Casio dove into the world of smartphone connected and smart watches in 2011 with technology improving daily. While not your average smartwatch, this is a very durable Casio G-Shock with light and basic smartphone connected features. Details include alerting you by vibration and/or sound when you’re receiving a phone call, text message, email, etc. The watch comes with a companion application which can be found on the Google Play Store.
Time and Durability
Keeping track of time is the most important function of any watch. Thanks to Casio’s MobileLink, the time will auto-synchronize with your smartphone.
Like other Casio G-Shock products, durability is a huge advantage. The water resistant watch can handle the wear and tear of an active life. Featuring an LED Backlight, you can use the timer, stopwatch, world time, and alarm to help you throughout your day.
Smartphone Connectivity and Alerts
This watch can provide various alerts such as notifications to SMS messages, emails, phone calls and more from your cell to your watch. Many iPhones and Android devices are able to connect with this watch. Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy ensures the best battery life with the connection from your cell to your watch. According to Casio, the built in (replaceable) battery can last up to 2 years on average.
One feature I found particularly useful was the ability to change tracks on your music player when connected to your smartphone. When you receive a call, your watch will vibrate and display basic caller identification. As I indicated earlier, this one is mostly about alerts and enhancement of the smartphone experience. Unfortunately, even with the latest application updates, connection issues persisted.
Overview
While I wouldn’t go as far as calling this an outright “smartwatch” this product can help keep you alerted and better connected. It will add convenience to your life and extend your smartphone’s capabilities but never get in your way.
A model from the Casio G-Shock Bluetooth 4.0 series may be a good purchase if you are looking for a durable watch with water resistant properties and a bonus notification system. Check out the GBX6900B-1 available now on Amazon.
