You get a small alert showing the app and a few words of the message, which is enough to get an idea of whether it requires your attention or not. An innovative line of sport watches delivering the strength and functionality that training demands. Casio did its best to make the G-SQUAD GBD-200 as thin as humanly possible even if it meant that most of the sensors found in chunkier G-SHOCK models had to be chucked away.

The watch does not have a heart rate sensor or its own GPS, but it can take data from your phone or another device for this. The GBD-200 uses a single internal battery which Casio says should last for about a year before it needs replacing if you use the Bluetooth connection all the time and track an hour of activity each day. It looks exactly like a normal watch — in this case, a distinctive and desirable square G-Shock — and because it has been made by an experienced watchmaker drawing on decades of experience, the comfort level is exactly right. The G Shock GBD 200 tracks your steps, measures your running distance, and calculates the calories that you burn. The screen has a “negative” look meaning it has a black background and a grey color for the text and numbers.Side slits in the bezel allow the color of the inner case to peek through, highlighting just how slim this watch is. You won't be left with no data, however: when paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth, the G-SQUAD GBD-200 adjusts distances captured by with the watch’s acceleration sensor using smartphone's GPS, similar to how some of the more basic Fitbit fitness bands track outdoor positioning. I’ve worn it every day for more than a week now, and not once felt the need to take it off because it was annoying or too hot.

G-SQUAD (A new sports line that supports your active life by managing your daily exercise using your watch and smartphone.Signal Range: Up to 2m (may differ depending on surrounding conditions), The watch can be wirelessly connected to a compatible smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. It has an interval timer with Auto-repeat and Auto-timer functions which can come in handy during interval training.

It certainly looks somewhat different from the Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000, a running watch that helped Casio establish itself on the running wearables market. It has been really great to wear a G-Shock watch that also shows notifications, as it closely matches what you get from a fitness band, including a phone finder, without compromising on style. The soft urethane band improves fit and has plenty of band holes, allowing for precise length adjustments. A long press of the Adjust button opens a varied settings menu, while a short press changes the main time display’s layout.

The GBD-200 meets G-Shock’s usual toughness standards, so it’s shock and vibration proof and is water-resistant to 200 meters. The company rose to popularity quickly after releasing its first-ever product, a cigarette holder, which proved to be a huge success.

Many companies have moved beyond the traditional hybrid smartwatch, getting carried away with adding tech with limited benefit. It has basic smartwatch connectivity but manages to include reliable and informative notifications, plus decent fitness tracking provided you don’t want anything too in-depth. I'm sure some fashion-forward recreational runners will like the Casio G-SQUAD GBD-200 but it might not be the first choice for runners who need to improve their running form. We aim for you to be absolutely delighted with your purchase and therefore offer you 30 days to change your mind on your purchase (excludes pre-owned watches). The size means seeing notification details isn’t always easy at a glance, especially if like me your eyesight isn’t absolutely perfect.These models feature a square face design in colors chosen to calibrate with the most extreme workouts.