Casio is back in the outdoor smartwatch game, announcing the typically bold and rugged G-Shock GPR-H1000 ahead of CES 2024's main festivities.
Forming part of the company's 'Master of G Rangeman' series, it's akin to the GPR-B1000 we saw released six years ago at the Las Vegas tech expo - and also last year's G-Shock GBD-H2000.
Just like that latest release, the watch is about providing hidden smarts - GPS, heart rate monitoring, and training insights - inside a case designed for the extremes. This thing literally looks like it could withstand a chainsaw, and it's a refreshing shift from the typical profile of sports watches from Garmin and the crowd.
Casio indicates that the design features buttons that are built to withstand clogged mud and dust, as well as metal side guards to ensure rocks and rubble bounce off the watch's edges. It's also water resistant to 200m.
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The urethane band and resin case also means the mammoth GPR-H1000 - measuring in at 60.6 × 53.2 × 20.3mm - remains relatively lightweight (though it does still clock the scales at 92g).
What sets this apart from your conventional hulking G-Shock, though, is the smart tracking - now powered by Polar's algorithms, which is something we found really boosted the accuracy of last year's watches.
This not only aids the G-Shock's basic exercise profiles for trekking, running, walking, biking, open-water swimming, and more, but also helps provide deeper insights into HR zones, training load, running performance, and even what energy sources your exercise has depleted.
In restorative time, Polar's technology for measuring sleep stages and 'Nightly Recharge' is also present here, as is its set of breathing exercises.
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As you would expect, the battery of the GPR-H1000 is also extremely long-lasting - especially with solar charging support.
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Casio doesn't provide an actual figure for typical use, but does estimate you'll be able to keep this one on for around 2 months with the HR monitor turned off, and use the GPS and heart rate tracking continuously for around 14-19 hours.
The GPR-H1000 will arrive on 19 January for £450, with it available in the yellow/black or black/yellow shown above.
We're looking forward to testing it out over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for our full verdict - and here's hoping the companion app and bugs that hurt the GBD-H2000 have been ironed out.
How we test
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.