July 28th, 2024

This $56 Casio watch is a retro step tracking dream

The Casio WS-B1000 is a $56 retro-style fitness tracker with Bluetooth, step counting, and basic functions. It appeals to users seeking simplicity and essential features without advanced smartwatch capabilities.

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This $56 Casio watch is a retro step tracking dream

The Casio WS-B1000 is a retro-style watch priced at $56, designed primarily for step tracking. It features Bluetooth connectivity to sync with smartphones, an accelerometer for step counting, and basic functions like a stopwatch, alarms, and timers. The watch does not include advanced features such as heart rate monitoring or an OLED display, making it a straightforward fitness tracker. Weighing only 36 grams, it is lightweight and powered by a CR2016 coin cell battery that lasts approximately two years, eliminating the need for frequent charging.

The reviewer appreciated the simplicity of the WS-B1000, especially during a period of recovery from overtraining, as it allows users to focus on basic fitness goals without the overwhelming metrics often found in modern smartwatches. The watch's accuracy in step tracking was generally within 500 to 1,000 steps compared to an Apple Watch Ultra. The Casio app enhances usability by automatically syncing the time and allowing users to set alarms from their phones.

While the WS-B1000 may not suit those seeking comprehensive smartwatch features, it appeals to individuals looking for a low-tech, stylish option for fitness tracking. The combination of retro aesthetics and essential functionality makes it a compelling choice for those wanting a break from more complex fitness technology.

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3 comments

By @rfwhyte - 6 months

You can get wrist worn step counters on Amazon for literally one single dollar. You can get Bluetooth connected "Smart watches" that count steps and monitor your heart rate for less than $20, so in what world is this thing at $56 considered a "Good deal?"

Wouldn't really expect much else from The Verge though, as their whole site these days is basically just a bunch of ads in a trench-coat masquerading as "Journalism." This is almost certainly a "Sponsored post" and is more their typical regurgitation of a manufacturers press release / marketing materials than any sort of actual critical review, as if it were they would have mentioned the fact you can get other devices that do the same thing or more for far less money.

By @realityfactchex - 6 months

Can someone please explain the step counting phenomenon? I, as a person who is always instantly able to tell whether I have walked much in a day, and whether it was sufficient movement, or not enough exercise, or a lot more than typical for me, don't really understand the appeal, but would love to know where it comes from, and additionally, where it really lies on the 2d plot of organic<-->promoted and beneficial<-->farcical.

Is it the obsession with personal data tracking that people love? (Or that people are encouraged to love by marketing?)

Or the knowledge/potential that by measuring it, it improves?

Or do people simply have a hard time being able to accurately tell roughly how much they have walked in a day, and whether that was enough movement for them?

There is obviously at least SOMETHING there. Some people DO seem sorta REALLY INTO with this kind of thing (fit bit, Apple Health, insurance plan discounts, this Casio step counting watch)?

I tried a web search [0], and it seems like a mixed bag of motivations?

[0] https://www.google.com/search?q=why+do+people+love+step+coun...

By @bdjsiqoocwk - 6 months

When they say it's "only" $56, is that sarcasm? It looks like it costs $2 to produce.

This $56 Casio watch is a retro step tracking dream

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