Casio is expanding its surf-focused G-Lide lineup with two fresh square-faced sports watches built for the beach and the gym alike: the GBX-H5600-1 in black and the GBX-H5600-2 in blue. Staying true to the popular GBX-100-inspired look, both models lean into a modern translucent style that feels tailor-made for summer, while adding a major upgrade many fans have been waiting for: built-in heart rate tracking.
The new GBX-H5600 pair keeps the practical, outdoors-first design that G-Lide wearers love. A high-definition, high-contrast MIP LCD makes it easy to read stats, notifications, and surf data even under harsh sunlight. Casio also highlights eco-conscious materials here, using biomass plastic in the case, bezel, and strap. Despite the rugged build, the watches remain lightweight at just 47 grams, making them comfortable for everyday wear and long sessions outdoors.
The headline feature is the optical heart-rate sensor, bringing continuous heart rate monitoring along with blood oxygen readings. Paired with a 3-axis accelerometer, the watches track steps and support workout-focused metrics geared toward condition management. Expect tools like sleep tracking with recovery insights, breathing exercises, and cardio load status—useful whether you’re running, walking, or training at the gym. Casio says the fitness intelligence is powered by Polar algorithms, positioning the GBX-H5600 as more than just a surf timer.
Surf and outdoor features remain a big part of the package. With Bluetooth and the Casio Watches app, you can pull tide information for around 3,300 locations worldwide, along with moon phase data and sunrise/sunset times. The watches can also rely on your phone’s GPS for more accurate distance tracking during runs, helping you log routes and pace without needing built-in GPS hardware.
Power management is designed to handle the extra sensors. Charging is handled with a contact USB charger, and Casio rates battery life at up to 35 hours with activity tracking and heart rate monitoring enabled. Switch to a simpler “watch mode” that disables continuous HR tracking and you can stretch it to about a month per charge. There’s also solar-assisted charging, and Casio notes that even if the battery drains to the point where smart features stop working, sunlight can still keep basic timekeeping running.
Pricing and availability: In Japan, the Casio G-Lide GBX-H5600-1 and GBX-H5600-2 are set to launch in May for ¥44,000. Global availability hasn’t been confirmed yet, but a wider rollout to major markets is widely expected.
Key specifications at a glance include a 51.1 × 44.5 × 17.3 mm case, 200-meter water resistance, shock-resistant construction, Bluetooth connectivity with phone-based time sync, world time covering 38 cities plus UTC, and a strong smart feature set such as call/message notifications, phone finder, vibration alerts, stopwatch, countdown timer, alarms, and an LED backlight. Fitness and health tracking includes heart rate (30–220 bpm), blood oxygen measurement, multi-sport activity logging, training analysis, sleep recovery scoring, and breathing exercises, while surf essentials like tide graphs, moon data, and sunrise/sunset round out the core G-Lide experience.
