In a world where smartwatches from Apple, Fitbit and the like reign supreme, higher-end watches are a tougher sell for many. Traditional watch manufacturers have been trying to combat their 21st century rivals by adding smartphone support to their timepieces for some time now. But for its latest release, Casio is mixing things up with a new take on its classic watch.
The new G-Shock Digital GMWB5000GD-9 sports an entirely metal casing, which it pairs with other notable features like a solar battery, Bluetooth, and more. Not to mention, it comes with a hefty price tag, to boot. Head below for a closer look at Casio’s newest G-Shock full-metal watch.
In order to create its latest model, Casio went all the way back to the G-Shock DW5000C, its first rugged watch. Many of the DW5000C’s now-retro design cues are present in the company’s new release, but a classic-inspired form-factor isn’t exactly one of the main selling points here.
The GMWB5000GD-9 most prominently features a full-metal case. It’s one of the first watches that Casio has released to accomplish such a feat. There are three different styles available, so you can choose between gold, silver and matte grey colorways.
Alongside its flashy exterior, Casio has also baked in some notable features. The GMWB5000GD-9 sports the usual shock-resistant design, as well as water-resistance up to 200m and more. It also leverages G-SHOCK’s Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping technology, which is pretty standard across the company’s lineup these days.
Casio’s latest also incorporates Mobile Link, allowing the watch to automatically update its time, pass notifications over from your smartphone, and more. You won’t be able to read texts or anything super fancy, but it does vibrate and display an alert when calls or texts come in. There’s also no need to worry about battery life, as it features a self-cgarging solar battery.
But all of these features do come at one major trade-off: a cool price tag of $550. The new full-metal G-Shock watch is now available for purchase direct from Casio and now shipping. To put that into perspective, you could go buy a Series 4 Cellular Apple Watch and be left with $21 to spare. For some, having a more rugged watch like this is worth sacrificing the features that smartwatches offer. But for most, it’s still a far from easy sell.
Does an all-metal timepiece make you want to ditch your Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments below. As for me, I’ll be waiting for Casio to come out with a steel version of its classic Calculator watch.
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