Casio upgrades three more classic G-Shocks with new modules and brighter LED backlights
Alongside the new DW-6900 and GW-2310, Casio has reintroduced three more classic G-Shock watches with updated modules and high-brightness LED backlights: the DW-5900U-1, the blackout DW-5900UBB-1, and the massive GX-56UBB-1.
Same classic design, now with a brighter, more reliable LED backlight
The new DW-5900U-1 and DW-5900UBB-1 are direct recreations of the original DW-5900 from 1992. That watch was a bit of a trailblazer for introducing the "Triple Graph" LCD layout, which helped set it apart from the conventional squares, like the 5600 series, at the time. Casio revived this design back in 2018 for the 35th Anniversary, and while this latest "U" update isn't introducing any visual tweaks, it comes with a new 3536 module that swaps the Electro-luminescent (EL) backlight for a brighter, more reliable white LED light.
Thanks to the new module, the battery life on the 5900U and DW-5900UBB has effectively doubled. While the previous versions were rated for five years on a CR2025 coin cell, the updated models are rated for a whopping 10 years. That’s a huge quality-of-life improvement for a non-solar watch.
If you’ve never owned a 5900 and are wondering what that funky "Triple Graph" design actually does, here's a brief rundown. The left and right dials function as animated seconds counters, gradually filling and emptying "slice by slice" to give you a dynamic visual of time passing, while the middle dial acts as a status dashboard to show if alarm, hourly chime, snooze, or mute functions are active.
G-Shock GX-56UBB-1
Finally, there's the GX-56UBB-1, an updated version of the King G-Shock GX-56BB-1 launched back in 2016. It keeps the same imposing, rugged, single-tone black aesthetic that fans love, but swaps the EL backlight for a white LED. Like the other updates, this is primarily a module refresh aimed at modernizing the lighting and efficiency.
Casio isn't phasing out the EL models just yet — they continue to remain on sale in most markets. Even if the new white LED backlight is clearly superior to the EL light in terms of longevity and brightness, there are plenty of fans out there who prefer the nostalgic blue-green glow of the EL displays. Unlike the 5900U models, this one offers Tough Solar charging.
Pricing & Availability
The new G-Shock DW-5900U-1 and DW-5900UBB-1 are launching first in Japan and will be available for￥14,300 (approx. $100). The GX-56UBB-1 will set you back ￥23,100 (approx. $160). All three are set to go on sale in Japan later this month and are expected to hit global markets in the coming weeks.
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