Casio G-Shock GBX-100 Bluetooth Smartwatch $199.50 Delivered @ rebel

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rebel

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  EchoNoob on 22/05/2021 - 22:02

  +1

  Shame is doesnt do HR =\

  • 

    Miami Mall Alien on 22/05/2021 - 22:06

    +4

    Nope, no heart rate monitoring. A consequence of the small and slim case size.

    That's reserved for the more expensive GBD-H1000 which Rebel Sport also have discounted as part of the same sale for $299.50 currently. A very good price considering the GBD-H1000 is normally $500-600 AUD.

    However, the GBX-100 is a lot more comfortable and discreet on your wrist than the GBD-H1000 and does harken back to the old G-Shock square aesthetic, which is arguably a lot better-looking than the GBD-H1000, which is pretty monstrous even for a G-Shock (63.0×55.0×20.4mm case dimensions/101 grams).

    Also, it runs until the battery dies; so it doesn't need to be charged weekly unlike the GBD-H1000.

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  WatchNerd on 22/05/2021 - 22:28

  Approx. battery life: 2 years on CR2032

  Strange that you would post this after your comments here?

  • 

    Miami Mall Alien on 22/05/2021 - 22:41

    +8

    Strange that you would bring that up at all, given it's an apples and oranges comparison.

    There's no solar-powered variant of the GBX-100 and in this price bracket, there's no similar watch with this kind of smartwatch/fitness feature-set that is solar-powered.
    The GBX-100's bigger, solar-powered brother, the GBD-H1000, is normally several hundred dollars more expensive (currently $100 more during the Rebel Sport sale).

    That's a far cry from the argument I was making in the DW-5600 deal you've posted, which wasn't to say that battery-powered watches are never a good deal; I was merely suggesting the identical, solar-powered G-5600E is about $60 dollars more expensive for about double the lifespan if not more. The DW-5600 just doesn't make much sense from a long-term, TOC/ROI perspective and it's also goofy/clunky as hell due it being unchanged since 1996 (and I don't think people appreciate that until they've actually used one). I mean, what other watches do you know of first released in 1996 that are still in production today (aside from the similar vintage F-91W which is also extremely outdated)? There aren't many and for good reason; it desperately needed an update and that's what the G-5600E is for.

    • 

      WatchNerd on 22/05/2021 - 23:19

      I brought it up because you made multiple comments about battery life & the extra cost involved in getting a new battery installed by a professional compared to the solar model. This model has an even shorter battery life.

      • 

        Miami Mall Alien on 23/05/2021 - 01:51

        -1

        you made multiple comments about battery life & the extra cost involved in getting a new battery installed by a professional compared to the solar model.

        Yes, all of which are very worthwhile points in the case of comparing the DW-5600/G-5600E as they're very different watches to the GBX-100.

        Not that hard to grasp.

        The GBX-100 is separated from the DW-5600 by about 24 years, the only thing they have in common is that they're digital watches made by Casio; they're not in the same galaxy so comparing them is pointless. This is like comparing a 1980s Corolla to a modern-day one.

        Or a G-5600E to an automatic Patek-Philippe and saying the G-5600E is better purely because it has solar power.

        You're kind of being deliberately obtuse here…

        This model has an even shorter battery life.

        That has to be balanced with the fact that the GBX-100 does a hell of a lot more than a DW-5600 which literally only counts time; so naturally you can't expect to fit a laptop-grade lithium-ion battery into a wristwatch. There's trade-offs for the distinct niches these watches occupy.

        2 years is a rough guide anyway as are all of Casio's battery life estimates; it's always case of: the more you use it, the faster you lose it. If ​you don't use many of the module's advanced features, the battery lifespan is easily twice as long.

        • 

          WatchNerd on 23/05/2021 - 07:13

          +2

          @Miami Mall Alien:

          This is like comparing a 1980s Corolla to a modern-day one.

          No it's not like that at all. A modern day car has more features combined with better fuel economy.
          The more I think about it the more I find this Bluetooth Smartwatch G-Shock a bit strange. If any G-Shock needed to be solar it should have been this one.

          I guess one of the reasons why the G-Shock Classic is still relevant and keeps selling after all these years is because some people just want a solid reliable watch that tells the date & time, if they need anything else they can use their phone.

          • 

            ihfree on 23/05/2021 - 11:43

            @WatchNerd: To stick with the car analogy, i'd say this is similar to comparing the entertainment system in the two cars. I would guess that a modern entertainment system sees an increase in power draw despite the car being overall more efficient.

            This watch has a dot matrix display, accelerometer, bluetooth and a lot more features. For example, that tide feature normally requires a dedicated area of LCD. There's a lot more information that can be displayed on the screen. In addition, there're the accelerometer and additional fitness features.

            This watch would have a different target market and likely one that is happy with the trade off of additional features for reduced battery life.

            Using another watch as an example, I have a Bulova that does 16bpm and has a 2 year battery life. I wouldn't be happy with a regular quartz watch having a 2 year battery life.

            I have the square solar and see this as different enough that i'd be tempted to add it to my collection. Anyway, all interesting discussion and hopefully helpful to someone who is interested.

          • 

            Miami Mall Alien on 23/05/2021 - 15:38

            @WatchNerd:

            The more I think about it the more I find this Bluetooth Smartwatch G-Shock a bit strange. If any G-Shock needed to be solar it should have been this one.

            O-kay, so take it up with Casio then.

            I guess one of the reasons why the G-Shock Classic is still relevant and keeps selling after all these years is because some people just want a solid reliable watch that tells the date & time, if they need anything else they can use their phone.

            Never said that wasn't an option and I'm not a fan of smartwatches in general but I do make an exception in the case of the GBX-100 because it still manages to be a real watch and not a "wristphone", and it retains most of the look and feel of a regular, non-smart G-Shock while subtly incorporating a lot of smart features; unlike a purist smartwatch which is just a shrunken smartphone with an even worse UI, this is a harmonious blend of old and new that is still incredibly practical and usable.

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  Jenny Death on 22/05/2021 - 23:05

  Do you need to be connected to bluetooth to get the moon, sunrise etc fata?

  • 

    Miami Mall Alien on 23/05/2021 - 01:37

    +6

    No, the watch calculates moon phases and sunrise/sunset times based on the latitude/longitude and home city data that you program into it when you set it; it doesn't retrieve that from the mobile app link at all. Those features have been available on G-Shocks since before smartwatches existed; they're just simple mathematical and calendar calculations that the watch performs in the background.

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  FlipCrank on 23/05/2021 - 05:33

  +1

  I've always wanted a watch that could tell me the daylight hours, had no idea this existed. Seems like you can completely hide the tide function too which is great.

  • 

    Miami Mall Alien on 23/05/2021 - 15:42

    I've always wanted a watch that could tell me the daylight hours, had no idea this existed

    Indeed, a very underrated feature that's existed on various G-Shocks/Protreks since the mid-2000s. Extremely useful for morning/evening surfers, morning/evening cyclists or when you want to see if you can squeeze in a run/bike ride after work during the winter months.

    It's also incredibly accurate for something that doesn't receive any sensory or external input; the calculated sunrise/sunset times are never more than a few minutes off in my experience.

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  cloudy on 23/05/2021 - 07:58

  +1

  Thanks OP, I’ve been reading some of your comments and appreciate your knowledge. :)

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  fatty on 23/05/2021 - 09:32

  Looks like other colour variants exist too.

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  Blue Cat on 23/05/2021 - 10:04

  +3

  VIBE ALARM

  Does it give a notification when you are about to receive a vibe check?

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  jonbo on 23/05/2021 - 11:09

  What’s a battery replacement cost on a watch like this ?

  • 

    Ash SA on 23/05/2021 - 14:55

    Paid 35 in chadstone but the new battery died in 12 months.

  • 

    Miami Mall Alien on 23/05/2021 - 15:46

    An actual CR2032 battery costs about $5 dollars or less.

    However, most watchmakers and watch kiosks will charge quite a premium for replacing batteries on G-Shocks, due to the complexity involved, as a lot of layers/parts have to be removed and many watch kiosks don't have the expertise or familiarity with them (some might refuse to work them entirely). Plus, if you want them pressure tested to their rated water resistance (200M), that's also something most watch kiosks can't do and those that can will charge accordingly.

    So you're looking at anywhere from $50 - $150 dollars at a typical watch/cobbler kiosk in a shopping centre. If you find an old-school watchmaker, they can be as low as $20 dollars just for the battery change without performing pressure testing.

    • 

      Jenny Death on 23/05/2021 - 15:58

      Hmm, didnt realise g shock batteries were so expensive, i usually replace my own in my 50m rated watch and ive had no issues yet. I might go for a solar g shock after all (although im curious if they fade like calculator screens in the sun).

      • 

        Miami Mall Alien on 23/05/2021 - 16:14

        +1

        (although im curious if they fade like calculator screens in the sun)

        Solar-powered calculators are designed to recharge from artificial indoor lighting, not sunlight.

        Solar-powered Casios are designed to recharge specifically from sunlight. My oldest solar-powered Casios are getting up to 15 years now and the LCDs haven't exhibited any fading issues. I haven't ever heard of it happened with Casio/G-Shock watches and I've left mine in the midday sun for several hours at times, though they don't need to be left long in the sun to fully charge; 30 minutes a month is usually all you need.

        The only thing you're likely to wear out/damage by leaving them in the sun for long periods of time are the resin straps, as they can definitely fade/discolour and break down with too much UV exposure (see this thread on WatchUSeek for an example of what UV damage to resin straps looks like). The good news is new resin straps are widely available, dirt cheap and easy to replace yourself.

        • 

          Jenny Death on 23/05/2021 - 16:26

          @Miami Mall Alien: Too easy, thank you for sharing your expertise.

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  joshptyltd on 23/05/2021 - 12:19

  If only you could control music with this watch.

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  chuchrj on 23/05/2021 - 12:38

  +1

  Thanks OP. Bought one. Works with Gadgetbridge too. https://gadgetbridge.org/

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  MonkDog on 23/05/2021 - 20:10

  Just as well they don't have the black bezel version, otherwise I might have been tempted.

  I have no interest in the 'smart watch' features of this watch (and from watching a few reviews, it's got its compromises), but I am wanting a square again lately, and that display would be gravy.