(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/Deklofenak)

Garmin is no stranger to wearables and has a solution for most people no matter what sport they partake in. The company's Approach range is specifically-targeted at golfers, and the latest X40 is packed with all the features you need to improve your game whether a professional or an amateur. 

Previous generations of the Approach have featured a smartwatch-like design, but the X40 has decided to slim things down and become a band similar to other popular wearables. With a wearable dedicated to a particular sport, users aren't so likely to wear them 24/7 so it makes sense to keep things as slim and comfortable as possible in a non-distracting form. 

Considering the welcome inclusion of integrated GPS, the X40 has an impressively slim profile when compared to rivals such as the TomTom Golfer. What's also impressive, considering its size, is how many features are packed into the device including Garmin's proprietary Elevate heart-rate monitoring technology. 

Golf data is available for over 40,000 international courses which allows golfers to grab precise information about the distance to the front, middle and back of each green - as well as hazard information. AutoShot tracking enables shot distances to be analysed post-round in the Garmin Connect app; whilst compatibility with the Garmin TruSwing club sensor provides useful swing metrics at-glance. 

The device can act like a digital scorecard during a session and track individual stats like fairways hit, greens in regulation, and putts per round. When paired with Garmin Connect, golfers can also view hole-by-hole details of their favorite courses to understand their individual trends and tendencies so they know what to work on for next time. 

“We’re thrilled to combine our golf technology and activity tracking into one sleek device,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “The Approach X40 is the perfect all-in-one solution for golfers who want to know distances on the course and track wellness data without the hassle of switching between multiple devices.” 

For those who do intend on wearing the Approach X40 all-day, Garmin has included the features you would expect from a modern wearable device including notifications about incoming calls, text, emails, calendar reminders, and social media alerts. Golfers attached to their brand-new wearable can also wear it to bed, where the device will track sleep and wake the wearer up with a gentle vibration if the user sets a predetermined alarm. 

The rechargeable Li-ion battery can get up to 10 hours in GPS mode, and up to five days in watch mode with activity tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and smart notifications enabled. Approach X40 will begin shipping in Q2 2016 and will be available in black, white and frost blue. It will have a suggested retail price of $249.99 (£199.99.) 

For more information about the X40, head to Garmin's website here. 

Are you impressed with the Garmin Approach X40? Let us know in the comments. 

 

 

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