Garmin S44 Vs Garmin S42 Review & Comparison 2025

Garmin S42 Vs Garmin S44

Garmin has finally come out with its new watches for the 2025 season and we are not disappointed.

The lower cost S44 is available for only $300 and it marks a significant upgrade from its predecessor the S42.

The S42 has now been discontinued but you should be able to pick one up quite cheaply second hand or refurbished online.

Garmin S42 Overview

S42 Watch 2

It may not feel like it but the Garmin S42 has been around since 2021 and was the successor to the S40 which itself only came out in 2020.

The S42 didn’t bring that much to the table besides adding a more sturdy and rugged look alongside a more sturdy glass frontage and an improved battery life.

It did everything you would expect from a mid level watch. It had distances to front middle and back of the green that showed on the colour touch screen as well as having the distances to hazards and the hazard lengths.

The graphics were ok but quickly became outdated with the release of the beastly S70, which remains the leading Golf watch in the market to this day.

The watch lacked features like a heart rate monitor, distances to any point on the course and a plays like feature although it was tournament legal and the battery lasted an impressive 15 hours in Golf mode. It also allows yo to track your club distances and connects to the CT10 sensors for seemless tracking.

It was a bit small on the wrist and had a 1.2″ display.

Overall a good watch but nothing that changed the world.

The S42 has all the features you would expect from a mid range watch and the big upgrade from the S40 was the increase battery life. The S42 has now been discontinued and replaced with the S44.

Garmin S44 Overview

Garmin S44 2

The S44 is the new mid level watch on the block and offers significant upgrades to the S42 for only $50 more than what the S42 cost, although there are extra costs to consider.

The S44 now includes the amazing Amoled screen that we first saw in the S70 while it maintains the amazing battery life of 15 hours in GPS mode.

It can also now do 10 days in GPS mode is far superior to what you get with even Apple or Samsung watches.

The main thing that is missing from the S44 is the heart rate monitor although it does have significantly improved fitness profiles over the S42 include more sports and things like excercise intensity and calories burned.

You still dont get positions to any point on the course as standard with the S44 but you can upgrade to get it and more detailed course maps. You’ll need to pay a monthly or yearly subscription for this which we are not big fans of.

You can aslo get the plays like feature and pinpointer features with the members club option.

Both watches have autoshot and are both compatible with the Ct10 and CT1 sensors.

Overall the S44 offers a lot more than the S42, it has a refined look, comfortable nylon strap and a host of extra features. We would definitely recommend buying the S44 over the S42 unless you can get a very good deal on a refurbished S42.

Garmin S42 Golf GPS Watch

In 20 Words Or Less

The S42 was released as a mid range replacement to the S40, designed to sit between the S12 and the S62. An excellent color touch screen watch.

Garmin S44 In 20 Words or Less

S44 Drive Accuracy

In 20 Words Or Less

A Mid Range Watch With An Amazing Amoled Screen, Paid Upgrades, Crazy Battery & Health Features.

Garmin S42 Golf GPS Watch – First Impressions

It is immediately apparent that the S42 is a beautifully designed color touchscreen golf gps watch that can be worn at all worn at all times, not just for golf.

The watch is less bulky than the S62 and as such will look better at a nice restaurant than the premium S60 or S62.

The watch comes in White, Grey and Black with downloadable interfaces and quick change bands which allows you to have a completely different looking watch to suit your clothing or any occasion.

Key Features:

This watch has 42,000 courses around the world and when you pull up to the course, it loads quickly. Usually minutes faster than their competition.

The watch will give distances to the front middle and the back of the green but also distance to any hazards with layup options included which can be excellent on dog legs and longer holes.

You get green view with the watch and manual pin position to get the exact distance you need for the  pin hunters among us.

There is no slope or plays like feature with the watch, making it completely legal for tournament play which is handy and a selling point for many golfers.

Tru swing is included to iron out any swing problems you may have. The watch connects to the Garmin App to track your shots and build up your stats. You can take this to the next level by attaching the CT10 sensors to the golf clubs to track your performance in detail with each club.

The watch also hooks up to your phone via bluetooth to display any message and calls you receive although it drains the battery a bit quicker.

The Garmin pay feature on the watch is also excellent, you can pay in the clubhouse or in your local shop when wearing the watch which is easily stylish enough to wear at all times.

Garmin S44 First Impressions

“The Garmin S44 upgrades the S40 with the amazing amoled screen added and you can pay for most of the extra features of the S70.”

The upgrade in the screen and the graphics is well worth the extra $50 on its own compared to the S42.

The watch has a nice rounded shape and comfortable nylon strap to complete the amazing design.

Another of key features is the amazing battery life, 10 days in smart watch mode and 15 hours in GPS mode or 3 to 6 rounds.

There are extra health features and profiles for various sports but it lacks the heart rate monitor that you find in the more premium watches.

You get the basics very well on this watch, distance to the front middle and back of the green, bunker views and full green view.

If you want distances to any point on the course (my favourite), more detailed course maps, and plays like distances, you will need to pay a monthly or yearly subscription (eek!).

Overall this is a definite upgrade on the previous generation S42 for only an extra $50 out of your pocket book.

Tech Specs:

  • Screen Size 1.2 Inches
  • Weight: 42g
  • Display : 390 x 390 Pixel

Key Features

The Garmin S44 has everything you would expect and more from a premium sports watch.

Golf Features

  • Amazing Amoled touch screen which is crystal clear.
  • 43,000 Courses Worldwide – extra 1,000
  • Distance to the front middle and back of the green
  • Hazard View
  • Paywall for advanced features including Pinpointer and distance to any point on the course.
  • Scorecard – Keeps track of the score and shows how you performed on each hole
  • Stat Tracking – All data goes onto the Garmin Golf App
  • Connection With CT Sensors – Connect to the Garmin Ct10 or Ct1 sensors.
  • Green View, Contouring And Manual Pin Position – Behind a Paywall
  • Plays Like takes slope into account – behind a pay wall
  • Pin pointer shows direction to the green. – Again it is behind a pay wall.
  • Tournament Legal

Fitness Features

  • Step Counter
  • Calorie Burned Counter
  • Sport Specific Tracking
  • GPS excercise tracking
  • Training Intensity Tracker

The S44 comes with a plethora of features for golf and fitness and it also connects to your phone giving notifications.

These watches give the Apple and Samsung Ecosystem watches a run for their money and the battery life is also much better.

Garmin S42 Golf GPS Watch – Selling Points

  • Sharp, Durable Color Touch Screen 1.2″ x 1.2″
  • 42,000 Courses Load Automatically
  • Distances To Front Middle And Back Of Green
  • Distances To Hazards And Dog Leg Lay Ups
  • Manual Pin Position & Greenview
  • Free Garmin App And CT10 Sensors
  • Quick Change Watch Bands & Downloadable Interfaces

Garmin S44 Smart Watch Selling Points

Garmin S44 2

  • 390 x 390 Amazing Amoled Display
  • 1.2 Inch Display
  • Comfortable Nylon Strap
  • Gorilla Glass As Standard
  • Plethora Of Golf Features
  • Even More Behind Pay Wall
  • Much Improved Fitness Features
  • Connects To Garmin Golf App
  • Connects To Garmin CT1 Sensors

Who Are The Garmin S42 Watches For

The S42 is mid level watch, perfect for any body who wants the best looking watch with advanced features but without the heaviest of price tags.

The S42 is less bulky than the S60 or the S62 and it doesn’t have slope, making it legal for tournaments and easier to navigate.

This one is also for those who want the maximum style and is probably not for those who want a simply watch to get the distances on a budget.

Garmin S42 Pros And Cons

Pros:

  • 1.2″ Sharp And Durable Color Touchscreen
  • Fast, Accurate And Effective
  • Sleekest and Nicest Looking Garmin Watch
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Fitness Tracking For Many Sport Profiles
  • Bluetooth And CT10 compatible
  • Connection To Excellent Garmin App
  • Quick Change Bands & Faces

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Almost Identical To The Now Cheaper S60

Overall Score: 93/100

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Who is the Garmin S44 For?

This is a watch for golfers looking for a mid range golf watch and have a budget of around $400, it is best option at this price point.

The S44 has an incredible battery life, a crystal clear amoled screen and it can be upgraded for a ton of extra premium golf watches.

It is a better watch than the S42 and it only costs a small bit more than it’s predecessor.

There are better watches to consider at a higher price point and this one could suit a golfer who doesnt like the bigger size of the s70.

It is an ideal watch for all the time and if you may consider upgrading to premium features in the future.

Pros:

  • The Amoled Screen
  • The Comfort, light weight and great fit
  • Upgradeable
  • Quality Golf Features
  • Excellent Battery
  • Quick Change Bands
  • Cheaper Than More Premium Models
  • Includes Autoshot

Cons:

  • No Heart Rate
  • Advanced Features Behind A Pay Wall
  • S62 may be a better option for some.
  • Expensive at $400

S44

Overall Score: 93/100

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