Casio releases the first ProTrek to offer a heart rate sensor
Casio has announced a new(ish) addition to its smartwatch range. The catchily named ProTrek WSD-F21HR comes with a new feature most of its rivals already offer.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The ProTrek range is made for those who are into the rugged lifestyle. The watches keep tabs on everything from road and trail running, to cycling, climbing and more. But there was always one thing missing from these devices – a heart rate monitor.
As indicated by the name, this finally changes with the Casio ProTrek WSD-F21HR. Which makes it kind of a big deal for the company.
The addition of the heart rate sensor makes this Wear OS device a much more worthy contender in the outdoor smartwatches market. The reason we call this a new(ish) watch is that it’s actually an update of the WSD-F20 from 2017.
Like so many other fitness trackers and smartwatches, the WSD-F21HR shines an LED light on the wearer’s wrist to determine the heart rate. One captured, the information is displayed in one of five heart rate zones. The Casio smartphone app has, of course, been updated to display this data. You can also use the Google Fit app for this purpose, as well as third party apps such as Strava, BikeMap and ViewRanger.
Casio has also slapped on a new Heart Rate watch face. It automatically transitions into the heart rate monitor screen when there is movement.
The other functionality is pretty much unchanged. The WSD-F21 HR comes with built-in GPS and offline maps, 5 ATM water-resistance and much more – all packaged in a device with military-grade durability.
You also get the same 1.32-inch duel-display allowing you to preserve battery life with limited functionality. With normal use, the device can run for about a day and a half between charges.
The $499 watch will be available in September on Casio’s website and select retailers. It will come in a black and red variant.
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