight with Touchscreen Display, Black

Garmin Approach S40 Golf Watch Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Features stylish metal bezel
  • 1.2-inch, 240 x 240 screen
  • 5 ATM (up to 50 metres) water resistance
  • Preloaded with 41,000 courses worldwide
  • Stat tracking (strokes, putts per round, greens and fairways hit)
  • Garmin AutoShot
  • TruSwing compatible
  • Tracks Cycling

Cons

  • Requires the Garmin Golf app for updates
  • Priced above entry-level golf watches

Frequently Asked Questions About The Garmin Approach S40

Is Garmin S40 Waterproof?

The Garmin Approach S40 is water resistant up to 5 ATM. This means you can swim, take a shower and get caught in the rain with this watch. However, you can’t take it scuba-diving!

What Is The Difference Between The Garmin S40 and S60?

Both the Garmin Approach S40 and Garmin Approach S60 have the same golf and fitness features. The S60 compensates for slope and has more features overall. The most notible is the touch target feature – where you can touch the screen and you will get the distance from your spot to the target on the screen. This is good for getting exact layup numbers on a par 5 when you are navigating bunkers in the fairway.

How Do I Update My Garmin S40?

On your computer, install the Garmin Express software. On your smart phone, install the Garmin Golf app. it provides easy access to multiple services, including software updates and course updates. 

Yes the Garmin Approach S40 is tournament legal as long as you don’t use any slope adjusting technology. For example, the Garmin S60 has features that are not legal in tournament conditions.

Garmin Approach S40 Watch Conclusion

The Garmin Approach S40 is a lightweight golf GPS watch with 41,000 preloaded courses, a 1.2 inch color touchscreen, AutoShot detection, a live scorecard and 5 ATM water resistance. It is also TruSwing compatible and works with Garmin's Golf app.

View the Approach S40 on Amazon.

Read more golf blogs such as, how to make your own golf yardage book.