There’s one thing that G-Shock fans want. It’s so simple, yet for so long G-Shock has missed the mark in delivering. We’ve been telling Casio, just take the old square G-Shock and update the screen to MIP. That’s it! Take the old LCD display and update it to MIP. Don’t add a heart rate monitor, don’t change the case body, strap, or functionality.
That’s it!
Yet for several years now we’ve been given the bait and switch. G-Shock comes out with an MIP watch and they add stuff, change things, and on top of it all these MIP watches can’t run completely from Tough Solar charging.
And right when we got to the boiling point, they finally do it. They announce the true MIP square, the GW-BX5600, as 2025 draws to a close.
It was important that G-Shock do this at this time, because I made a powerful rant video where I drew a line and DEMANDED that they deliver an MIP square in 2025. And technically they did, but they kind of cheated because the GWBX5600 is only available in a few markets. I don’t know which ones but it’s certainly not the USA!
The other twist of the knife that G-Shock gave me is that the band is too small for me. They really targeted me on this one. In my rant video I said “just change the screen.” So they were like, “Ok, Jim. We’ll just change the screen and keep the band length of the standard square which is too small for you. LOL!”
Dadgum it! They really got me there.
Video Summary
The above video is as close as a think piece as you’re going to get from the Jim Kinkade Youtube channel. It’s like a podcast or something. Since it’s way over me head, I have drawn upon Google’s Gemini AI to summarize it for me. Yea, I know it’s me who made the video. But the level of intelligence I summoned to produce the video was fleeting and not present in any measure now to type all that out. So here’s the AI summary of my video about the G-Shock MIP Saga:
The G-Shock MIP Saga – From the GBD200 to the Holy Grail GWBX5600
If you have spent any time in the G-Shock community over the last few years, you know there has been one constant, echoing demand: “Give us a classic square with an MIP screen and Tough Solar.” In this deep-dive presentation, Jim Kinkade explores the “MIP Saga,” tracing the history of G-Shock’s Memory-in-Pixel technology from its brilliant introduction to the frustrating “smart” detours, and finally, to the imminent arrival of what might be the perfect digital watch.
The GBD200: A Beautiful Screen in a “Smart” Trap
The saga truly began in July 2021 with the release of the GBD200. This watch was an immediate hit with both “normies” and hardcore watch nerds for one reason: the display. The MIP (Memory in Pixel) screen offered a level of contrast and legibility that traditional segment LCDs simply couldn’t match.
However, as Jim points out, while everyone loved the screen, many users found themselves indifferent or even hostile toward every other feature. Marketed as a fitness-oriented “G-Squad” watch, it included a step counter and Bluetooth connectivity. But for the average user, the interface was painfully slow and the notifications were cumbersome. Many buyers, including several reviewers Jim highlights, ended up putting the watch in “airplane mode” just to use it as a high-visibility “dumb” watch. The biggest drawback? No solar charging. With a two-year battery life, users were left wanting more.
The DWH5600: The “Heart Rate” Detour
In May 2023, G-Shock attempted to answer the call for a solar-powered MIP square with the DWH5600. On paper, it looked like a dream come true, but in practice, it introduced a new set of problems.
Instead of a streamlined tool watch, G-Shock added a heart rate monitor (HRM). This made the watch significantly more expensive ($300) and less comfortable, with the sensor housing sticking out from the back—what Jim describes as leaving a “dog’s paw” imprint on the wrist. Furthermore, the solar charging was merely “solar assist.” Because the HRM and Bluetooth features were so power-hungry, the watch still required a USB plug to stay fully charged. For the blue-collar guy who just wants a tough, reliable watch that never needs to be plugged in, the DWH5600 felt like a over-engineered distraction.
The GWBX5600: Finally, the Holy Grail?
After four and a half years of fans screaming “just change the screen,” Casio has finally introduced the GWBX5600. This model appears to be the “Holy Grail” the community has been begging for. It takes the iconic, 40-year-old square design and finally pairs it with a high-contrast MIP screen and Tough Solar charging—without the unnecessary heart rate monitor or fitness bloat.
Jim notes that while the international release began in late 2025, the U.S. market is still eagerly awaiting its arrival in early 2026. This watch promises to return to the basics: legendary G-Shock durability, hyper-accurate timekeeping via Bluetooth or Multi-Band 6, and a display that even aging “OG” eyes can read at a glance.
The “Big Wrist” Challenge and Vocational Testing
True to his “vocationally tough” testing standards, Jim identifies a potential hurdle for the GWBX5600: the band. While G-Shock has updated the tech, they seem to have stuck with a smaller band circumference (up to 205mm). For those with “2×4 wrists” like Jim’s (which measures 215mm or 8.5 inches), the standard resin strap may not fit.
Jim shares his plan to swap the factory band for a Cordura strap with adapters to ensure a comfortable fit for the heavy-duty work he does in the West Texas oil fields. He also raises “burning questions” about the new module’s functionality, such as whether the stopwatch will finally display fractions of a second upon stopping—a long-standing gripe with previous MIP modules that couldn’t refresh fast enough to show live fractions.
Final Thoughts
The G-Shock MIP Saga is a testament to the passion of the watch community. It has been a long road of “cherry-picked” reviews and frustrating smart-watch experiments, but the GWBX5600 looks to be the light at the end of the tunnel. Whether you’re a G-Shock OG or a newcomer looking for the most legible digital watch on the planet, this saga is nearing a very exciting conclusion.
Jim concludes with a reminder that while we can get passionate about gear and tech, there are higher truths to keep in mind. As he always says, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
Still Waiting!
I’m actually impressed by how well the AI summed up my video. It even got my shout out to Jesus down. Haha!
Anyways, stay tuned because when G-Shock releases the MIP square to North America, I’ll pick one up!