A new Casio G-Shock with Polar technology makes its debut
Casio is commemorating the 40th anniversary of its G-Shock series with the release of the G-SQUAD DW-H5600 fitness watch. The timepiece combines the original G-Shock DW-5000C’s signature ruggedness with Polar-powered advanced fitness features.
Polar has recently begun allowing third-party companies to use its 25 fitness algorithms in conjunction with their hardware and services. Casio was the first to benefit from this collaboration, releasing its G-Shock G-Squad GBD-H2000 watch in late February.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
Polar has provided fitness technology to business customers before, but this is the first time it is offering these services directly to competitors. The move is meant to broaden Polar’s footprint and provide an additional revenue stream. Polar is enabling other companies to avoid spending years researching and developing their own fitness tracking products by licencing its technology so it’s a win win situation.
The G-Shock G-SQUAD DW-H5600 Polar powered fitness watch
Casio is clearly capitalising on this, as it has just announced another watch powered by Polar technology. This one goes under the catchy name G-Shock G-SQUAD DW-H5600. The device is the most sophisticated 5000-5600 “square” model available, and it is designed in the classic G-Shock style.
The G-SQUAD DW-H5600 is slightly larger than its predecessor – the DW-5600. It measures 51.1 x 44.5 x 17.4mm and weighs 59 grammes. Other models in the new series with a hybrid resin and stainless steel bezels are thinner, measuring 16.6 millimetres.
As you’d expect, the G-SQUAD DW-H5600 line provides fitness measurement and analysis, including an optical heart rate monitor, step counter, blood oxygen level measurement. There’s also comprehensive sleep measurement (including Polar’s Nightly Recharge), and breathing exercise functions. The activity log and life log can each track up to 100 runs and 200 laps, while the activity log records step count data, calorie consumption, and active time measurement. Unfortunately, there is no built-in GPS, so you’ll need to rely on your smartphone’s satellite signal for navigation.
The Bluetooth connection and the Casio Watches smartphone app offer automatic time correction, world time with approximately 300 cities, smartphone notification display, phone finder, and other features. You can recharge the watch battery using the included proprietary USB cable or solar, and it will last up to one month in watch mode with the heart rate monitor turned off and approximately 11 months with power saving turned on.
Price, availability
The DW-H5600 series will debut with five models, one of which will be a limited 40th Anniversary edition. So far, the watch has only been announced in Japan, with availability starting in mid-May. This should be followed soon after by an international release. The full resin models are expected to cost around $300 in the United States.
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