Casio’s upcoming GW-BX5600 series, which is already generating a lot of buzz as the newest entry in the brand’s long-running square-case line, is now reportedly launching at ¥30,800 (~$207) in Japan. The update (courtesy of Great G-Shock World) looks to be in line with past leaks, which detailed a ¥30,000 (~$202) price point for the watches.
Unlike the standard STN LCD found on previous 5600 models, the GW-BX5600 will come with a memory-in-pixel (MIP) display, with sharper contrast and better visibility from multiple angles. The watch also adds Bluetooth connectivity for smartphone sync in addition to the radio-controlled timekeeping that is still a core feature of the Origin line. These upgrades align with earlier leaks that hinted at a new module (reported as 3578) and modern functions while sticking to the 5600’s familiar design.
For reference, two versions have been shown so far: a positive display model (GW-BX5600-1) and a negative display variant (GW-BX5600-1A1). Both will feature the rugged resin build typical of the series.
While the GW-BX5600 will have the same basic shape as the classic 5600, the new screen and Bluetooth connectivity means this is easily one of the biggest updates to the square G-Shock in recent years. Therefore, the added cost of nearly 20% over the GW-M5610U, which currently retails for ¥24,200 (and is listed at $165 on Amazon right now) should be acceptable by fans, given rising material prices and the new functionality. Plus, international availability has not yet been confirmed, but based on past G-Shock release patterns, a global rollout is expected to follow the Japanese launch.