CASIO’S SMARTWATCH: VERSION 3.0

From the get-go, Casio has had a unique take on smartwatches. While nearly every other brand was tackling fitness tracking, push notifications and other functions that extend a smartphone’s reach to the wrist, Casio was heading down a different path. The brand chose to identify a specific need, then created a smartwatch to address it ‒ to the exclusion of everything else.

With this approach, Casio developed the Pro Trek WSD-F10, which it introduced in 2016. Created with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, this smartwatch was rugged and waterproof, and could load customised apps for various activities ranging from fishing to cycling. Reception has been positive, to put it mildly, Case in point: Casio followed up with the WSD-F20 model of the line shortly after, and has just released the third iteration of the Pro Trek smartwatch, the WSD-F30.

The WSD-F30 was developed with a focus on improving its wearability and battery life vis-a-vis the previous generation of the Pro Trek. Unfortunately, the goals are at odds with each other, as a smaller, more wearable case necessitates a smaller battery that compromises the battery life.

According to Kayo Okada, the lead developer for the WSD-F30, workarounds had to be devised for the smartwatch to attain a run time of three days even when using its GPS and colour map functions. Take the new dual-layer display, for example: general information is presented on the monochromic layer, which consumes less power, while the map is displayed on the colour layer only when needed. Okada also shared that tweaks had to be made to improve the hardware’s architecture and operating system for a longer battery life, as current technologies remain a limiting factor here.

The Pro Trek ecosystem will continue to evolve with new functions and apps that promise to expand the WSD-F30’s. For now, WSD-F30 owners can look forward to apps developed by nine different official app partners, each geared towards an activity like running and horseback riding.