One of the primary reasons why some people might wear smartwatches over traditional digital sports watches is for their health and fitness tracking capabilities, although rarely do most people actually need all of a smartwatch’s other functions. However, as a multinational electronics manufacturing company that is also widely respected throughout the watch industry, Casio is more than capable of integrating the key functions of a fitness tracker into a traditional sports watch package, and the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 takes the familiar fan-favorite “square” silhouette of the original G-Shock and combines it with all of the capabilities of a modern fitness tracker, including step counting, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level measurement, and more.
Available in either black as the ref. DWH5600-1 or a blue/gray color as the ref. DWH5600-2, the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 more-or-less looks like an unusual color variant of the classic 5600 series that has been around since 1983. However, while their overall shape and form is virtually identical to what can be found on the standard “square” G-Shock models, both the bezel and strap of the new G-Shock Move DWH5600 are made from a bio-based resin, with a bio-based carbon fiber-reinforced resin used for the inner case (a first for Casio’s G-Shock range). Similar to most other standard-collection models, the screen on the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 is protected by a flat mineral glass crystal, while water resistance comes in at the same 200 meters that is standard across the rest of the greater G-Shock lineup.
While the aesthetic similarities are immediately obvious, anything beyond a quick look at the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 will confirm that it is not your standard “square” G-Shock. Both models feature the same inverted display with small orange highlights accenting the text on the front dial plate, and the actual numerals on the screen itself differ slightly from what is normally found on one of the models from the G-Shock 5600 series. The reason for this difference in appearance is that the screen on the new G-Shock Move DWH4600 is a high-definition Memory in Pixel (MIP) LCD for increased visibility, and below the numerals that display the time is an additional row of information that pertains to the battery life, alarm status, and the watch’s Bluetooth connected functions.
Similarly, the reverse side of the case on the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 also offers some core similarities as the standard “square” 5600 series models, although it also might just be the single biggest aesthetic departure compared to one of the normal models from the collection. While the caseback is still a piece of stainless steel secured by four small screws at the corners, a large multi-function health tracking sensor now resides at the center, with a contact point for the USB charger located below it. Aside from these key differences, the rest of the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 remains largely the same as other “square” models from the collection, with four buttons located on the side of the case used to operate its various features and functions.
In addition to all of the usual digital watch features that have become standard across the G-Shock collection such as a stopwatch, alarm, countdown timer, automatic calendar, world timer, and backlight, the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 also offers step counting, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level measurement, and sleep analysis. Additionally, since the G-Shock Move DWH5600 also offers Bluetooth connectivity to facilitate its use as a health and fitness tracker, it also benefits from automatic time synchronization, the ability to receive notifications, and easy setup and configuration through the Casio Watches smartphone app.
While the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 does offer solar charging, this feature is really intended more as a means to prolong its battery life, and you will likely still need to use its USB charging capabilities if you plan on maximizing all of its functionality as a fitness tracker. With that in mind, assuming your watch receives zero light exposure, you can expect up to 35 hours of battery life when using its heart rate tracking and activity functions, approximately one month of autonomy with its heat rate measurement feature turned off, and around 11 months of timekeeping when using its power saving mode. Given these numbers and the watch’s ability to top itself off with solar charging, the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 should have no trouble lasting the duration of a weekend camping trip, provided that you are smart about when you use its activity tracking capabilities.
Despite the fact that smartwatches offer superior functionality when it comes to health and fitness tracking, they can often be a bit too feature-rich for the person who just wants to keep tabs on their core health metrics. Additionally, smartwatches rarely scratch that same itch for enthusiasts who appreciate traditional timepieces, and the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 represents a nice middle ground for someone who wants to wear an “actual” watch without sacrificing the health tracking capabilities of their connected devices. With an official retail price of $299 USD, the new Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600 is priced below most of the Apple Watch models currently available, and with 200 meters of water resistance and the same legendary impact resistance that defines the rest of the G-Shock collection, it also certainly promises to be more durable than your standard smartwatch or fitness tracker. For more information on the Casio G-Shock Move DWH5600, please visit the brand’s website.
