Casio has always maintained a rugged timepiece look across its fleet. That is despite the linear progression of wearables that improves one product after the other. It is a design the brand prides as a solution to deliver a durable wearable. As Casio ventures into the smartwatch arena, aside from maintaining the rugged look, what else could a Casio smartwatch deliver in a market that is already dominated by Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch?
In this article, we will be comparing two known Casio smartwatch units: the G-Shock Move and Squad Pro. In the end, we want to be able to help you point out which timepiece does better at what. Moreover, we might be able to persuade you to give this rugged smartwatch a try.
Overview: Casio G-Shock Move vs G-Squad Pro
G-Shock Move GBD-H1000
The G-Shock Move is the first among the Casio smartwatch fleet that has a built-in optical heart rate sensor on the wristband. Moreover, the release of this unit signals Casio’s serious move into the smartwatch fitness arena. It also boasts a good and long battery life, thanks to its solar-charging feature in this watch.
G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000
The G-Shock Pro is the first Casio smartwatch to run Wear OS by Google, adding to a variety of fitness apps. It features the basics one should expect from a smartwatch: GPS, heart rate sensor, altimeter, barometer, and compass. This watch is both WiFi and Bluetooth connection compatible. Considering it runs Wear OS, it is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Prices
Price is a consideration that most, if not all of us, can’t ignore. We always associate the number of features a device has and whether the price justifies those features (or vice versa). So, it is fitting that we look into the price tags and margins of the G-Shock Move and G-Squad Pro before you decide which one to buy.
The G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 was released in July 2020 and was Casio’s entry into the fitness arena. This particular unit of the wearable and its entire GBD fleet starts at $399. It’s hardly a wearable that could compete as a midrange wearable. While brands like Garmin and Samsung are priced lower than $300, the G-Shock Move competes against Apple Watch 5 in terms of price. On the other hand, G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000, launched just in May 2021, starts at $699. A little too pricey considering its nearest competition, Apple Watch 6, is sold for $429.
The price tags are actually a bargain when it comes to shopping around and comparing it with its competition. But Casio is going all in and it makes sense, especially if it wants to be aggressive in trying to capture the smartwatch and fitness tracker market.
It’s quite obvious that the G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 is the easy winner in terms of pricing. However, we urge you to read further to decide whether the price tags are justifiable or not.
Winner: G-Shock Move GBD-H1000
Design and Style
At a fast glance, both the G-Squad Pro and G-Shock Move have rugged smartwatch exterior looks. The look is a distinct G-Shock design that Casio claims to deliver long-term durability.
The G-Shock Move is a robust watch that is famed for its solar-charging capabilities. It has large round bezels that are strategically placed around the watch, protecting the mineral glass screen. This rugged smartwatch is monochrome but the display is not an issue. The screen is lit by a backlight which allows anyone to see the display with no strain, glare, or any screen problems. Meanwhile, the G-Squad Pro has an interesting display design; it has a dual-layer display that shows your watch face on monochrome always-on-display outside and has a full-color display underneath. This is extremely smart because the monochrome display helps conserve battery, especially for a wearable that runs Wear OS.
The G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 is made both of plastic and stainless steel; both are combined cohesively to ensure the device is protected from direct shock. On the other hand, G-Squad pro is made of titanium combined with aluminum material for its button and top part casing.
In terms of size and weight, the G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 weights 100.4 grams, while the G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000 weights 102.5 grams. G-Shock Move is comparatively smaller than the G-Squad Pro.
Again, at a fast glance, the exterior looks of both watches would give their weight comparison away. However, to untrained eyes, these two devices would literally look the same and can be mistaken with one another. Both devices are also more than able to put up with intense activities. They are shock-resistant and can endure a 200-meter water submersion.
Winner: Draw
Chipset and OS
In April 2021, G-Shock cemented its aim at capturing the smartwatch and fitness tracker markets by introducing its very first Casio smartwatch that runs Wear OS. It was a revolutionary step for the watchmaker considering it has produced a progression of wearables that runs its proprietary OS.
The G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000 ushers Casio into a new generation of smartwatches. The integration of Google’s Wear OS allows this device access to thousands of third-party apps that users would otherwise not have on other previous G-Shock units. This means more functionality to a robust, sturdy wearable. It will also be utilizing the G-Shock Move smartphone app for other functions and features. However, it is a surprise that Casio has kept the CPU information for the G-Squad Pro unit a secret. All we know about this watch are the following:
- Number of Cores (2)
- Clock Speed Range (137 MHz to 1.01 GHz)
- Core 0 (1.01 GHz)
- Core 1 (1.01 GHz)
- Architecture (8)
- ABI (armeabi-v7a)
- Variant (0x0)
On the other hand, the G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 performs without the Wear OS integrated into its system. Does that mean this wearable lacks in terms of functionality? The short answer is yes. Long answer: it really doesn’t matter because even without the Wear OS, the G-Shock Move units perform what is expected of them. They are just as better equipped with the sensors and features you would have on the G-Squad Pro. Of course, having the Wear OS does have its added value but it’s just really a small margin of points ahead for G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000.
Winner: G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000
Battery Life and Charging
For how long a smartwatch can last in a single charge is a great consideration especially if you would be using your smartwatch regularly. A smartwatch’s battery life is no different from a smartphone, considering engineers are putting in as many modern features in one device as possible. Hence, one can only expect that battery life would somehow bear the brunt.
We absolutely love the robust battery life in both the G-Shock Move and G-Squad Pro. The Casio G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 watch is capable of solar charging. That alone makes this watch powerful that you would require less plugging in to charge. This Casio smartwatch could last up to 12 months in timekeeping mode and 66 hours if the heart rate tracker is enabled. And to add up, it also has power-saving functions which come in handy until you are able to plug it on or find a good solar source to recharge.
On the other hand, the G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000 also has good battery life due to the inlaid dual-screen systems. With that, the watch could last up to two days with the heart rate monitor enabled and if you don’t wear the watch overnight. We can easily forgive this since Wear OS watches consume more power to support their handful of features. However, it certainly is a little turn-off because the watch takes three hours to fully charge itself.
Winner: G-Shock Move GBD-H1000
Fitness Tracking
The G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 is Casio’s more serious attempt to penetrate the fitness smartwatch market. The G-Shock Move measured distance pretty closely when compared to two other fitness smartwatches of the same caliber. The watch came pretty much accurately with the same smartwatches in terms of measuring the heart rate. However, the same can’t be said when the watch was put to test in measuring calories burned during an active activity.
Moreover, the G-Shock Move measured calories burned pretty low compared to the same fitness smartwatches it was compared to. However, we love how the watch automatically detects if a user is running. In addition, the GPS tracking of G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 came a little short on tracking activities, which can be a little off-putting. However, the rest of the monitors did work well.
In an almost similar fashion, the G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000 also did perform well. On top of it, the GPS tracking came pretty resolutely and accurately as well. Moreover, the heart rate sensors did perform as expected. There were minute hiccups when the HR monitor was put to test but those did not affect the overall performance and data of the watch at all. When paired with the Strava app, the G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000 gave solid and respectable results for GPS and the HR monitor gave exceptional results as well.
Winner: G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000
Companion App and Connectivity
Between these two Casio smartwatches, there is one clear winner in terms of connectivity and companion app.
The Wear OS in G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000 allows the watch to be more robust in functionality as compared to the G-Shock Move GBD-H1000. The G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 can only function when paired to the dedicated G-Shock Move app. However, do not let this scope and limitation mislead you. The watch is perfectly capable of improving your running. It contains other tools to help you in your exercises and physical activities. The app basically contains everything for the watch to function including changing watch faces. With the Bluetooth connection, data can be synced between your watch and smartphone as well.
The G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000, however, has access to a number of fitness tracking Wear OS apps within the Google Play Store including Google Fit and Strava. That gives this watch an edge over the G-Shock Move because you are not just confined to one app to help you track, assess, and improve your fitness activities. Of course, in the G-Squad Pro, you’ll still have an option to choose the decided G-Shock Move app.
Download Google Fit for Android
Winner: G-Squad Pro GSW-H1000
Verdict
There are a number of considerations when choosing which is the best between the G-Shock Move and G-Squad Pro. If we are to base it on battery life, the G-Shock Move easily wins due to the solar power and charging capabilities. It is revolutionary for a smartwatch to have that under its hood. However, battery life does not necessarily translate to overall capabilities if we factor in a watch’s OS or chipset. However, with all the secrecy behind the chipset in the G-Squad Pro, it’s hard to tell whether the battery life is justified with the performance.
In terms of pricing, the G-Shock Move wins over a price tag of just $399 compared to the price tag of $699 for the G-Squad Pro. Performance-wise, there is more functionality in the G-Squad Pro, thanks to the Wear OS. That is not to say the G-Shock Move performs any less. If for anything, there’s just more flexibility in terms of fitness tracking and improving in the G-Squad Pro, which is sort of expected. Speaking of fitness, there are hiccups in terms of the HR monitoring and GPS for b0th Casio smartwatches. But to say who came close to the accuracy and less margin of errors? We’ll have to give it to the G-Squad Pro.
