This 12 months in 2020 Japan’s Casio launched an excellent clearer glimpse of the way forward for G-Shock. The world-famous “bulletproof” assortment of extremely sturdy G-Shock timepieces is greater than 35-years-old, and Casio continues to supply each trendy legacy fashions and technologically refined trendy G-Shock merchandise with mainstream enchantment for shoppers past mere timepiece fans and collectors. The G-Shock Transfer is simply such a product, and right this moment, I’m reviewing the Casio G-Shock Transfer GBD-H1000 (particularly, the black, white, and neon inexperienced reference GBDH1000-1A7).
Casio G-Shock evolution isn’t a linear development of merchandise that straight enhance upon each other however is extra like an evolutionary tree with arms that department into totally different instructions representing the assorted methods Casio engineers have performed with maintaining G-Shock watches each revolutionary and related. One path was to take all the sturdiness and performance of G-Shock watches and to render them in fully analog (non-digital) type with merchandise which have their apex within the MR-G assortment. One other path was to include Bluetooth performance into mainstream timepiece merchandise as a easy technique to replace the time as folks journey. Casio has even invested in smartwatches starting from the Google Put on-powered WSD-F30 (the newest technology Casio smartwatch on the time of writing), in addition to hybrid approaches that mix smartwatch performance with extra conventional G-Shock performance. The G-Shock Transfer GBD-H1000 is simply such a hybrid product, and I personally assume it represents the way forward for Casio G-Shock watches higher than just about anything Casio has launched currently.
G-Shock Hybrid Smartwatch Evolution
The GBD-H100’s direct predecessor was the Casio G-Shock Rangeman GPR-B1000 (aBlogtoWatch evaluate right here) that launched the brand new MIP LCD show, twin USB/photo voltaic charging, and the new-generation working system. The GPR-B1000 is a dive-style watch and can also be each bigger and twice as costly because the newer GBD-H1000. This newest technology G-Shock product value level is probably going a strategic determination, as Casio needs to aggressively seize extra of the smartwatch and exercise tracker market. Given what you get, the value truly seems like a discount when wanting on the competitors.
The G-Shock Transfer can also be the model’s first “5 Sensor” watch with the addition of a devoted heart-rate monitor. The product truly has greater than 5 sensors, however given the standard approach these are counted, these 5 sensors are a compass, altimeter/barometer, thermometer, step counter, and heart-rate monitor. Don’t overlook that the Casio module contained in the GBD-H1000 has options GPS sign and Bluetooth connectivity.
The explanation I confer with the G-Shock Transfer as a “hybrid smartwatch” is as a result of as a “related” timepiece that does supply notifications and Bluetooth connectivity, it definitely does extra sensible issues than a standard timepiece. That stated, it doesn’t supply a extra up to date smartwatch expertise with apps and bi-directional watch/telephone communication like an Apple Watch or machine working Google Put on.
As an alternative, Casio developed its personal working system, which appears to emphasise centered performance and effectivity. That is in all probability to prioritize battery life and total reliability. Casio engineers have a lot of expertise creating calculators that use very low energy. That’s, principally, what most Casio digital watches, in impact, are. Options corresponding to a heart-rate monitor and Bluetooth connectivity are issues trendy shoppers need however which are hungry in relation to battery life. Casio is aware of it may possibly’t compete in all areas of the smartwatch and exercise tracker market, however the model has appropriately surmised that they will have an edge in relation to power-efficient gadgets.
Accordingly, some of the widespread complaints shoppers have about smartwatches and exercise trackers, normally, is the necessity to usually cost them. The GBD-H1000 has each a passive photo voltaic charging system (the photovoltaic cell is definitely a hoop across the display) and may be charged with a magnetic USB-based cable. Casio’s promoting level is that, for essentially the most half, you possibly can put on and use the G-Shock Transfer like some other G-Shock timepiece with out having to usually cost it as you would possibly a smartwatch. That stated, if you’re usually utilizing power-intensive options corresponding to GPS monitoring, the light-power system received’t be capable to sustain with the battery drain. You’ll be able to high up the battery as wanted when counting on the GBD-H1000 for repeated, long-interval monitoring functions.
Casio will proceed to enhance upon the core options of the G-Shock Transfer, as such gadgets are at all times transferring targets in relation to including new components, enhancing hardware, and refining software program. I really imagine that this new working system represents the way forward for what most G-Shock watches will probably be like. The brand new screens are vastly extra legible than normal LCD screens, the working system is infinitely deeper and extra participating, and the added options corresponding to a heart-rate monitor might simply discover their approach into an growing share of the wristwatches Casio produces.
G-Shock Sturdiness & Design
Though the GBD-H1000 is now within the “G-Shock Transfer” household, I nonetheless take into account it as a non secular successor to the Rangeman household when a design perspective. The case is smaller and extra wearable than the final technology Rangeman it replaces, however the GBD-H1000 continues to be a bigger timepiece at 55mm-wide, 63mm from lug-to-lug, and 20.4mm-thick. The resin and metal case (waterproof to 200 meters) is solidly made however weighs simply 101 grams. Over the display is a mineral crystal, which is protected by the steep bezel construction.
As with all G-Shock watches, you possibly can simply throw the GBD-H1000 round and never fear about it. That is more and more true of many aggressive smartwatches on the market, however I actually don’t assume most different timepieces on the market can survive the abuse a G-Shock can, and nonetheless look good afterward.
Not everyone seems to be a fan of the GBDH1000-1A7’s black, white, and neon inexperienced/yellow shade scheme. It seems prefer it was designed to go along with fashionable trainers, however in any other case, it’s arduous to fashionably match the timepiece along with your each day wardrobe. Different colours will probably be accessible sooner or later, however proper now Casio additionally makes the G-Shock Transfer GBDH1000-1 that’s in all black resin for a barely extra conservative look.
In comparison with the Rangeman GPR-B1000, the GBD-H1000 has its pushers flipped, however in any other case, the case nonetheless has 5 buttons on it, and no “scroll wheel” just like the Rangeman. Regardless of a comparatively easy studying curve to grasp use the brand new G-Shock working system, I nonetheless really feel that Casio has a methods to go in matching different trendy smartwatches in relation to intuitive person interface and enter design. A scroll wheel or some sort of directional arrow system can be a fantastic inclusion — as realizing what button to press requires examine and is determined by the display you might be presently taking a look at.
The G-Shock transfer additionally has among the many higher attaching magnetic charging cables I’ve seen. They changed the “claw dock” of the Rangeman, and whereas it takes a little bit of finagling to ensure the cable is seated appropriately, it stays securely connected to the caseback whereas charging. Having stated that, I discovered myself solely utilizing the charger often after heavy GPS utilization. That is the place I talk about my largest praise to the Casio workforce — lastly a contemporary Bluetooth-connected exercise tracker that I don’t want to fret about placing on the charger every day.
Thoughts you, I used to be charging the watch, however by placing it close to a window in order that gentle can hit the display. It will be foolish to counsel machine like this doesn’t should be charged — it’s too power-hungry exterior of its disconnected (from GPS/Bluetooth) power-saving mode to run on the inner battery alone for too lengthy. It’s extra correct to say that I stored the watch charged through the use of solar energy versus USB energy. So, assuming you possibly can expose your GBD-H1000 timepiece to sufficient daylight every day, I feel it’s best to be capable to use GPS monitoring just a few hours every week and possibly keep away from utilizing the USB charger except you might be utilizing monitoring closely.
The place I want to see extra design consideration is the digital shows themselves. Certain, Casio’s engineers are nonetheless getting accustomed to a brand new system, however the shows are fairly basic-looking and lack the aptitude of, say, the case design. Casio continues to be new to creating modern-looking and enticing software program person interface screens, however earlier than lengthy I’d wish to see a bit extra sexiness or a minimum of extra show choices in relation to the aesthetic expertise of studying the knowledge on the GBD-H1000 and the merchandise that can comply with it.
G-Shock Transfer App & Smartwatch Options
Whereas many of the present Bluetooth-enabled Casio watches use its G-Shock Join app, the GBD-H1000 is the primary or among the many first Casio watches to make use of the brand new G-Shock Transfer app. This app lets you alter numerous settings on the watch, and likewise receives exercise knowledge from the watch permitting you to view extra details about your exercises/adventures in addition to helps hold you on level along with your health targets.
I’ve used a great variety of smartwatch apps up to now and have a tendency to search out that every of them has small quirks. A typical one is having to generally restart the app or manually provoke a pairing to get your watch and smartphone to talk to one another. Solely the Apple Watch with its completely proprietary software program ecosystem appears to keep away from this. It isn’t that huge a deal, however I hope sooner or later Bluetooth-connected watches and their associated smartphone software software program join extra seamlessly and reliably within the background.
There’s a lot you are able to do and think about within the G-Shock Transfer app that isn’t actually natively accessible on the watch, or is solely extra handy on the telephone. I discovered, for instance, that viewing the main points of my exercise wasn’t as easy on the watch display itself as in contrast with the app. The app can also be appreciably snappier than the G-Shock Transfer watch itself in sure regards. The timepiece’s working system doesn’t usually lag, however it does take a while whether it is updating one thing associated to reminiscence (corresponding to saving or deleting a exercise). That is all possible associated to Casio’s need to maintain the system lean and never use an excessive amount of energy as a way to protect battery life. As such, just about all smartwatches and exercise trackers right this moment have performance primarily based on the premise of balancing battery life and efficiency.
Whereas you may get primary smartphone notifications in your GBD-H1000 display, I favor to show this function off since I discover it a bit distracting (as a result of it isn’t that easy a course of). I like to think about the smartphone connectivity to be an adjunct to an in any other case impartial timepiece machine. Some smartwatches, such because the Apple Watch, aren’t actually meant to reside too lengthy with out being close to their host telephone machine. The GBD-H1000 has options that get a giant enhance by working with a smartphone, however in actuality, it is a product that may nonetheless be used fully independently of a smartphone. Even issues like auto-updating of the time may be achieved straight by way of a GPS sign.
What Its Like Utilizing The G-Shock Transfer GBD-H1000 As Train Exercise Tracker
Now let’s speak about getting sweaty with the G-Shock Transfer GBD-H1000. All this theoretical speak about exercise monitoring is only a prelude to experiencing the timepiece as an train companion for me. My most popular exercise to check out sport smartwatches is mountaineering. It additionally helps that I do the identical exercise with totally different merchandise in order that I can consider how totally different merchandise evaluate with one another. I’ll say proper now that there isn’t any single greatest timepiece I’ve used for monitoring my hikes and bike rides. There are issues Apple, Garmin, and Casio every do greatest, and different areas during which they might be crushed by the competitors.
To a level, that is about design, however extra precisely I’d say that every exercise monitoring watchmaker chooses a unique combination of priorities for his or her merchandise. For instance, some watches will give you extra performance however far much less battery life. The longer it’s essential to go between battery prices, the much less the machine will do for you. As I stated earlier than, Casio’s focus with its exercise trackers proper now could be each ultra-durability and long-lasting battery life.
The MIP LCD display is definitely brighter within the daylight and some of the legible digital shows I’ve ever skilled on such a watch. It displays gentle much like many Garmin screens however in an much more efficient approach (although the Casio display is monochromatic, whereas Garmin has a full-color show). So, excessive marks total to Casio for these new kinds of screens.
Not like another exercise tracker watches, Casio doesn’t appear to will let you point out what sport or exercise you might be doing. Garmin and Apple each need the person to inform the machine what exercise they’re doing (biking, swimming, working, and many others…) previous to understanding. Casio nonetheless wants you to manually inform the G-Shock Transfer when you’re going to work out, however you simply activate it with out deciding on a particular exercise. I don’t know the complete implications of this, however my guess is that it will result in extra easy operation for a lot of shoppers, however there is perhaps exact knowledge factors that the GBD-H1000 doesn’t observe in addition to different smartwatches.
As a GPS-based machine making an attempt to be lean on energy consumption I discovered that the exercise monitoring of my hikes was fairly correct. Although I did discover that in some areas the GBD-H1000’s readings different from these of a Garmin MARQ. I already examined the Garmin MARQ and the Apple Watch throughout exercising monitoring and located that the 2 gadgets had been remarkably comparable of their outcomes. Casio appeared a bit off in relation to heart-rate monitoring, altitude, and energy burned. That stated, when you use the G-Shock Transfer on a regular basis, it’s going to observe persistently, so even if you’re burning extra energy than the watch says you might be, from work out to work out how your efficiency is trending.
My guess is that Garmin and Apple are permitting extra energy for GPS and different monitoring capabilities whereas Casio is being decidedly extra lean about it. That in all probability has some minor efficiency implications and that explains the totally different readings. I don’t actually see this as a ding on Casio however extra usually need to inform shoppers to not anticipate all exercise trackers to trace the identical, even when all of them say they observe the identical metrics.
Whereas presently monitoring a exercise, you might have entry to a couple display shows. I like having the ability to view my present coronary heart price in addition to issues corresponding to the overall distance or time I’ve been exercising. Most of this may be accessible, however I nonetheless discovered myself scrolling by way of screens a bit greater than I’d like whereas making an attempt to give attention to mountaineering. That may be a widespread criticism about most exercise trackers, although. What I’d wish to see sooner or later is software program within the G-Shock Transfer app that lets me create customized viewing experiences in order that when I’m understanding I can see simply the info I need in entrance of me with out having to fiddle with pushers an excessive amount of.
Even if you’re not actively measuring a timed exercise or journey, the GBD-H1000 can nonetheless inform you issues corresponding to your present coronary heart price and a slew of different knowledge. It simply received’t be utilizing GPS for monitoring, and many others… So whilst an off-the-cuff sport watch with added instruments corresponding to a compass, HR monitor, and step counter, the GBD-H1000 can work very well.
Lastly, let me talk about the “Exercises” mode which is definitely considerably totally different from exercise monitoring (which most individuals will confer with because the watch monitoring their present exercise). Exercises on the watch is among the major mode screens and, in essence, is a collection of as much as 5 “stackable” and programmable repeating countdown timers. That is greatest used for individuals who like to include interval coaching into their train regimes. It’s common, as an example, to do exercise classes that depend on a collection of three-minute countdown intervals. The watch may be programmed for that. You may as well get extra sophisticated with it and program 5 situations of a three-minute countdown timer, adopted by three situations of a 10-minute countdown timer. Whereas some planning is required, this novel function lastly affords a satisfying resolution for these in search of interval coaching performance on their watches.
Customers G-Shock Transfer Watches Are Finest For
Most shoppers right this moment nonetheless don’t actually have expertise incorporating a smartwatch into their train or way of life routine. Which means they depend on the merchandise to inform them what to anticipate versus shopping for new smartwatches and exercise trackers with too many built-in expectations. Not having to recharge them too usually could also be among the many few exceptions to what I simply stated.
This means that simply as shoppers will inform Casio evolve its hybrid smartwatch subsequent, Casio is telling shoppers make use of those merchandise. I encourage avid adventurers and common exercisers to experiment with nice merchandise just like the G-Shock Transfer GDB-H1000 and see how they can assist enhance their lives and health targets. For many individuals, the mere means to see the space they’ve traveled, the time it took them, and the trouble mandatory are helpful sufficient.
Casio has much more superior athletes in thoughts with the GBD-H1000, providing options such a VO2 max calculations and beneficial restoration instances. These instruments are helpful, however except you already come to the plate realizing use these options, the GBD-H1000 machine itself received’t provide you with too many hints. This can be a bigger challenge with health trackers that I feel will resolve itself within the coming years as shoppers have extra built-in information of use these gadgets in a extra full trend.
Should you by no means need to observe a exercise, is the G-Shock Transfer a great timepiece for you? That’s a great query. Like I stated, the watch is designed to supply a seamless, autonomous carrying expertise that doesn’t require a smartphone and doesn’t require charging when you depart the GPS function off. New instruments such because the heart-rate monitor are helpful all through your day, corresponding to a method to measure stress or to be sure you are placing in sufficient cardiovascular effort if you find yourself in search of to take action. The GBD-H1000 represents Casio’s newest transfer to develop a brand new working system, which continues to be just some years outdated. Extra time should go earlier than lay shoppers see this in additional fashion-forward or slimmed down G-Shock fashions with accordingly refined and centered function units. That is necessary to say as a result of lovers of smartwatches and comparable timepieces are naturally segmented between openminded early adopters with a willingness to experiment and impatient shoppers in search of the newest tech expertise on their wrist.
Casio’s G-Shock Transfer GBD-H1000 presently leads the activity-tracking watch business in just a few areas, particularly in relation to its personal particular mix of blending battery life with a lot of performance. I by no means really feel just like the GBD-H1000 is straightforward in its options, even when the core performance of the watch is extra streamlined than among the competitors that gives a more true smartwatch expertise. Most significantly, the GBD-H1000 is a novel-feeling machine that can nonetheless make conventional G-Shock product fans glad. Casio continues to show that it could reasonably hold high quality, efficiency, and expectations excessive, even when it debuts new contains a bit extra slowly than among the know-how rivals on the market. I’m definitely going to be maintaining this watch on my wrist whereas being lively for a very long time to come back. Value for the Casio G-Shock Transfer GBDH1000-1A7 is $399.99 USD. Study extra on the G-Shock web site right here.
Crucial Knowledge
>Model: Casio
>Mannequin: G-Shock Transfer GBD-H1000 (reference GBD-H1000-1A7 as examined)
>Value: $399.99 USD
>Dimension: 55mm-wide, 20.4mm-thick, and 63mm lug-to-lug distance
>When reviewer would personally put on it: As each day put on sports activities watch when options corresponding to a compass and heart-rate monitor are helpful, or as a devoted exercise tracker when I’ll possible be away from a charging station for just a few days.
>Pal we’d advocate it to first: Anybody taken with having fun with a next-generation G-Shock product that they will now absolutely incorporate right into a trackable, lively way of life.
>Finest attribute of watch: Glorious battery life as in comparison with the competitors. Extremely legible and crisp display. A great deal of efficiency/options for an exercise tracker that’s extra conventional watch than it’s smartwatch.
>Worst attribute of watch: Coloration scheme isn’t for everybody. Case continues to be fairly giant regardless of being snug on the wrist. Understanding use the brand new working system requires a studying curve. System sluggish on watch when saving/deleting knowledge.
