Casio’s latest G-Shock smartwatch is smart, sporty, and super expensive
Are retro-cool looks worth the asking price?
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Casio’s newG-Squad Prois a sportssmartwatchthat looks like a classic G-Shock device, but is packed with powerful hardware and runs Google’sWear OS– if you can afford it.
On-board GPS, a compass, altimeter, gyroscope and accelerometer are all accounted for, alongside an optical heart rate sensor. The screen has an interesting hybrid design, with a classic G-Shock style monochrome layer, plus a color layer for displaying workout and app info.
It’s tough too, as you’d expect from a G-Shock watch, with a titanium case back and titanium carbide finish to prevent scuffs and corrosion. It’s water resistant to 200m (impressive since most smartwatches are only rated to 50m), which makes it suitable for not only swimming, but also water sports like surfing.
Casio has yet to confirm a release date for the G-Squad Pro (you canregister for email updateswhen it becomes available), but we do know that it will cost £599 (around $830 / AU$1,000) at launch. That’s a lot.
Fierce competition
That launch price will make it more expensive than the top-endGarmin Fenix 6and the super-toughPolar Grit X, both of which place highly in our roundup of the best running watches. Both are built to last, and feature advanced hardware and training tools to help improve you
The key difference is that both of these watches – while packed with advanced workout features – are limited in terms of third-party app compatibility. The Fenix 6 supports apps downloaded viaGarminConnect IQ, and the Polar Flow app allows you to customize the widgets on your Grit X, you can’t download third-party tools.
However, the G-Squad Pro is also expensive for a general-purpose smartwatch, costing considerably more than theApple Watch 6,Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, and the superbTicWatch Pro 3.
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It seems that much of what you’re paying for with the new Casio is the retro-cool design, and it certainly does look good. We hope to put it to the test soon so we can see whether it’s enough to justify the price tag, and see how it compares to its rivals in the gym and on the road.
In the meantime, if you’re in the market for a Wear OS sports watch, take a look at theFossil Sport, which currently sits at the top of our list of thebest Wear OS watches, is powerful and lightweight, with impressive battery life and a gym-focused design. It’s also a fraction of the price of the G-Squad Pro, currently selling for around $250 / £150 / AU$230.
Cat is TechRadar’s Homes Editor specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She’s been a tech journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right devices for your home and do more with them. When not working she’s a keen home baker, and makes a pretty mean macaron.
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