G-Shock and Garmin are two well-known watch brands in the sports and outdoor market. As you would imagine, both of these brands focus on modern technology and functionality rather than sticking with tradition. While these brands are mostly ignored by watch connoisseurs, they are well-respected among a specific group wants in a wristwatch – outdoor enthusiasts, competitive athletes, and adventurers that prioritize future rich watches with unbeatable durability.
So, it is inevitable to have these two outstanding multi-functional watches go head-to-head. Read on to know more about each brand’s specific strengths as well as their weaknesses to get a better grasp as to which watch is best suited for you.
Garmin Watch Overview
Garmin is a relatively young company and was founded in Lenexa, Kansas around 1989, the same decade when G-Shock debuted. Garmin’s proficiency in implementing GPS technology into their devices landed them a contract with the U.S. military and by the new millennium, their company was one of the leading developers of GPS technology in the world. This has been Garmin’s main claim to fame as their current lineup of watches all feature some of the most advanced navigational features on this side of the wristwatch market.
Garmin watches are also well-known for featuring a slew of activity tracking functionalities which makes their wristwatches a highly popular accessory with athletes and for gym rats. Garmin watches have also transitioned quite nicely into the smartwatch market with their fantastic Bluetooth connectivity features.
As for Garmin watches, some of their most popular watch lines include the Fenix, Forerunner, Vivofit, and Vivosmart series. When it comes to modern multi-functional smartwatches, Garmin is definitely one of the most prominent and highly recommended of the bunch with sport-specific watches and its Marq line of premium smartwatches. It also made news in 2020 by introducing a whole line of solar-powered Garmin models, increasing the battery life to levels not seen on other full-featured watches and upping the game against other competitors in the sector.
G-Shock Brand Overview
G-Shock is quite possibly one of the most popular outdoor watches in the business with a reputation based on its absolute durability that other watch brands can only dream about. G-Shock watches are also consumer-friendly and come with a highly flexible price bracket ranging from entry-level to premium-grade. The good news is that even their most affordable watch models are equipped with their signature tough-as-nails build. Of course, if you are looking for higher-end features then you will need to shell out extra.
G-Shock was introduced to the market in 1983 by Japanese tech manufacturer company, Casio. The first-gen G-Shock watches focused their marketing on their impressive ‘Triple 10’ design. The three 10s represent 10-feet fall resistance, 10 ATM water resistance, and 10-year battery life. If there was one aspect about G-Shock watches that you can consider as divisive, it is with the large and typically tank-like build.
While some of the modern G-Shock watches offer a sleeker and more compact build, the standard design for most stays the same. This is why G-Shock watches are mostly worn by men. Fortunately, for women (and kids) who are interested in what G-Shock watches offer, Casio released the Baby G collection which utilizes a more compact design without affecting the signature G-Shock performance too much.
When it comes to thrill-seekers and those with an adventurous spirit, G-Shock will perfectly complement your lifestyle in both design and performance.
G-Shock vs. Garmin Watch Comparisons
Fitness Tracking Watches
G-Shock G-Squad GBD-H1000-1JR
🏆 #1 Best Overall
- Bluetooth 5.3 Call and Message Notification: Cillso smart watch features an advanced single-chip processor and sensitive microphone, enabling direct call making and answering. When you enable the "VeryFit" App to receive messages, notifications will be displayed on the smartwatch. Get all your messages and notifications (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Linkedin,Skype etc.) sent straight to your smartwatch with intuitive customizable vibrations
- Built-in Alexa Voice Control: This smartwatch integrates Amazon Alexa's intelligent voice assistant, delivering a comprehensive hands-free experience directly from your wrist. Simply speak commands to instantly access news, weather, and calendar updates, set reminders, control smart home devices, and manage music playback. This full suite of voice-activated functionalities streamlines daily routines, enhances multitasking efficiency, and keeps your hands free for the moments that matter most.
- 1.83" HD Display and Personalized Customization: IDW26 smart watches for women men feature a 1.83-inch HDdisplay paired with 3D tempered glass, boasting a resolution of up to 320×385 for excellent image quality and high touch sensitivity. The 4-level adjustable brightness ensures clear visibility even under bright sunlight. Through the "VeryFit" app, users gain access to over 130 stylish watch faces and the ability to create custom designs, allowing for personalized expression
- 120+ Sport Modes and IP68 Waterproof: Fitness tracker supports 120+ professional sport modes, covering diverse indoor/outdoor activities like running, cycling, and soccer to suit all fitness levels. Equipped with high-precision sensors, fitness watch accurately tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and workout duration to help analyze performance and optimize training plans. With an IP68 rating, it's resistant to sweat, rain, and handwashing (Not for swimming or hot showers)
- All-Day Health Monitoring: Android smart watch is equipped with a high-precision optical sensor that supports 24h real-time heart rate monitoring, helping you stay informed about your physical condition. It also intelligently analyzes sleep quality, accurately identifying deep sleep, light sleep, and awake phases to help improve your sleep habits. Paired with its dedicated app, you can view long-term health trends and receive personalized insights to gradually develop a healthier lifestyle
When it comes to G-Shock watches, you can always expect them to have a top-tier build that provides outstanding durability. This claim holds true with the GBD-H1000-1JR model with its robust build and capable design. The GBD-H1000-1JR model is also equipped with Bluetooth connectivity which means you can pair it with your smartphone to unlock more functionalities via the G-Shock Connected app.
The GBD-H1000-1JR includes a slew of fitness tracking features such as a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, multiple time zones, and weekly training progress tracker as well as physical recovery rate. This is quite a handful and while it will quite an advantage for those who plan their workout routine in detail, it might be too much for casual use.
This G-Shock watch also comes with a tracking mode that uses GPS to display your location, route, and travel duration. Overall, this is a pretty well-rounded fitness tracking watch that is also incredibly well-built, as is expected from a G-Shock watch. While it may not have the same streamlined UI navigational features as Garmin’s watches, it still manages to deliver what is needed.
Garmin Forerunner 45
Rank #2
- 📞 2025 Make/Answer Calls & Smart Notifications - The new digital smart watch uses the latest Bluetooth 5.3 connection technology, which can answer/make calls stably and clearly, and view call history and store contacts. The smartwatches also provides notifications of social media messages including facebook, whatsApp, instagram, twitter, etc. through vibrating alerts. Effectively solve the situation that it is inconvenient to look at the mobile phone when you are meeting, exercising or else.
- ⌚ 1.96'' HD Touch Screen & 200+ DIY Watch Faces - The smart watch for men women is equipped with a 385*472mm extra-large HD full touch color screen, delivering highly responsive touch, which can bring you a unique visual and better interactive experience. With the companion GloryFit app, you can download more than 200 free personalised watch faces or select your favorite photo like family, selfie, landscape photo as a wallpaper to make your own stylish smartwatch.
- 💖 24 Hour/7 Day Health Monitoring - The iOS and Android smart watch is equipped with high-performance optical sensors that will record your all day activities, achieve your wellness goals. Fitness watch accurately monitors your heart rate, blood oxygen, stress levels, sleep status, etc. You can view a week's worth of health reports in app. Hope you can develop a healthier lifestyle with the fitness tracker.
- 🏊110+ Sports Modes & IP68 Waterproof - The fitness tracker watch supports 110+ sports modes, including Running, Walking, Hiking, Basketball, Boating, Climbing, Cycling, Fitness, Football and so on. During your exercise, it will record your data like heart rate, steps, calories burned, distance in real time. This sport smartwatch is designed with IP68 waterproof, so it won't be damaged even when exercising, washing hands and sweating.
- 🚀 More Useful Functions and Long Battery Life - More useful features are waiting for you to discover, such as timer, stopwatch, alarm clock, sedentary reminder, music control, weather forecast, camera control, calculator, etc. The fitness tarcker smart watch has a built-in large capacity battery, which can be fully charged in 2 hours, can be used for up to 7 days and has a long standby time of about 30 days. The smartwatch is compatible with Android phones and iPhone.
Garmin has been at the forefront of smartwatches for years now and their products have only gotten better with time. The Forerunner watch line is definitely one of their flagship models and the Forerunner 45 continues the brand’s stellar reputation with some of the best performance and functionalities that you can find in this particular market.
In terms of aesthetics, the Forerunner 45 incorporates a modern minimalistic approach which gives it a clean and almost clinical appearance. The Forerunner 45 features a sleek 39mm diameter case with silicon straps for optimum flexibility and comfort. The simplistic design of this fitness tracking watch conceals a fantastic collection of features and functionalities; a perfect example of the ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ idiom.
When it comes to the Garmin Forerunner 45’s features, you can expect the best that this brand has to offer and then some. First off, it comes with all the standard fitness tracking capabilities such as a heart rate monitor and GPSS. In fact, the Forerunner 45 takes advantage of three satellites – the GLONASS, Galileo, and GPS which it uses to track your pace, distance traveled, intervals, and many more. All of this can be done with a touch of a button, making the Forerunner 45 incredibly user-friendly as well.
Solar-Powered Watches
G-Shock G-Steel GST-B100-1ACR
Rank #3
- 1.85'' HD Display & 200+ Customized Dials: Smart watch features a 1.85'' HD display for excellent visual effects. Features over 200+ built-in watch face designs. You can also upload images via the Da Fit app to achieve personalized customization
- Bluetooth 5.3 Calling and Notifications: Smart watch for men features a high-definition speaker/microphone for seamless Bluetooth 5.3 calls. Smartwatch receive all kinds of messages, including SMS, social media messages (Unable to reply to messages)
- Intelligent Voice Assistant: Smart watches comes with an intelligent voice assistant, which can easily perform voice commands such as checking the weather, making phone calls, playing music, setting alarms and so on. Make your life more convenient
- 120+ Sport Modes: Fitness tracker provides 120+ sport modes, including walking, hiking and yoga, to meet different exercise needs. Real-time data (calories, distance, duration) is recorded in detail and synchronized to the Da Fit app
- 24/7 Health & Activity Monitoring: Android smart watch has an advanced sensors that track your health indicators like heart rate and sleep quality 24 hours, recording your activity data all day and sync to app to help you live a healthier life
The G-Steel series is G-Shock’s top-tier model and it features some notable upgrades from the standard G-Shock design. The most prominent is its use of a combination of resin and stainless-steel components for its shell. This combination of materials is pushed to its full potential thanks to G-Shock’s excellent build and design which features multiple layers to ensure complete shock resistance.
When it comes to features, the G-Steel GST-B100-1ACR is equipped with all the advanced watch technologies to push its capabilities past the proverbial glass ceiling. Its Bluetooth connectivity further expands upon its capabilities which is already substantial by default thanks to its chronograph dial design. Connecting it to your smartphone will unlock a bunch of other features, thanks to the G-Shock Connected app. We highly recommend you take full advantage of this to reach the GST-B100-1ACR’s potential.
The GST-B100-1ACR is also equipped with Casio’s excellent Tough Solar technology which allows it to operate (normal mode) for up to 24 months even without being exposed to sunlight. Additionally, this solar-powered G-Shock watch also has a water resistance rating of 200-meter, making it ideal for both land and sea operations.
When it comes to the G-Steel series, you can bet that it will hold all the fantastic qualities of previous G-Shock watches with the addition of its Bluetooth capabilities. This is as close as we can get to the complete G-Shock experience, for now.
Garmin Instinct Solar (010-02293-10)
Rank #4
- Bluetooth Call & Smart Reminder: Smart watch is equipped with an advanced 5.3 chip, allow you to make Bluetooth calls, sync contact information and store call history. Also can send vibrating alerts for messages and various social media notifications
- 1.85'' Display & 300+ Watch Faces: Fitness tracker adopts 1.85 HD screen that provides excellent visual experience. There are 300+ watch faces built-in, which can be changed by long-pressing the screen or selected/cutomized through the “Da Fit” app
- 24/7 Health & Activity Monitoring: Smart watches for men uses advanced sensing chips to accurately monitor heart rate and nighttime sleep quality, as well record and sync detailed data to the “Da Fit” app, helping you understand your health condition
- 120+ Exercise Modes: Fitness watch is equipped with 120+ exercise modes that can be set according to your situation to help you achieve your fitness goals. As you work out, it records real-time data such as time, steps, calories burned and distance. It's easy to maintain a balanced, active lifestyle (note: step counting starts after 20 steps)
- Voice Assistant & High-capacity Battery: Smart watch for men is equipped with a convenient voice assistant that makes it easy to give various commands. It also has a high-capacity 400 mAh battery with up to 7 days of runtime and 30 days of standby time
The Garmin Instinct Solar is definitely one of the brand’s more rugged models and is designed specifically for outdoor use. The Instinct Solar features a military standard 810 case which means it is shock, thermal, and water-resistant (up to 100-meters), making it a highly viable option for those who enjoy going on road trips, hiking, and camping trips.
Add to the fact that this is a solar-powered watch and you get a highly functional timepiece with, basically, an unlimited power source. If you wish to fully maximize its battery, the Instinct Solar also has a power-saving mode that allows users to check how each feature is affecting its battery life. This will allow users to adjust the Instinct Solar so that it becomes as energy-efficient as possible.
When it comes to features, this Garmin smartwatch is filled to bursting. With its Bluetooth connectivity, users can utilize sports app via their smartphone to track and develop training regimens. You will also have access to the Pulse Ox app which is designed for sleep monitoring and altitude acclimation.
This watch also comes with a heart-rate monitor and even a stress tracking feature. As for its navigational capabilities, the Garmin Solar Instinct utilizes GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS satellites to offer accurate tracking of your current position. Thanks to its impressive GPS capabilities and extremely long solar-powered battery life, the Garmin Instinct Solar is a great option for outdoor enthusiasts who wish to bring the convenience provided by modern technology into the wilds.
Conclusion: G-Shock vs. Garmin – Which is Better?
So, which has the edge between these two multi-functional watch brands? If you love going on outdoor adventures you are looking for a more fitness-oriented smartwatch with a ton of features, you can’t go wrong with a Garmin watch. That particular category has been Garmin’s bread and butter for years. However, for those who prioritize toughness and shock-resistance, a G-Shock watch is indispensable.
💰 Best Value
- 【Military-Grade Standard & 100-Day+ Ultra-Long Battery Life】This smart watches for men features a fully stainless steel body and a double-sided frame reinforced with aluminum alloy. Smart watch has successfully passed multiple strict durability tests, is rugged, waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and capable of handling all extreme environments. The military smart watch is an indispensable choice for outdoor adventures! In addition, this mens smart watch has a battery capacity of up to 900mAh, which is five times that of traditional smartwatches. It can provide 100 days of standby time and 30 days of daily use, saying goodbye to the trouble of frequent charging!
- 【2.01" HD Large Display & DIY Custom Dial】The android smart watch is equipped with a 2.01" large HD full touchscreen and TP tempered glass with enhanced resolution processing to ensure clear and vivid visual effects. This military watch features TFT color display and outstanding high-definition picture quality. Moreover, the screen surface has undergone anti-fingerprint treatment, so you no longer need to worry about the screen being blurry. We offer you a variety of online watch faces, or you can upload your favorite photos (your family and pets) to personalize the watch face and immediately have a unique appearance.
- 【LED Flashlight & Compass Navigation】The tactical smartwatch features a high-brightness LED flashlight with a range of 6–10 meters, offering continuous and flashing modes for illumination or emergency signaling—even in foggy or harsh conditions. The fitness tracker watch is equipped with a high precision anti-magnetic compass device, specially designed for outdoor exploration and hiking activities, providing accurate positioning, avoiding wrong routes, and ensuring safety. This makes it an essential survival and navigation tool.
- 【Answering/Making Calls & AI Voice Assistant & Receiving Notifications】The fitness watch features built-in stereo speakers and a microphone. Once connected to Bluetooth, you can directly answer/make/hang up calls through your mens smartwatches. The Da Fit app syncs up to 100 contacts and recent call history. You can also use voice commands with an AI assistant to check weather, set alarms, or make calls, and you will quickly get help. Real-time notifications for calls and messages—including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter—keep you informed without missing important alerts.
- 【120+ Sports Modes & IP68 Water Resistance】This smart fitness watch offers over 120 sports modes, including running, cycling, rock climbing, skiing, basketball, football, etc. It can track heart rate, steps, calorie consumption, distance and exercise time. As an activity tracker, outdoor smart watch helps you optimize your exercise and develop a personalized training plan. The sport watches for men waterproof rating is IP68, and its excellent waterproof performance can withstand running in the rain and intense exercise that makes you sweat profusely. With this powerful compass watch, you can fully enjoy the pleasure and sense of achievement of sports.