Casio G-Shock DW-H5600 assessment: when you hate G-Shocks, it is nice

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600

MSRP $299.00

“The DW-H5600 is not an ideal smartwatch, however for anybody who’s been postpone by earlier G-Shocks however likes the concept of carrying one, it is an excellent choice to contemplate.”

Professionals

• Mild and cozy
• Basic G-Shock design
• Photo voltaic and USB charging
• Notification help
• Nice informal exercise monitoring capacity

Cons

• Would require common USB charging
• Awkward buttons
• No Apple Well being/Google Match sync

The G-Shock DW-H5600 is Casio’s most full, most wearable, and doubtless most anticipated related health watch but. It ticks all the suitable characteristic bins on paper, with no danger of its design alienating hardcore G-Shock followers in the way in which the difficult GSW-H1000 touchscreen smartwatch did, and is svelte sufficient to suit on most wrist sizes. It’s the G-Shock health watch we’ve been ready for.

However by providing extra, and having to cost a better value for it, the watch now must show itself in opposition to much more succesful smartwatches, and that’s an enormous ask. I’ve worn it for some time to search out out if it could actually or not.

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600: design and luxury

On the planet of G-Shock watches, the DW-H5600 is named a “sq.,” (though it’s not) and it’s most likely essentially the most acknowledged of the G-Shock designs, because it hasn’t actually modified because the very first mannequin was launched within the 90s. It’s svelte for a G-Shock, at 51mm x 44mm x 17mm, and it weighs simply 59 grams. It’s the G-Shock for individuals who hate G-Shocks, because it largely avoids the large button guards, tank-like styling, and big girth that’s a turn-off for anybody who dislikes a wrist-dominating watch.

It’s nonetheless a correct G-Shock watch although, so it’s shock resistant, vibration resistant, and water-proof to 200 meters, and you actually must work very exhausting to destroy it. That is all a part of each G-Shock’s attraction, however the place the H5600 differs from most different sq. fashions is the center price sensor on the again. The stainless-steel case again is dominated by the protruding sensor array, which measures coronary heart price and blood oxygen ranges, nevertheless it by no means feels something aside from supremely cozy to put on. I additionally love the brand new bio-based resin materials for the strap, which is softer and extra pliable than older G-Shock straps.

Casio has been boosting the health monitoring capacity of its related watches for some time, and the H5600 has comparable performance to the GBD-H2000 we reviewed lately, however right here it’s wrapped up in a much more conveniently formed case, with a step up in performance in comparison with one other, wonderful related sq. G-Shock, the GBD-200. The smaller, lighter watch might be worn all day and in a single day, too, in contrast to the GBD-H2000, which is simply too ungainly to be used as a sleep tracker.

The place the H5600 fails is within the ergonomics of management. The watch is operated utilizing 4 bodily facet buttons, however they’re closely recessed within the robust resin case, and it takes effort to press them. For those who’ve acquired massive fingers, it could possibly be a really irritating endeavor, and even when you don’t, it’s not a quick or significantly nice technique of interplay. Nevertheless, this isn’t distinctive to the H5600 particularly, and you’ve got the identical downside on nearly each sq. G-Shock.

Beneath regular circumstances on a non-connected G-Shock sq., you don’t actually get entangled with the buttons that a lot, however right here it’s much more necessary, and to utilize the performance, you’ll press (or try to press) the buttons all through the day. It’s a ache till you get the knack, however even then, that is no Apple Watch. There are some that can welcome the old-school must press awkward buttons, whereas others will actively hate the look ahead to being unfriendly to make use of.

I don’t assume it’s a dealbreaker, supplied what to anticipate. For those who’re coming from a touchscreen smartwatch or health tracker, it’ll take a little bit of getting used to, but when the H5600 is one other sq. G-Shock in your assortment, your fingers will already be used to awkwardly wrapping themselves across the watch’s case simply to activate the backlight. That traditional sq. form is stuffed with attraction, although, as I like the way in which the H5600 seems on my wrist, the way it goes with most issues I put on, and that I’m at all times proud to point out it off. I can’t say that about many different related watches.

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600: health monitoring

When you’re previous getting pissed off with the 5600’s buttons, it’s time to begin a exercise, which includes … urgent the buttons. Fortunately, it’s not a long-winded course of, and the H5600 tracks strolling, working, and health club exercises. Info is proven on the Reminiscence-in-Pixel (MIP) display screen, which is obvious however not significantly brilliant when exercising exterior. As soon as accomplished, exercise information is proven on the display screen, and there’s no want to have a look at the app.

If you do open the app, there’s loads of information for the informal fan, with common and most tempo, cadence, stride, and coronary heart price zones displayed, together with vitality used and cardio load graphs. It’s not as in-depth or motivational as Garmin’s platform, and the one actual push to do extra is the cardio load standing in your day by day stats, which signifies when you’re coaching exhausting, sustaining, or slipping.

The H5600 continues Casio’s partnership with Polar, and the exercise model provides its information experience to the watch and app’s software program. The center price sensor’s outcomes largely match different gadgets, exhibiting the identical common coronary heart price depend throughout a exercise because the Oura Ring, however it could actually depend a better most, which has resulted in a barely increased calorie burn than the Oura or the Apple Watch Collection 8. None match one another precisely, however none are medical gadgets, so that is anticipated.

I’m reviewing the G-Shock DW-H5600 shortly after the Garmin Epix Professional (Gen 2), and the 2 couldn’t be extra completely different. The H5600 fits my way of life extra, because it tracks the actions I do most, whereas the Garmin is totally overkill for me. The H5600 isn’t going to fulfill the extremely lively individual’s thirst for efficiency information, suggestions, and motivation. As an alternative, it tracks easy, core exercises, and the info helps you preserve a usually lively way of life.

There’s not a lot room for progress, although, so when you anticipate to extend your exercise ranges or check out new sports activities, then the H5600 most likely gained’t sustain. That is the place a much more complete health watch is smart, or a prime present smartwatch just like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, as they’ve a larger diploma of performance able to be exploited sooner or later.

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600: Casio Watches app

Casio requires the set up of its Casio Watches app to attach the H5600 to your cellphone. The outdated G-Shock Transfer app used with the GBD-200 has been retired, and Casio Watches acts as a one-stop-shop to handle the watch’s time, date, and different core options — together with checking your well being information, and as a catalog of your whole assortment as a number of G-Shocks might be registered by means of it.

It connects reliably, and the watch has additionally obtained notifications from my cellphone. These seem on the display screen as an alert initially and are then filed away within the Notifications folder, the place they are often reviewed in additional element later. I’ve discovered these useful as steerage on whether or not I would like to succeed in for my cellphone or not, however as a result of awkward buttons and dense menu construction, digging into the notifications folder to learn extra isn’t one thing I’ve executed a lot.

To search out what you need within the app, you additionally need to go digging. The multi-function nature means there’s numerous info and screens, and it’s not at all times apparent the place issues are hidden. There’s a studying curve to it, however when you’ve discovered the health and well being information and are used to navigating the app, it’s well-presented and informative.

Casio has labored to combine its outdated apps (G-Shock Linked and G-Shock Transfer) into one inside Casio Watches, and it’s an honest effort, however there are some issues. It’s a disgrace the Residence web page is only a massive advert for different G-Shock watches, as this spoils the expertise, you’ll be able to’t choose your individual photograph for the Profile picture to personalize it extra, and it’s undoubtedly not the speediest performer both.

However worst of all is the shortage of third-party app integration. Casio Watches doesn’t join with Apple Well being, Google Match, Strava, or every other in style health ecosystem. You’re compelled to reside solely within the Casio Watches app, and this limits its usefulness and attraction to anybody who’s severe about sport and health.

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600: battery and charging

Casio is an skilled on the subject of photo voltaic charging. Its Powerful Photo voltaic characteristic is a staple on a lot of its G-Shock watches, and over the previous couple of years, it has leaned on the expertise to maintain its related watches going too. Nevertheless, we could also be reaching the restrict of what it could actually obtain. I’ve worn the DW-H5600 for round two weeks, in the course of the sunniest climate the U.Ok. has seen in 2023 thus far, and regardless of it being continually uncovered on my wrist, it merely hasn’t collected sufficient pure gentle to successfully cost the battery.

I’ve had the 24-hour-a-day coronary heart price and blood oxygen monitoring characteristic lively, simply as I’d on every other smartwatch, and I’ve additionally worn it to trace sleep. I’ve tracked a number of exercises, together with some with GPS, however actually not day-after-day. It has additionally obtained notifications from my iPhone 14 Professional. The battery reached one bar out of 4 after about seven days after which returned a Low Battery warning and refused to connect with my cellphone after 10 days.

My assessment mannequin does appear fairly gradual to cost utilizing gentle, although, and even after a day on a windowsill, it solely gained a single bar on the indicator. The GBD-H2000 didn’t have the identical stage of battery drain, indicating the H5600’s photo voltaic cell and battery might not have the ability to deal with the quantity of vitality required for 24-hour monitoring, notifications, sleep monitoring, and exercise monitoring with out assist.

Casio features a proprietary charging cable — which seems like a large crocodile clip — and it clamps onto the watch the place the charging terminals are situated, permitting the battery to be charged with out utilizing photo voltaic. It takes about 100 minutes to totally cost the battery this manner. For those who plan to make use of the H5600’s performance to its fullest, primarily based on my expertise, anticipate to do that as soon as each week.

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600: value and availability

The Casio G-Shock DW-H5600 is out there now. There are two variations accessible within the U.S., the DW-H5600-2, which is the blue/grey model seen in our images, prices $299. It’s joined by the DW-5600-1, which is available in a easy black shade. Within the U.Ok., each these variations value 269 British kilos, however you may also purchase a model with a steel bezel for 289 kilos (about $367). For 389 kilos (about $494), you may get a model with swappable bands, and bezels that commemorate G-Shock’s fortieth anniversary.

At $299, it’s $100 lower than the GBD-H2000, with the first distinction being the design. It’s twice the value of the GBD-200, which appears to be nonetheless accessible, and it could swimsuit you extra when you put watch design and magnificence over full health monitoring capacity. Exterior of the G-Shock vary, the value places it alongside the Apple Watch SE 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, that are extra fully-featured touchscreen smartwatches.

I don’t actually see the G-Shock as a competitor to those smartwatches, however as a substitute to extra watch-like fashions just like the Garmin Vivomove Development and the Fitbit Sense 2, particularly when you actually worth the health side. It’s additionally a much better selection for watch followers over a health band from manufacturers like Fitbit, with its traditional styling and immense sturdiness. You’ll be able to put on it with nearly any outfit, and it seems nice.

Casio G-Shock DW-H5600: verdict

The G-Shock DW-H5600 is kind of a complicated watch. On one hand, it’s the perfect fitness-tracking G-Shock, because it’s gentle, modestly sized, and cozy, plus it has a coronary heart price sensor for comparatively complete health and exercise monitoring. However on the opposite, it’s more likely to want charging as soon as per week, it doesn’t combine with different key health platforms, the controls will appear antiquated to some, and it prices as a lot as some wonderful full touchscreen smartwatches.

G-Shock followers and individuals who wish to put on a great, non-touchscreen watch will prefer it, however provided that they don’t anticipate to make use of way more than pretty primary health monitoring now or sooner or later. Anybody used to an Apple Watch will discover the controls annoying. The truth that the solar energy — such an excellent profit on the GBD-200, for instance — doesn’t appear to have the heart to solely energize the watch means you’ll need to cost it frequently, very similar to you’ll with a Garmin Vivomove Development, Polar Pacer Professional, or different watch-like health smartwatches.

The G-Shock DW-5600 is true on the crossover level between how far Casio can take its non-touchscreen related watches — by way of capacity, battery, design, and value — and us simply telling you to purchase a full touchscreen watch as a result of it’s simpler to make use of, does extra, and it’ll be higher for you in the long term. I actually just like the G-Shock DW-H5600, but when I actually wished a great $300 activity-tracking watch that will spur me on and develop with me sooner or later, I’d most likely choose the Apple Watch SE 2 or Garmin Vivomove Development as a substitute. Or, I’d make do with the Oura Ring, which tracks primary exercises with no downside, is healthier at sleep monitoring, has a superb app, and has sturdy battery life. That method, my wrist is free to put on any G-Shock in any respect.

I’m unsure the H5600 is kind of ok to be the G-Shock to usurp its full smartwatch competitors, however it’s the related health look ahead to lively individuals who have at all times beloved the concept of life with a G-Shock however couldn’t beforehand cope with the dimensions.

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