The Casio GBX-H5600KI-5 is a new G-Shock G-LIDE watch built around an optical heart rate sensor, surf-focused tide and moon tracking, and a sunlight-readable MIP LCD, launched as pro surfer Kanoa Igarashi's fourth G-Shock signature model. It carries a Japan pre-order price of ¥50,600 (around ₱19,200) and is set to ship in July 2026, with the design drawn from the Portuguese surf town where Igarashi trains.
Key Takeaways
- The Casio GBX-H5600KI-5 is the fourth signature G-Shock designed with WSL surfer Kanoa Igarashi, based on the G-LIDE GBX-H5600 platform.
- It combines an optical heart rate sensor, a 3-axis accelerometer, tide graphs, moon data, and Polar-powered training and sleep analysis.
- The case measures 51.1 x 44.5 x 17.3 mm and weighs 47 g, with 200-meter (20 bar) water resistance and both USB and solar-assisted charging.
- Reported battery life runs up to about 35 hours with continuous heart rate tracking, or roughly a month in watch-only mode.
- Japan pre-order pricing is ¥50,600 (around ₱19,200), with shipping slated for July 2026; no Philippine price has been announced.
A surf-ready G-Shock built on the GBX-H5600
Rather than a brand-new platform, the GBX-H5600KI-5 is a colorway-and-collaboration build on the existing G-LIDE GBX-H5600, the health-focused line Casio positions between a rugged digital watch and a full fitness tracker. That base already blends classic G-Shock toughness with an optical wrist heart rate monitor, an accelerometer, and the tide and moon functions that define the G-LIDE surf series.
Casio's official specifications list a shock-resistant structure and 20 bar (200-meter) water resistance, making it usable for surfing and swimming rather than just splash protection. The case and bezel use a bio-based Carbon and bio-based resin construction, paired with a bio-based resin band, a material Casio says is meant to reduce environmental impact.
Casio GBX-H5600KI-5 specifications
The figures below combine Casio's official product listing with launch reporting on the model:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Case size (L x W x H) | 51.1 x 44.5 x 17.3 mm |
| Weight | 47 g |
| Display | Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) LCD |
| Water resistance | 200 meters (20 bar) |
| Case / bezel / band | Bio-based Carbon and bio-based resin |
| Sensors | Optical heart rate (30–220 bpm), 3-axis accelerometer |
| Charging | USB cable (Type-A) plus solar-assisted charging |
| Battery life | Up to ~35 hours continuous heart rate; ~1 month watch-only |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth (CASIO WATCHES app) |
Health and training features
The headline addition over an ordinary G-Shock is health tracking. The GBX-H5600KI-5 measures wrist heart rate across a 30–220 bpm range, counts steps, and supports multi-sport activity tracking (running, walking, and others) that calculates distance, speed, and pace from the accelerometer, with auto-lap and auto-pause. It also offers a blood oxygen level measurement, which Casio explicitly notes is for general health awareness and not medical diagnosis.
The deeper analytics come from a partnership with Polar. Training analysis (including cardio load status), sleep tracking, and guided breathing exercises are all powered by Polar's algorithms, with data synced to a paired smartphone through the CASIO WATCHES app over Bluetooth. On the sustainability of that data collection, reporting on the launch pegs battery life at up to roughly 35 hours with continuous heart rate tracking enabled, stretching to about a month if the heart rate monitor is switched off and the watch is used purely for timekeeping. Solar charging supplements the dedicated USB cable to top the cell back up.
The surf toolkit and MIP display
As a G-LIDE, the watch leans into ocean use. It shows a tide graph, moon age, and sunrise and sunset times through its almanac, and tide locations can be set for about 3,300 points worldwide via the app. World time covers 38 cities on the watch and around 300 through the companion app, alongside a stopwatch, countdown timer, four daily alarms, vibration alerts, and a full-auto LED Super Illuminator backlight.
All of that rides on a Memory-in-Pixel LCD, chosen for high-contrast readability in direct sunlight and underwater, where a glossy OLED can wash out. MIP panels also sip power, which is part of how a feature-dense watch still targets long runtimes.
The Kanoa Igarashi collaboration
This is the fourth signature model Casio has produced with Kanoa Igarashi, the Huntington Beach-born surfer who took silver for Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and captured the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games title. The GBX-H5600KI-5's brown mixed-color molding produces a random marbled pattern unique to each unit, meant to evoke the cliffs and rocky shores around Ericeira, Portugal, one of Igarashi's training bases. A purple accent references the "magic hours" of early morning and twilight.
The personal touches run deeper than color: Igarashi's signature appears on the watch face and case back, and his WSL competitor number 50, which he links to the meaning of his surname ("fifty storms"), is printed on the lower band. The watch ships in special ocean-themed packaging.
Pricing and availability
Casio has set a Japan pre-order price of ¥50,600 (around ₱19,200), with shipping expected during July 2026. International availability, including a US release, has been signaled, but no confirmed US or Philippine pricing had been published as of writing. For local buyers, that positions the GBX-H5600KI-5 as a premium, import-tier G-Shock rather than a widely stocked model.
Why It Matters for PH Buyers
For Philippine surfers and runners, the GBX-H5600KI-5 is a rare G-Shock that folds genuine heart rate and Polar-backed training analysis into a 200-meter, solar-assisted body, so it can double as a training watch and a daily beater without a nightly charge. The catch is access and cost: with only a Japan price of ¥50,600 (around ₱19,200) confirmed and no local SRP, expect grey-market import premiums, which makes it a niche pick against cheaper mainstream fitness watches. It sits within a busy stretch for the watch category, from shifting Apple Watch model support in watchOS 27 to the Swatch-Samsung smartwatch trademark fight.
FAQ
How much does the Casio GBX-H5600KI-5 cost?
Casio lists a Japan pre-order price of ¥50,600 (around ₱19,200). No official US or Philippine price has been announced yet.
Is the GBX-H5600KI-5 waterproof enough for surfing?
Yes. It carries 200-meter (20 bar) water resistance and G-Shock shock resistance, and its tide and moon functions are built for ocean use.
How long does the battery last?
Launch reporting cites up to about 35 hours with continuous heart rate tracking, or roughly a month in watch-only mode, backed by USB and solar-assisted charging.
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