Casio is currently going all in on fitness and activity tracking. If you look at the various Casio G-Shock watches produced over the past few years, you’ll see plenty of examples where new features and functionality are focused on tracking the wearer’s fitness habits and overall activity. Great examples include the inclusion of a pedometer (step counter) on many of the lower-priced G-Shock watches, and Casio’s growing number of watches with heart rate monitors. Casio has been quick to introduce innovative new products in this space. This new G-Shock Move GBD-H2000 comes just two years after the debut Casio G-Shock Move GDB-H1000 (reviewed here on aBlogtoWatch).
The model generation from GBD-H1000 to GBD-H2000 is more than just a minor upgrade. Casio has put a lot of effort into both the hardware and software elements of these G-Shock Move watches. These are flagship G-Shock fitness tracking products that represent the current highest level of Casio’s software and engineering teams. Users familiar with the GBD-H1000 will find that the GBD-H2000 is not only noticeably slimmer and smaller, but also features an entirely new software operating system with a new level of functionality.
Comparing two Casio G-Shock Move GBD-H2000 watches with the larger GBD-H1000 watch
When Casio first launched the G-Shock Move GBD-H2000, part of the initial news included that Casio was now using Polar-branded fitness algorithms. These are the underlying calculations that take sensor data and turn it into information and advice for the wearer. These formulas are complex and require constant updates. Casio is wise not to develop its own formulas if that is not its core business. This is also very interesting to me, because just recently, Casio announced that it does not want to make any more Google Wear OS smartwatches (for the time being) because of limitations in what it can do with licensed software. Casio has a very different philosophy when it comes to software, and what I find is that while the brand very much values integration with other data sets and features, Casio wants core control over the operating system and its performance. The GBD-H2000 represents the latest step in that development.
To me, the new software is the most exciting part of the GBD-H2000, but it also means that wearers will have to learn some new things. One of the joys of getting G-Shocks over the years has been that new G-Shock watches, for the most part, operated just like older G-Shock watches. With all the added features, Bluetooth connectivity, and various other new features, longtime G-Shock fans should be open to learning new things. The good news is that Casio has placed a huge emphasis on the accessibility and intuitiveness of the software within the framework of running very slim (low power) software that is completely free of glitches and bugs. More on this shortly. First, here’s the GBD-H2000 and how it fits into the larger Casio product catalog:
Embodying the most modern G-Shock design elements, the GBD-H2000 combines an everyday “do it all” sports watch (which is what G-Shock has long been for most people) with a sophisticated fitness and activity tracking device. How much or how little of the latter you use is up to you. Some people just want to know how many steps they’ve taken in a day, while others might want to track their daily exercise habits, sleep habits, and even meditative breathing moments.
The GBD-H2000 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the GBD-H1000, so it’s easier to wear on your wrist, and it also has some handy features, like the ability to charge via both solar and USB. In fact, the battery life is excellent (the low-power screen helps), and as long as you don’t spend a lot of time outdoors, solar charging was enough to keep the watch going. I also like that it only says “high” when the battery is full. For those who use sports tracking and related GPS tracking features a lot, solar charging alone is not enough to keep the GBD-H2000 running all the time. Casio has developed a new banana-shaped charging clip for the watch. It’s surprising how engineers can’t agree on how to charge a smartwatch. We’ve seen everything from inductive charging to proprietary connectors and cables, with brands changing things frequently. Let’s assume that how to charge a smartwatch is not only an area where there are few established best practices, but also where engineers are working hard to improve and enhance.
In terms of sensors and overall functionality, the GBD-H2000 is similar to the GBD-H1000, but of course some of the new software features are different. The goal of the new case is to make the G-Shock Move even more comfortable to wear while still miniaturizing the hardware. These watches contain a lot of sophisticated hardware (made by Casio), but also the ruggedness/durability of G-Shock. By using Carbon Core Guard and other advanced manufacturing techniques, Casio is able to provide the same performance in a smaller package. The GBD-H2000 case weighs just 63 grams. While the dimensions sound big, this GBD-H2000 generation of G-Shock Move is significantly smaller (and better looking) than the previous generation GBD-H1000. On the wrist, the GBD-H2000’s “bio-resin” case is 52.6mm wide, 19.4mm thick, and 59.6mm lug-to-lug. The bio-resin strap is comfortable and supple, and the unique under-lug system and larger overall size make it comfortable to wear on smaller wrists (like mine).
Like other G-Shock watches, the GBD-H2000 is water resistant to 200 meters and has a mineral crystal above the screen. Sapphire would have been nice, but Casio is aiming for an attractive price point here. So, overall, the GBD-H2000 is a very aggressively priced product given all the innovation and features. This is a “do it all” watch with a lot of features and sensors, even if you’re not planning on using it to perfect your fitness routine.
What’s not so good? From a fitness performance and data tracking perspective, there are no real complaints. The MIP (Memory in Pixel) screen is monochrome and does a good job of producing contrast in any lighting condition, but the display and graphics aren’t super fancy. That said, Casio’s software team was able to work with a lot more pixels than we’re used to, so there are more graphic elements to this product compared to the very plain displays on other G-Shock products. Today, with increased competition in the larger smartwatch market, the demand for artistic animations and whimsical graphics in smartwatch software presentations is only going to increase. Casio can continue to push the boundaries of watch face displays and their beauty and variety.
There is also a bit of a learning curve with this new generation operating system, which is controlled using five pushers on the case. At this point, Casio has been very good with the Bluetooth connectivity, and the accompanying smartphone app that lets you control parts of the watch and view data is only getting better. For people who need serious data to aid in their exercise routine, Casio could have a lot to offer here. I’m a more casual user who likes to track hikes, bike rides, and the like, so this watch has me covered. It’s also about the same size as many other G-Shocks (especially the more neutral black GBDH2000-1A), so it could be a G-Shock you can wear on a daily basis, but some new features and technology make it even more interesting. Clearly, at least some of the product team at Casio considers the GBD-H2000 product to be the most advanced G-Shock currently in production. It’s priced at $399. For more information, check out the Casio website.
