G-Shock Original GA-B010 review – In a smaller case, with solar and Bluetooth

Tags: Review | Casio | Classic

22.1.2026 | 4 MIN

Evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The Casio G-Shock GA-B010 doesn’t pursue groundbreaking innovation. Even so, it offers great value for money, Bluetooth, a step counter, and solar charging.

Casio G-Shock GA-B010. Does the name ring a bell? I wouldn’t blame you. This new model builds on an existing one – the GA-010. The “B” in today’s review model stands for Bluetooth. So at first glance it’s almost the same watch, but with Bluetooth, a step counter, and solar charging added.

If Bluetooth doesn’t matter to you and you’d like to save some money, the GA-010 is a good alternative—you can check the review below.

Design – This model is more compact than its predecessor

An accelerometer, Bluetooth and a solar panel—all of these are additions to the GA-B010 compared to the aforementioned predecessor. Logically, you’d expect it to be a bit larger, as these technologies take up space in the case. The opposite is true. Casio positioned this as a sport watch, so they wanted it compact. As a result, they reduced the overall dimensions.

Although the case design is virtually identical, its footprint has shrunk and tightened up. The case measures 49.3 mm in diameter and 15.7 mm in thickness. The weight is a comfortable 57 grams.

For context, the GA-010 has a 51.9 mm case diameter, 17.5 mm thickness, and is 10 grams heavier. The GA-B010 feels noticeably slimmer and lighter.

I’m not entirely sure whether the drop in weight is purely down to the slightly smaller, thinner case, but probably yes. The case and strap are made of bio-based resin reinforced with carbon fiber.

The Carbon Core Guard structure protects the module from shocks and vibrations.

I have to say, the GA-B010 wears really well. Its size and weight make it a very comfortable watch that will fit the vast majority of people. Given its sporty character, that’s a big plus. Whether you’re more or less active, it’s an easy, comfortable wear.

What I sometimes found a bit awkward, by contrast, was operating the buttons, which are shielded by button guards. It will also depend on how large your fingers are. Mine are fairly small, and even so I sometimes couldn’t press a button quite the way I wanted. That said, this isn’t the case for the central button for the display backlight at 6 o’clock—that one is great to use.

The dial is viewed through tough, G-Shock-standard mineral crystal. A digital display sits in the lower half of the dial—again, highly legible and visible even in poorer conditions.

Up top, there’s a small sub-dial positioned slightly to the right. Conversely, the slim left-side sub-dial seen on the GA-010 is gone. Beyond the display you get analog hands with a light application of lume. The tried-and-true Neobrite coating ensures excellent legibility—on the hands and on the hour markers.

What you won’t see is the solar panel hidden in the dial, which keeps the watch running for a long time with minimal fuss. With daily wear it harvests light to recharge the battery powering the Casio Module 5736 (accuracy ±15 seconds per month).

The solar cell is rated for a lifespan of around 10 years. From my experience I can confirm that with proper use this figure holds true. I’ve even seen plenty of cases where it lasted much longer. If its capacity drops to the point where it no longer works, it can generally be replaced with a new one even after years, and at a fairly accessible price.

Otherwise, it’s the standard G-Shock package: extreme toughness, resistance to vibrations and dust, and 200 m water resistance.

The functions are the same, with Bluetooth added

The feature set is essentially identical to the GA-010, augmented by Bluetooth. That gives you full watch setup via the Casio Watches app on your phone. The watch also has an accelerometer, so it can count your steps. You can set your daily goals in the app and tick them off.

Because there’s an accelerometer, the app shows not only your step count but, based on your physical parameters, an estimate of calories burned.

You can also track your stats in weekly or monthly trends to help keep yourself fit.

I can’t ignore how unreliable the Casio Watches app can be. I’ve gotten so used to it that it no longer feels strange that it’s rather temperamental. The trouble often starts with account registration. You can try it ten times and for some reason it still won’t go through. Then, in many cases, the watch won’t connect until the app decides the time is right. To pair the watch with the app, it’s best to arm yourself with a bit of patience and set aside some time.

The standard toolkit is rounded out by a stopwatch, countdown timer, world time, dual time, automatic calendar, and alarms with audible signals. You can set the tone for button presses and functions. The analog hands also have a hand shift function.

That wraps up the typical feature set of affordable G-Shocks in the Original line. With Bluetooth onboard, this one sits among the better-equipped models in the range.

What is the GA-B010 like?

I wouldn’t say it made my jaw drop. This is a familiar concept we’ve already seen across many models. I’d say the same about the functions. Nothing new, yet I like that Casio gives you options. And I appreciate that while Casio doesn’t bring radical innovations, it steadily upgrades and refreshes the portfolio.

So… Is it a groundbreaking, revolutionary piece you must have in your collection? No, but! If you add it to your collection, it will undoubtedly make you happy.

Photo sources:

• casio.com
• Hodinky 365