Most likely, Casio is best known for its robust and durable G-Shock watches. And now, a G-Shock wristwatch powered by Wear OS, formerly known as Android Wear, is available. The first G-Shock smartwatch that utilise Google’s Wear OS is the Casio G-Shock GSW-H1000, also known as the G-Squad Pro. Casio has already introduced Wear OS-compatible smartwatches, such as the WSD-F10 in 2016 and the three Pro Trek Smart models that followed. but never for a G-Shock version you can buy this product from Casio’s official store.
Many Google products, like Google Assistant and Google Fit, are pre-installed on the G-Squad Pro. Additionally, you can add watch faces and apps from third parties. Black/blue, black, and red are the three colours available for the G-Squad. The colour of the soft urethane band and bezel embellishments is the only distinction. With its oversized watch case, the G-Squad Pro shares the same aesthetic as other G-Shock timepieces. In fact, I believe the G-Shock Rangeman GPR-B1000 is the watch that most closely resembles it among its G-Shock relatives.
People adore G-Shock watches because they are recognised for being large, bulky timepieces. This design profile remains the same, that much is certain. You can choose from three models in the black/blue, black, and red colour options. All of them have a large 65mm case that is 19.5mm thick, which is almost the same as stacking two Apple Watches on top of one another. It appeared enormous on our thin wrist, and the entire weight of 103g was apparent. You won’t want to take this to bed with you. A hulk, that is.
Casio G-Shock GSW-H1000 review: Design
There’s a very strong chance that when you hear the name “G-Shock,” you immediately picture a large, circular watch. Although the brand has numerous looks, this is undoubtedly the original G-Shock appearance. It is big and round, and it has those recognisable shock absorbers sticking out all the way around the display, making sure it will take any blows and defending that watchface.
The G-Shock includes three physical buttons, each of which has a predefined function, on the right side of the watch, as is typical for most Wear OS watches apps. As usual, the middle opens the Wear OS app view, which displays a list of all installed apps. Your Start button is located at the top; press it to begin an activity. It has a slight advantage over other Wear OS watches thanks to the bottom button that launches Casio’s own function interface, but we’ll talk more about that later.
The way the buttons were made didn’t really win us over. You don’t get the satisfying click you might be hoping for, letting you know that you have, in fact, pressed a button, because they have such a spongey quality, especially the middle button. And that is first unsettling because the interface on the screen doesn’t always respond right away.
Casio G-Shock GSW-H1000 review: Fitness features
With apps like Google Fit, Fit Breathe, Fit Heart Rate, and Fit Workout all included, you can use Google’s apps to keep track of your physical well-being. We’ve talked extensively about our opinions of Google’s health and fitness apps. They are awkward to use, and it would be best if Fitbit’s effect on Google’s OS began to show sooner rather than later.
We concentrated on using Casio’s own in order to test if it could perform the task more effectively. We should also point out that, if you’d prefer to avoid both Google’s and Casio’s tracking apps, you may, of course, download third party apps.
You have access to sensors like a compass, accelerometer, gyrometer, GPS, an optical heart rate monitor, and sensors for air pressure and altitude. This means that you have everything you need to accurately track outside workouts and collect the extra environmental sensor data. You can choose among profiles in the Activity app for jogging, trail running, bicycling, swimming in a pool, surfing, skiing, and fishing. There is also a customised training mode to account for indoor activities, but this one is specifically designed to measure outside activity.
For runs, you may customise the data fields that are displayed, examine a colour map of your run, and even download or import maps so you can follow routes without a connection. This mapping support feels like it was essentially ripped from Casio’s ProTrek smartwatches, but that’s not necessarily a negative thing.
Casio G-Shock GSW-H1000 review: Performance
Interestingly, Casio won’t reveal what the CPU in the G-Shock GSW-H1000 is. Although the phrasing of one piece of communication does hint there is a Qualcomm chip within, the corporation refuses to divulge the information despite numerous requests and claims that it is proprietary information. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as Qualcomm is essentially the only option available for wearable technology platforms, making Casio’s stance all the more peculiar.
The GSW-box H1000’s does not bear the Qualcomm logo, therefore the limitations imposed by a licence agreement may be the reason why it is not stated whose chip powers the watch. So, if there is a Qualcomm chip within the GSW-H1000, is it the outdated Snapdragon 3100 Wear or the brand-new and coveted Snapdragon 4100 Wear. I would want to make a big deal out of the Snapdragon 4100 if it were powering my pricey new smartwatch because of how uncommon it is and the advantages it can provide.
Although I would want to keep quiet about it if I were to produce a smartwatch in 2021, charge $700 for it, and use the Snapdragon 3100 processor. Unfortunately, given Casio’s lack of comment, we must assume that this is the most likely explanation. Please correct me if I’m incorrect, Casio.
Casio G-Shock GSW-H1000 review: Battery Life
In smartwatch mode with the colour display, the battery life is rated at 1.5 days, while in timekeeping mode with the monochrome display, it can last up to a month. In my tests, the G-Squad Pro’s battery level dropped to 60% by the end of one day when the watch was continuously connected to a smartphone and had alerts turned on. I put the watch on charge as I start to worry about the battery. I really wish Casio had incorporated solar power into this G-Shock because it will undoubtedly assist to increase the battery life.
Final Words
Simply put, it’s intended for G-Shock enthusiasts who want to enter the smartwatch industry. Additionally, it makes a good watch for tracking activities like walking and jogging. It doesn’t perform several Wear OS features very well, for example, the animations and reaction are a little sluggish and jerky, and the main display is fairly small and uninspiring. However, it continues to accomplish its objectives.
