Casio’s latest G-LIDE surf watches add heart rate tracking and serious fitness features

Casio has finally taken the wraps off the GBX-H5600-1 and GBX-H5600-2, two new G-Lide sports watches equipped with a heart rate monitor. The existence of these watches has been pretty much an open secret at this point, with previous leaks revealing many of the key details of the new fitness-centric offerings.

Fusing surf-ready aesthetics with full-blown G-Squad fitness tracking capabilities, these square-faced watches borrow heavily from the popular GBX-100. Both the black GBX-H5600-1 and the blue GBX-H5600-2 feature a refreshing translucent design that perfectly channels summer beach vibes and boast a high-definition, high-contrast MIP LCD that makes checking notifications and tide graphs a breeze, even in direct sunlight. Both feature eco-friendly biomass plastic construction and weigh just 47 grams.

The standout addition to the new G-Lide line is the optical hear rate monitor, which enables continous heart rate tracking and blood oxygen measurements, paired with an accelerometer for step counting. Users can expect comprehensive condition management, including sleep recovery analysis, breathing exercises, and cardio load status across various activities such as running, walking, and gym workouts. 

For the surfers out there, Bluetooth connectivity with the Casio app lets you pull accurate tide data for roughly 3,300 global locations, as well as moon phase and sunrise/sunset times. It will also piggyback on your phone's GPS for precise run tracking.

All of these power-hungry sensors and advanced health tracking features are powered by an onboard battery that charges via a contact USB charger and keeps the watch running for up to 35 hours with activity tracking and heart rate monitoring turned on. In the "watch mode", which disables continuous HR tracking, the watch can go for up to a month without charging. There's also solar-assisted charging; Casio says even if the battery completely dies and can no longer power the smart features, the sun will keep the basic timekeeping alive.

Pricing & Availability

Priced at ¥44,000 (~$275.40), the GBX-H5600-1 and H5600-2 are set to launch in Japan this May. Casio has yet to confirm a global release, but it's safe to presume the new lineup will make its way to the US, UK, and Europe soon after.

View the Casio G-Squad GBX100-1 on Amazon US

Specifications

• Case size: 51.1 × 44.5 × 17.3 mm
• Weight: 47 g
• Case/bezel material: Carbon (biomass plastic) / resin (biomass plastic)
• Band: Biomass resin strap (145–215 mm)
• Construction: Shock-resistant
• Water resistance: 200 meters (20 ATM)
• Display: MIP LCD (high-contrast)
• Power: Solar-assisted charging + USB charging (Type-A cable required)
• Battery life:
  • Up to 35 hours (with heart rate/activity tracking)
  • ~1 month (watch mode, HR off)
  • Up to 11 months (power-saving mode)

• Connectivity: Bluetooth (Casio Watches app support)
• Time sync: Automatic via smartphone
• World time: 38 cities + UTC
• Optical heart rate monitor (30–220 bpm)
• 3-axis accelerometer (step tracking, distance, pace)
• Blood oxygen measurement
• Multi-sport tracking (running, walking, etc.)
• Cardio load & training analysis
• Activity log (runs, laps, cadence, calories, etc.)
• Sleep tracking with recovery score
• Breathing exercises
• Step count & activity tracking
• Surf & outdoor features:
  • Tide graph (global locations via app)
  • Moon data
  • Sunrise/sunset times

• Notifications (calls, messages, calendar, reminders)
• Phone finder
• GPS-assisted distance tracking via smartphone
• Functions:
  • Stopwatch (1-second, 100-hour)
  • Countdown timer (up to 60 minutes)
  • 4 daily alarms + smart alarm
  • LED backlight (auto, super illuminator)