Following on from the analog G-Shock GBA-800 Casio have released a digital variant, the GBD-800, of their fitness tracking, step counting, bluetooth tough watch.
Press Release :
The following press release is taken from GShock.com :
Casio G-Shock GBD-800 US Colour Way Options
DOVER, NEW JERSEY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 – Today, Casio G-SHOCK unveils the latest additions to the Men’s Power Trainer Series with the release of the GBD800. Available in two color ways of black with red accents (GBD800-1) and black with neon green accents (GBD800-8), the models are compatible with the G-SHOCK Connected app and include new technical features such as a re-designed full digital display and phone finder function through Bluetooth Mobile Link.
The models come on the heels of the analog-digital GBA800, which was released earlier this year in partnership with U.S. Olympian and G-SHOCK brand ambassador Louie Vito. Geared towards athletes and active individuals, the GBD800 features a step tracker function that breaks down daily steps taken in five metabolic equivalent levels (MET) – all of which are displayed in a graph via the G-SHOCK Connected app.
The watch also boasts a work-out timer with up to five intervals and an updated digital display of three different rows to easily track fitness progress. Toggling between modes, the top display showcases a step graph and lap number, while the mid display showcases time and the bottom display showcases the total number of laps and steps.
Other key features include a built-in stopwatch with 200-record memory, an auto super illuminator LED light, target alarm and auto time update capabilities. Each model also comes equipped with standard G-SHOCK technology such as:
200M water resistance and shock resistance
5 daily alarms
1/100th stopwatch and countdown timer
Dual Time
Round timer
The GBD800-1 and GBD800-8 will retail at $99 and will be available for purchase beginning in October 2018 at G-SHOCK retailers including Macy’s, the G-SHOCK Soho Store, and
Europeans are even more lucky – the basics of the press release remains the same but we get much broader colour ways with some pretty awesome options in there over the US’ black and green and black and red.
If you follow G-Shock and their limited editions you will be aware then that 2018 brings us another New Era Collaboration.
It’s not the first time G-Shock and New Era have teamed up and its not the first time that the watch’s storage container is a cap – which is just simply an awesome touch!
Casio G-Shock GBA-800 Unboxing and Initial Review (GBA-800-9AER)
At CES 2018, Casio introduced two new G-Shock watches to its ever growing collection of tough timepieces. Known as the GBA-800 and GPR-B1000, both devices connect to the G-Shock Connected app to help track different metrics and information.
The relevant watch to this review is from G-Shock’s new G-Squad series, the GBA-800 — a hybrid fitness watch that you can adds a little bit of fitness tech to G-Shock’s already iconic style. It comes in six different colour models – and of course the poster child for the series is the almost day-glo yellow (or is it green) model.
Using a built-in accelerometer the watch measures your daily steps along with your walking or running pace, the amount of steps you’ve taken will be displayed on the watch, both as a figure and a graphic.
So to wet your appetite here are a few of the promo shots released for the watch…
With Smart Watches taking over the world, is there a place for a non smart watch?
Absolutely! Of course there is, many people have no interest in a Smart Watch, many people would rather speed £500 on a wrist watch over a smart watch. Others need the functions of a standard watch more than a Smart Watch. Me, for example I wear G-Shocks, for their rugged strength, and I like how they look. I can wear it to work and not even slightly worry about it, same goes for being out on the bike, no weather will phase it, nor me, and if pulling a long a long weekend, or a full day I don’t need to worry about my watch’s battery. I don’t need to worry about damaging it, because let’s be honest if the watch breaks, there’s a good chance my arm is broken with it!
However when browsing I noticed the G-Shock ‘Smart’ Watch at a bargain price of £90 GBP, when the RRP is £180, that was easily enough to tempt me, so it was ordered and arrived the next day.
Basically it is a G-Shock with everything you expect in the rugged strength and chunky looks, with the added bonus of Bluetooth 4.0. There is an app for iOS (and Android) which pairs to the watch, which when you activate and from there the app can control the time settings and the music on your smart device, whether that be song selection or volume.
So its smart settings are basic, time setting and music control. that’s all there will ever be, but that’s fine, not too many people will need or want more from a G-Shock, but it is a nice feature set, it adds to the G-Shock experience, and at a reasonable price it is a bargain.
The battery is touted as lasting for 2 years when using the Bluetooth Features for 2 hours a day, obviously the more or less you use the more or less the battery will be affected. Also it doesn’t remain parked indefinitely. In an attempt to preserve battery the BT connection will disconnect after 2 hours of non use. Some people like this, others hate it, for me I am reasonably indifferent, pairing the watch and a phone back up is very easy and quick, so it doesn’t bother me at all.
All I would say in summary is that this is a G-Shock with a Smart features, it isn’t a smart watch. Don’t expect text, email notifications, for some reason Casio have dropped this feature which they do have on other watches, this is a watch to control your music, if that is something you would benefit from then this is definitely the G-Shock for you. If not the RRP of £180 opens up a massive range of other G-Shock watches for you so have a good browse around. Oh and at £90 this is an absolute bargain!
G-Shock GBA400-1AER Bluetooth 4.0 UnBoxing Gallery :
With my annual trip over to the Gadget Show Live, this year I picked myself up a Pebble Watch. With the imminent release of the Apple Watch at the time I was curious if a Smart Watch had a place in my life, but the price tag of £299 GBP was more than I was prepared to spend on a effectively what would be a trail.
As is plainly evident from this blog my watch of choice is a G-Shock, so moving to a delicate Smart Watch is a big move.
The deal on the Pebble Watch was great with a show special of £80 so I jumped on the Smart Watch ship.
The latest G-Shock to my collection, and a lovely birthday present, is the Red Camo GD-120-CM-4ER. With its large face (one of the XL sizes) and reverse display it has instantly become one of my favourite Gs. Also without doubt it gets the most positive reaction of any of my watches, so far with universal approval from everyone who has spotted it. Having worn it daily for almost a month I have no complaints, the strap has kept its design flawlessly, my only rather minor gripe is that the retaining band, like most gets stained, what starts out as a nice bright red quickly becomes dull and almost dirty looking. Thankfully it is a minor issue, and one that would rarely ever be seen. The important aspect being the strap so far is holding out flawlessly. One final thing, this is not a discreet watch, however Im pretty sure you already know that!
By way of information, in relation to replacements and repairs, a new strap and bezel will be costly, coming in at around £55 for both delivered from Casio.
With winter quickly approaching and the temperatures rapidly dropping what a better time to get a new G-Shock, and a winter G-Shock at that!
The G-Shock GLS-8900 Low Temp Editions were brought out just in time for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, (the funky colour range at least was refreshed.) These are branded as Low Temp and claim to function to -20 degrees celsius. Hopefully we don’t experience that this winter but if we do at least the watch should keep on ticking.
A full colour range to suit every pallet was released, with black, blue, pink and a yellow. Myself, not having a blue G-Shock decided on the blue. It was only when I received it I noted that the blue is actually flecked, you can’t see in the photos that there is almost a metallic fleck throughout the strap, and in my opinion it looks really smart.
Finally, this is a big G, not GX-56 big but as you can see from the comparison photos with my GA-1000 and from the photos of the watch on my wrist this is a good sized G!
Some of the Stats and Specifications from the Casio Web Site :
My latest G-Shock to the collection is the G-Shock ‘Premium’ GA-1000-FC-1AER from the Aviator Series.
With its titanium strap and bezel, and functions consisting of but not limited to a compass, thermometer and altimeter and couple these features with its tough as hell yet smart as hell look this watch definitely deserves its ‘Premium’ label.
This is a big beast of a watch and in the gallery below you will see a couple of photos directly comparing it in size to that of the GA-100 Series, a series which is known for its bulk, if you don’t like a big watch you’d best look elsewhere. Other than that she is a weighty beast too, but it feels right, strong, and pretty damn tough!
A picture paints a thousand words, or so they say, so here is a 20,000 word review on why this watch is the dogs danglies!
G-Shocks are without doubt one of the hardest, toughest and in my opinion coolest watches in the world. Couple this with the oversized G-Shock range and the GA-100 series, in my book you are onto a winner every time!
This Christmas I was lucky enough to get another GA-100, bringing my total to 3 (Black, White and now Yellow!). This time I opened the box to see the bright, and oh so shiny GA-100-9AER staring at me, that product code referring to the yellow model.
This watch is big, vivid and in your face! If you can’t handle that then this is not the watch nor the range for you. However for me the fact that this watch is big, vivid and in your face is all part of what makes it so very very cool!
G-Shock Classic Watch featuring Shock resistance, 200M WR, countdown timer, 1/100 sec. stopwatch and auto-calendar. Black resin band digital watch with green face.
This model has affectionately been named amongst the G-Shock Community as the ‘Zombie Slayer’ and with the increasing popularity in all things ‘undead’ this watch has become a cult classic in its own right.
I picked this watch up in a sale, the price was far too good to miss, however the only issue from this being a sale item was that it came in a generic Casio box rather than the rather cool looking G-Shock Casing, forgetting that the watch arrived in perfect condition and it now has a good spot in my G-Shock Collection!
Tech Specs:
Shock Resistant
200 Meter Water Resistant
EL Backlight with Afterglow
Flash Alert
Flashes with buzzer that sounds for alarms, hourly time signal, countdown timer time-up alarm
1/100 second stopwatch
Measuring capacity: 00’00”00-59’59”99 (for the first 60 minutes)
1:00’00-23:59’59 (after 60 minutes)
Measuring unit: 1/100 second (for the first 60 minutes)
1 second (after 60 minutes)
Measuring mode: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
Countdown timer
Measuring unit: 1 second
Countdown range: 24 hours
Countdown start time setting range: 1 second to 24 hours
(1-second increments, 1-minute increments and 1-hour increments)
Other: Auto-repeat
Multi-function alarm
Hourly time signal
Full auto-calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2039)
12/24 hour formats
Accuracy: +/- 15 seconds per month
Battery CR2016
Approx. battery life: 2 years
Module 1289/3230
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