Good news for fitness enthusiasts and watch fans across Europe: Casio is officially releasing two new variants of its popular G-Shock G-Squad GBD-200, and they feature a highly-requested display upgrade that promises to revolutionize readability.
After successful launches in Japan and other markets earlier this year, the tech-savvy timepieces have now landed in key European countries, including the Netherlands, France, and Germany. This move makes the advanced fitness watches more accessible to a wider audience eager for a blend of G-Shock's legendary toughness and modern smart features.
Availability and Pricing: How to Get Yours
For those ready to upgrade their wrist game, the new models are available for immediate purchase. The two colorways are the stealthy Casio G-Shock GBD-200-1A1 in black with orange accents and the crisp GBD-200-7 in white with dark green accents.
Both models are priced at €149 and can be bought directly from official Casio online stores. The best part? Orders are shipping out right away. For Casio ID members—a free and easy sign-up on their website—the deal is even sweeter with the added perk of free delivery, typically arriving within two to three business days.
The Star of the Show: The Positive MIP Display
While the GBD-200 series is already renowned for its fitness capabilities, these new versions introduce a crucial design change that users have been clamoring for: the positive display.
But what does that mean? Previous GBD-200 models used a "negative display," which features light-colored digits and icons on a dark background. While stylish, this can sometimes be harder to read at a glance, especially in non-ideal lighting conditions.
The new positive display flips the script, offering a light background with dark text. Casio combines this with its advanced Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) LCD technology. The result is a screen with exceptional contrast, wider viewing angles, and stunning clarity that makes checking your stats mid-run incredibly easy. When the sun goes down, the powerful LED backlight ensures the face remains just as legible.
This focus on ultimate readability is a direct response to user feedback, making these new models some of the most user-friendly digital fitness watches on the market.
A Closer Look at the Models and Their Features
The two new models carry the distinct G-Shock aesthetic with a sporty twist. The black GBD-200-1A1 features a resilient black resin case and band, punctuated with vibrant orange highlights on the lower button for a pop of color. Its counterpart, the white GBD-200-7, offers a cleaner, more modern look with its white resin build and sophisticated dark green accents.
Beyond the new display, these watches are packed with features tailored for an active lifestyle. A key highlight is the Bluetooth connectivity that allows the watch to pair with your smartphone. By leveraging your phone's GPS, the GBD-200 can track your running route with pinpoint accuracy, measuring distance, speed, and pace without draining the watch's own battery.
You can explore the full specifications and design of the black model directly on Casio's site here: Casio G-Shock GBD-200-1A1 Product Page.
Additional training functions include lap times, calorie burn estimation, and an interval timer. It also doesn't skimp on the classic watch features, offering world time for travelers, a precise 1-second stopwatch, and four daily alarms. True to its G-Shock DNA, it boasts an impressive 200-meter water resistance (20 bar), making it suitable for swimming and serious water sports. Powering all this is a standard CR2032 battery, which provides an exceptional battery life of approximately two years, eliminating the need for frequent charging.
What’s Next for the GBD-200?
With this European rollout, the question on many minds is whether a North American and UK release is imminent. While Casio has not yet made an official announcement for these markets, the pattern of expansion suggests it's a strong possibility later in the year.
For now, European customers have the first crack at these upgraded, highly-readable fitness companions, marking another solid step for Casio in blending rugged durability with intelligent, user-centric design.
