All three watches now run Garmin's AMOLED display, a genuine step up from the older transflective screens that used to be the tradeoff for buying Garmin over an Apple Watch. Past the screen, the three models split along a predictable line: S44 covers the core golf GPS job, S50 adds the health and smartwatch layer, and S70 adds hardware Garmin still keeps exclusive to its flagship.
The scorecard
Garmin Golf membership pricing has shifted before and may again; check current pricing before assuming a specific number. The core GPS features on all three, yardages, hazard distances, PinPointer, scorekeeping, work without any subscription. The membership only unlocks extras like green contour maps and, on the S44 specifically, PlaysLike Distance.
Where the real gap is
S44 and S50 are closer to each other than either is to S70. They share the same screen, the same core GPS accuracy, and the same battery life. The $100 gap between them buys AutoShot, built-in PlaysLike Distance, and a full health-tracking suite, genuinely useful additions, but none of them touch the fundamental job of telling you how far it is to the pin.
S70 is a different tier. Multi-band GPS positioning, a Virtual Caddie that suggests club selection, and a ceramic build push it well past the other two in both capability and price. Whether that's worth it depends entirely on whether you value AI club suggestions and maximum GPS precision over just knowing your numbers, which the cheaper two already handle well.
Island Greens Pick
Take S44 if you just want accurate yardages without paying for features you won't use. Take S50 if you want the same core watch plus health tracking and a proper everyday smartwatch feel. Take S70 only if multi-band GPS precision and Virtual Caddie genuinely matter to your game, the price jump is real and it's paying for hardware, not just a bigger screen.
From the bag
I've only used the S44, so I can't speak to the S50 or S70 firsthand, that part of the table above is data, not experience. But the S44 changed how I play. I didn't even know I needed one until I played with someone who had one and I found myself constantly asking them for my yardage. Now it's the opposite, people I play with ask me. Knowing your distance at any moment, and being able to quickly check hazards, is genuinely handy in a way I didn't expect. I also wear it as my daily watch, telling time and catching phone notifications, and the fact that none of that requires a subscription is a real bonus.