Casio made a $30 G-Shock Killer...

[@johanvandersandt8904]

Here is the thing. Casio takes care of us and we take care of them. They make them and we buy them. Everybody wins.

[@PerfectlyUselessComment]

Ride or die for Casio. Impervious to inflation.

[@jun1217xb4]

Well said

[@rainappleby]

😅😅😅😂😂😂 I 💜 Casio

[@WatchmakerErik]

I agree. Not only that but at the price point of most casios, rather than cannibalizing sales Casio fans will just buy both, so Casio gets an extra sale not a substitution.

[@johanvandersandt8904]

@@WatchmakerErik Agreed. I did buy both hahaha!

[@Riccardo_Mori]

In my opinion, Casio doesn't mind 'cannibalising' their watches because I'm sure there are people out there who will purchase a G-Shock like the DW-5600 AND this $30 DW-291H. Why? Because why not. :-) One feature I really really like of the DW-291H are the big buttons. I hate how difficult it is to push them on some G-Shocks and even older regular Casios like my 1982 W-400 'Marlin'. By the way, long-time lurker first time commenter here. I had a passion for watches and clocks since I was little, and for a while I even wanted to become a watch repairer (spent some time as a repairer's apprentice, too), then I got into photography, and in recent years my passion for watches has rekindled, so I've been checking out plenty of watch-related channels on KZbin. Yours is among my favourites, especially for low-budget watches' reviews. I love your straightforward, humble approach, and the clarity and conciseness of your reviews. Keep up the good work, and all the best for your channel's growth! Cheers, //Rick

[@daniel_lucio]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that this watch belongs to the HD (Heavy Duty) line, as some of the premises of this old lineage are practicality, 10 years of battery life, comfort, and robustness, among others. The HD line was always supposed to be something intermediate between ordinary watches and the G-shock line.

[@iamgermane]

The link for this video came up as a woman's watch????????????????????????????????

[@mediocore808]

I ended up selling mine only a few months after my purchase. I found the strap to be really uncomfortable.

[@jeshely]

Interesting, was not aware of the HD line.

[@azharulhisham1960]

Casio should make more HD line. Some people like me, just prefer specs higher than normal Casio but don't need the overkill ruggedness of G-shock. Just intermediate level of Casio line is enough for me.

[@patzguitarz]

I think part of the price difference is in the build quality. The G-Shock case and band have a soft but durable feel. This model is like my Casio vibration alarm W735. The case is "plastic-ky" and the band has oxidized over time although it's my favorite Casio (also in the $25 range). Casio does do an excellent job of producing watches for all of its customers in all price ranges.

[@Ratgibbon]

I've got a W735 as well, it's my daily beater/workwatch. As a tradesman working in loud plant rooms the vibration alarm is a godsend. Mine easily survived a good 5-6m drop, so it's not just looking like a G, it's as resilient as a G in my experience.

[@BlissBatch]

I feel like their high-end stuff should really have Sapphire crystals, given that you can buy a Steeldive 1970 with Sapphire + AR coating for $70. But yeah, they're great from low-end to medium-high-end.

[@willywantoknow2563]

I still have the dw290, it is the best non g shock that punches far above its weight. Ive done carpentry, swimming, mechanics, renovations, outdoor labour... This watch is a tank.

[@larrylacostjr.2075]

I’ve own this model in the last 4 months and I have had no issues whatsoever with it. Very happy with the purchase.

[@larrydalton2205]

Thanks for sharing. It's not for me, but I love the world time feature. I'll keep on with my AE1200 Royale, 5600, and 5610. My ideal Casio would probably be with case and basic functions of the Royale but adding Multiband 6 and the auto light feature of the G-shock 5610. Maybe also with a Combi style bracelet all on an SKXMOD case.

[@mortimerwatt1766]

I have this watch and personally I think it can't be beat - the alarm is far more audible than on my g shocks and also you can get it with a long strap which is great for my large 8.5 inch wrists. The light may not look as pretty but it does the job no problem and for the price I'm over the moon with mine.

[@CaptZenPetabyte]

Cost here in Australia for this watch is $120 (sometimes on sale for $80) so here at least youre better off just getting the G-Shock

[@OFD]

Casio makes some of the most exciting/fun watches out there. Really hard to beat what they offer. Thanks for sharing another great one Dave!

[@marcelovasconcellos6067]

Great watch and video. Do what I did and get both! As to the watch it comes close, much closer than your previous contender which just had the looks but none of the characteristics of a G-Shock. You see, the DW-291H is part of Casio’s Heavy Duty line. There’s an HD emblem on the display. 200m of WR is reached by having double o-rings on the buttons. Glass like you said is mineral. What you missed though is that this watch’s resin case is reinforced with a stainless steel cage. Open it up, remove module and you’ll see it. This is what makes the DW-291H tougher than any Casio. What makes it less than a G in shock resistance is largely the lack of the shock resistant rubberized bezel. And it terms of functions it blows both DW-5600E and the WD-110 out of the water. Not to mention just how very comfortable it is on wrist. The strap is slightly softer than on many Casios and even more entry level Gs. The LED double lights illuminate the screen perfectly. Casio does it to bump up battery life. 10 year battery life probably means 12 to 15 years in real life. Which puts it even in competition with solar powered watches, but with less to go wrong. Casio is even putting the double LEDs into newer G which suggests this is Casio’s way forward. As you can tell, I’m a fan of this watch.

[@greenjihad3390]

I would go with the DW-5600 if given the choice. However, if the drawbacks are too much but people still want much of the features of this watch, then the DW-290 "Mission Impossible" watch would be the way to go. It is still priced less than the G-Shock but is almost as touch and has much of the same features of the DW-5600 and DW-291, a kind of successful blend of the two.

[@3rdstone1]

Excellent video as usual. A truly interesting Casio. The sad thing is that in my country Casios are quite more expensive than in Japan or the US. This one goes for ~$80 and the cheapest G-Shock is around the same - close to $100. We've had a recent quite prominent inflation which of course set its marks, but even before prices were higher than in Japan and the US. Anyhows, keep up the good work, Dave.

[@lust4musicx118]

Where you from?

[@3rdstone1]

@@lust4musicx118 Sweden

[@a_z.tazzzfan8497]

I'd take this watch over the DW5600 in a heartbeat - even if they were near the same price. I'm not a big digital fan but, I do like the like the ILLUMINATOR line.

[@excelsiortrading8050]

I don't think the extra shock protection on a sub $100 matters and personally I find the warm amber back lights charming on my casio Royale 😊

[@hyedefinition1080]

I've got the black version with the amber screen and I love the retro look. It is bordering large and weighty on my 6.75" wrists. Even folks with larger wrists will mot8ce the weight difference. I think the DW5600 is still a better choice for smaller wrists.

[@gopherproxy]

Yo! This piece has been around for quite some time - and is one of the most overlooked Casios! I had it for years and I love it. Nice steampunk-design for your wrist, legibility especially in the evening is top and better than most G's (especially for my older eyes), durability at this price not an issue (mine is in almost perfect condition though). Annoying is just the little round digi-analogue display in the upper right, completely useless imho but adds to the charme, I guess. Best G-shock shocker for the well-aged Star Wars fan 😅!

[@speedyspooley]

They know that a lot of people who own Casios own multiple Casios. I'm not even a big Casio fanboy and I probably have about 6 of them, including 3 G-shocks. They also know that people who view watches as purely utilitarian objects would be happy to pay $30 for this watch, but would balk at the $58 Gshock.

[@kotimoto]

Once you buy a G shock, you keep buying them, I have a rangeman, now looking towards buying a Mudmaster and prottek

[@hmr171]

"Intruder Alert, Intruder Alert". Sorry, but I can't help but see the arms of that goofy robot from that 1960s television show "Lost in Space" whenever I see this watch. It's those grooves around the pushers. I have handled one of these in a store and it definitely has a more premium feel to it when compared to a typical digital Casio.

[@Plexcom60]

You might also take a look at the AE-2000 and AE-2100. They also have a claimed 200m water resistance, a mineral crystal and a stainless steel bezel. They have world time functions as well as all the usual features. These are all excellent choices for when you don't need the expense or the structural features of a G-Shock. Nice video, thanks. I bought two of these watches and modified one of them.

[@ivermec-tin666]

I am a fan of the square G-Shock form factor and it's unmatched rugged durability. I have a personal issue with battery replacement, so I happily paid the uptick for a variant with solar capability. There are a few features of the watch in this video that I like. I like the easy to read display and the larger pushers. I really do not like the 2 led backlight setup that Casio seems to be moving toward across the board. It is inferior, IMO. I infer that they are moving this way because a 2 led setup uses less power. It also looks chintzy and is harder to read. I do like a dual time zone module. I expect that this will find it's way into the G-Shock lineup in due time. The size of the square G-Shock is as large as I want to go on my tiny baby man wrist. I still think that these G-Shock watches are ugly AF, but the form follows function design language is very compelling. The fact that no self respecting mugger is going to want my watch is also a plus. If you live in one of the squalid dying drug and crime infested cities of America, as I do, you don't want to wear anything shiny.

[@019bc3]

This watch looks somewhat interesting (especially for the price), but after watching this video I've realized how much I love the design of the classic DW-5600 and decided to order it.

[@to2055]

It's a great watch for an unbelievable price. But for some reason I almost never wear mine and grab one of my G-Shocks instead. I can't really put my finger on why that is. My son, on the other hand, loves to wear it. Maybe the design speaks more to younger people. Anyway: great review, thanks you!

[@LambentOrt]

Casio has a great watch for every affordable budget tier, and this model is just another proof of that... but what's making me really curious is what's on that Audio Adrenaline cassette? 🤔

[@CostaLara]

This is actually a AE-1200 without the map, the modules are even interchangeable between this one on the video and the AE-1200, AE-1300 and the new WS-1600H.

[@chrisp.5272]

Perfect need another beater work watch. Gotta keep a little abuse off my beloved MRW-200H. Didn’t expect 200M water resistance! Absolutely love Casio and Citizen Group watches.

[@EffendiChung]

Casio digitals are already tough in their own way. Being digital, and really light, really not a lot things could break. For that reason, I'd rather choose a smaller sleeker f91 or the ae series. My own ae 1200 survived a drop from over 20m on a concrete floor, which is enough for me.

[@BlissBatch]

I feel like if you need the extra shock protection, you should go full G-Shock for $50 - and if you _don't_ need it, you should go with something like a Casio Royale or an A700W for $20. This $30 watch is sitting in a weird middle ground. Seems to only be for those who really want the G-Shock aesthetic, but don't need an actual G-Shock. The gunmetal and burgundy colorway of this watch is more intriguingly unique imo. I'd probably pick that version.

[@tonyd223]

Bought this one to mod as it uses the same case as the AE1200, but... couldn't see the point in spending over £100 to give it a proper strap and case. It's good enough...

[@JuandelaCruz001]

Yeah, I get it. But really, it's the "Shrek ears" aesthetics 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@OchaFauzan01]

Cheapest gshock currently is actually dw 9052

[@Ak353-d7u]

casio itself is G shock actually

[@markc1925]

I have this in the more classic amber tone & its one of my favorites. So many features for the cost & I love the funky Lost in Space looks.

[@sci-fyguy7767]

That’s what I always thought too. The four pushers look like the robots arms. 🔥

[@sixtring73]

$30 in the US and £50-£100 in the UK because we get screwed on absolutely everything!

[@brainloop99]

How? 100 quid gets you a proper g shock.

[@brainloop99]

How? 100 quid gets you a proper g shock.

[@claudiorossini-ii3hd]

60 euros in Italy , 90 euros the cheaper g shock .

[@practicalshooter6517]

they still need to work on there bracelets. We need more choice.

[@cisjr7376]

def gonna buy this even if I'll buy a gshock

[@pauloverby1]

The DW-290 is a nice in-between option, coming in at around $40.

[@Redcrown77]

I have this watch and love the larger screen and the durability, but the buttons get pushed by your wrists and switches the time on you.

[@liamodonohue2032]

Hi Dave. An interesting alternative to a G Shock. The G Shock may be better for construction workers, farmers and members of the armed forces. Keep up the good work, Regards, Liam

[@robch4414]

The DW-291 bezel scratches and chips very easily if it's put through any rough treatment. Apart from that it's excellent, and top value.

[@Fertube0218]

Since back in the 80’s still i have one… the best watch in the world

[@robedmunds7163]

This watch also works great on my motorcycle. Bit of foam pipe insulation on the handlebars and you can strap it on & it is easy to read

[@hattyfarbuckle]

i like bigger watches and have a great old GShock thats about 50mm across and 16mm thick.. it became a gym watch because of its size a long time before i bought a GShock GBX100 with a Stainless "bezel" and the brilliant MIP screen - about $125 but worth the extra to me.... if only it was solar😊

[@Ask4theCloser]

Dave, I'm so glad you highlighted this watch. I have 12 gshocks, and I love this watch so much. I have the red and black version. It's quickly became one of my go-to watches. I work outside for the local utility, and it's held up great. It's no nonsense approach, and value really stands out for me. I, too, wondered if it is a Gshock replacement. I would say no, not straight up. But if you factor in value, I'd argue this watch can hang with any Quartz out there. 😊

[@marion_roberts]

I have this watch,but I'm quite sure they changed the silk screen at the bottom of the bezel. It used to say "200M",that's why I called mine the casio zoom lol.

[@dorbei]

The DW-291H def. kills the DW-5600: 10 year battery, world time, 5 alarms, bigger digits! The LED backlight is more than sufficient and helps saving battery juice. The only thing the DW-5600 has going for is the nostalgia factor. But even that is already fading.

[@1984FlyBy1984]

If the 5600 square G and the Casio Royale had a baby...

[@craighoward5486]

This was a great and thorough review. I bought the DW-291HX-5AV based on your review, but when I got it the light was so uneven on it I returned it. The time section gets good light, but the upper section just looked terrible. Unless it was in a dark room that upper section was just hard to read. Unfortunate! Thanks for continuing great review work. Always a good channel.

[@MikeSmith-er1qs]

I agree with you that it appears Casio is creeping up into gshock territory. However, I really don’t think gshock aficionados will veer away for a $20 savings. This just makes for a really nice “beater” that you don’t mind tearing up.

[@StoriesWithAlex]

Dude whats up with the scream at 11:40? Also this vs SGW-100? Edit: this vs the Royale?

[@red1966chevelle]

Saw the audio adrenaline tape and I about lost it. Now I’m going to have to dig mine out of the boxes in the basement. 😆😆

[@JusttheWatch]

See if you can track down the song "One like you" from' their greatest hits album, that one never gets old.

[@bpachecofotos]

This watch is very good, functionally it is better than GShock. But the resistance is not the same. my DW291 already has a lot of🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@Rfpepe7295]

I have been wearing my 291 for a few years now and it is super comfortable and takes all the beatings a normal person dishes out to their watch. I am a Casio freak and love my 5610 as well, but for $30... it is a total No-Brainer

[@chriswalls6667]

I own the 5600 and I have Jay & Kay’s strap adapters so I can swap out straps, do you think it could be done on this model

[@tigersgedanken1246]

looks cool, but i dont like wearing these 90s bulky style watches.. a watch has to fit good under my sleeve

[@TheStoyanbahchevanov]

Hi Dave, I've had on two years ago but sold it. Great and durable with multiple functions and ten year battery. But it is a bit oversized, and my biggest issue was with the bottom right button. When at work and twisting my wrist is pressing the button, it might pressed the light as well but haven't noticed. Very often I've noticed the time zone is changed, and every time I move my wrist, which is often, I'm changing the time zone and it sucks. That's the main reason to sell it. It used to be £25 here in the UK. Now is £38. Cheers 👍

[@shawnvegavelez121]

Great video. I would definitely put this on my buy list. Sometimes the G-Shock look and feel like too much for what I need.

[@BeachFrontSolutions]

It’s makes perfect sense for Casio. The watch industry has always been a competition for people’s wrists; Casio gets this, they literally have a watch for everyone and as such when someone who isn’t super in the watch scene asks someone they know is “what watch should I get” and cost is a factor I will always find a Casio that checks all their boxes.

[@TheOtherMisterRogers]

Just purchased a Casio Robbie, looking forward to getting mine. Have to laugh though, after seeing this review I found one by another well known reviewer who cringed at having to review such an ugly watch. This made me want it even more.

[@hideomituns2184]

That's because the target is the Casio/ gshock owner. People who get into Casio get the a158wa style to get blinged up versions of f91 Or get the Casio day date Rolex style. Or get the Casio date just with the serrated bezel Rolex style. Or the Casio royale etc Or they get into the two main gshocks. The gshock square. Or the casioak. Now they have a history on Google of such purchases, the browser sends them more ads... There's nothing wrong with Casios, my grandson can inherit them and just put a new battery and it's good to go. Also Casio will be around! I feel sorry for the Seiko, Tissot, Rolex nuts. They think they are getting durability but the reality their devices are feature poor, require service sometimes worth more than the purchase price for repair and oiling of gears. And will give their descendants a bunch of metal that mostly stopped working and are too time heavy to maintain ( winding, repair) My latest purchase has been the burgundy LF20w. I stopped buying swiss watches and seikos a long time ago.

[@pain9270]

I love casio watches! They look really nice and aren't that expensive, compared to other brands. If i just think, how many watches I could buy from the price of one Rolex. There are many great brands from Japan like Seiko, Citizen, and of course Casio.

[@gomerasub]

You can swap the module and face plate for an AE1200 if you prefer the Casio Royale look. You get a Royale with 200m water resistence. SKXMOD did a video on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gom3amSFr9aWkM0

[@howard2501]

love the more pressable buttons, that's the only thing I don't like about my 5610. Interesting watch.

[@Pleumel]

Looks a bit like a world timer and I love the analog style watch in the corner

[@jiasunzhang8001]

Casio AE-2000 is the watch it shoud compare with, similar design language, and seens using same watch dial. The ae2000 also was budget sports watch which has 20o meter WR, and exect the same function around 30 dollars . I think some one in casio may just use this watch to clean stock movenments. One better thing of ae2000 is its front metal panel are actually metal which casio just don't want to use on low end watch some how.

[@adk7962]

Some people just need that specific name like “G Shock” on their watches. Unfortunately I may be one of those people. 🤔. Plus I like the smaller size of the G Shock and I have a 7 inch wrist. Thanks for the great comparison!

[@JMK15]

This is a good watch. I find it better than the Mission Impossible watch. Better pushes for chunky fingers. It’s large, so for many that’s a negative. The band is really not great. But this watch crushes any 50 or 100 meter casio for sure.

[@mohammedosman88]

OMG! I want to stop buying Casios - Its like addiction. For me I still prefer the smaller G's like the original square and the Casioak.

[@onkarfreshie3127]

😮Can Anyone recommend? Looking for a Gshock or Protrek with analog+digi, solar, 2or3 sensors Humble thanks😅

[@vomer3]

What are the differences between the W-217H and the B650WD? (I'm not sure what the suffix letters/numbers are)

[@Rajesh-wt1xx]

I own this watch for almost 2.5 years and one of the best watches i bought. It is designed for utility. A budget Heavy Duty watch with 10 years battery life were main buying decision for people like me.

[@thomashuller8099]

Great now I don't know which one I should buy, I should watch less videos like this. 🤪😂 Great and beautiful watch.🙂

[@yopiehendramulia8511]

Yes one of my regret 😢 I just bought dw 9052, nothing special~ 😢😢😢 dw 291 is cheaper and got world time

[@lulul]

a series of these sort of videos would be great, comparing a gshock and their regular casio alternative. there are a lot of pairs like this and many are very similar to one another like thre ga100 and aqs810, dw5600 and w218, gd400 - trt110, gbd200 - ws1410, dw6900 - w214 and there are many analog pairs too.

[@dixitvishwakarma8622]

Review wa 1700 h

[@pablolisetto]

The AE-2000 / AE-2100 is basically the same with a good bezel protecting it. Greetings!

[@Oddzilla51]

I just saw one of these at Walmart last night. Almost picked it up. Might go back. I've got a 5600 and I honestly don't wear it as much as my 1500, which is huge but it's my favorite watch. It's the buttons on the 5600. I get why they're recessed, but to me it's a useless feature. My fingers have a hard time pressing the buttons most times. I don't like that. I've never had anything hit the buttons on any of my other watches. I view it as a gimmick, but that's just for me personal preference.

[@winc06]

I don't think the small, difficult buttons are a feature. I think Casio wants you to move upmarket. The 5000 G-Shocks have bigger buttons and have the same durability specs.

[@chilledwalrus]

Excellent review.

[@caseym890]

Looks like a 1200 without the map add more water resistance. So maybe the 1200 might be a better comparison.

[@zillsburyy1]

lol casio killing itself?!

[@Vans89]

I hate the buttons/pushers on the DW 5600 especially the one on the top left. That is why I prefer the DW 291.

[@bngr_bngr]

Now the 290 cost as much as a g-shock. The 291 is only selling for $10 less.

[@ZEBULON181]

Well I already have a G-Shock, but I think I might pickup the casio anyway.

[@anthonydevono8833]

I’ve bought 2 recently one is a keeper the other is going on eBay both were less than £20 so they have lot of useable life for hardly anything

[@vvedantagarwal]

This watch is not gshock killer but gshock maker The strategy of the company is to give people a taste of gshock at lower price so that later they would upgrade to gshock itself they cant launch gshocks at lower price as that will decrease the value of gshock hence they have made this gshock test driving watch Just like apple do they offer there lowest version in cheaper option to give people a taste and slowly you upgrade to higher versions

[@mordeth1964]

I'm surprised it's taken you this long to review one. I've owned three different variants of this for about two years now and I absolutely love them. They fit perfectly on my 8.5 inch sala, are extremely durable and look dang cool 👍

[@LuisLanza-w4u]

They are more expensive on retail at over seas i paid 60 bucks for mine no complain is a good watch i read in argentina can cost 200 bucks or chile remote places increase the retail price for the cost of shipping.

[@marktibbetts3799]

I love Casio watches,just wish they would change the band material. Sooo stiff

[@kyledriscollmusic]

this is a watch where I think, this is so hideous, why would anyone ever wear it. Then Casio probably goes and sells a million of em

[@OX71]

Here are two things the $20 *extra for the g-shock will get you that this watch can't match, the ability to change the resin when it gets damaged beyond repair and the ability to dress the watch with an abundance of colorful resin replacements or even metal aftermarket bezels and bracelets. Edit behind *

[@smitty30rocks]

My 5600 has been around the world for the past 8 years. My resin strap still doesn't show much wear.

[@OX71]

@@smitty30rocks paint a house, cut wood a few seasons, move furniture for a living...traveling around the world doesn't amount to daily hard use that can scuff a d tear up the resin case eventually needing replacement, the point I was making is that should a person want to or need to, a g -shock's resin could be replaced with a multitude of resins or metals, just remove the 4 screws and pull it off, the module doesn't need to be uncased. The g -shock is brilliant in that regard , no need to buy a new one if it still works but looks ugly, just replace the resin.

[@adiaz9201]

This is an upgrade to the DW 290 the one used on mission impossible 1 Tom cruse. I have both now.

[@violetspider_]

It's triple the money in uk. 😂one colour is 34 and another 87. Wtf.

[@JasonTheWatchGuy]

Dave, there's only one thing left to do here...Give it to your little people and let them stress test it!

[@harrycallahan9733]

If it's not a G-Shock, it should be thinner :)

[@benkenobi6582]

I really like this watch but unfortunately it’s just a little too big for my wrists. It would look ridiculous on me haha

[@rainappleby]

The love child of the DW-5600 and the Casio Royale 😅

[@WatchmakerErik]

Dave, I feel really bad. My first interaction with you was poking a little fun at all the jump cuts at the beginning of your video, and I hope you don't judge me too harshly for that. I have to say your interest have gotten a lot smoother the cuts have been come a lot less noticeable, and all in all your videos just keep getting better every time. Plus I absolutely adore your theme music and your reviews are so spot on. You are doing excellent work sir keep it up.

[@JusttheWatch]

Ha ha, thanks, glad to hear I've gotten better!

[@theos2822]

Nice. But I realy wish they would also make a smaller version. For small wrists.

[@claudiorossini-ii3hd]

Then try the w800h .

[@PocketUau]

“Just”. This watch is like 4 years old by now, but it’s great