Casio's G-Shock G-Steel is the anti Apple Watch

The G-Steel may not be a smartwatch, but this more affordable metal G-Shock won't be obsolete in a few years and is solar powered.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials

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David Carnoy

Sept. 8, 2015 11:00 a.m. PT

Casio's G-Shock watch line is known for its shock-resistant structure, but in recent years the company dipped into the more luxury watch market with some $1,000-and-up metal-body models under its MT-G and MR-G lines. However, according to Casio, G-Shock fans have been asking for something a little different, and it wasn't a smart watch. It was a more affordable metal G-Shock.

That's what they're getting with the new G-Steel line, which is just hitting stores now and starts at $280 (£250 UK). The series comes in both stainless steel and resin bands and is shock resistant (of course), 200M water resistant and solar powered, so you don't have to worry about battery life unless you live in a cave.

I got an early look at the new line, and while it isn't quite as swanky as the MT-G or high-end MR-G (made out of lighter weight titanium) lines and is missing the automatic GPS time-setting feature -- Casio calls it GPS Hybrid Wave Ceptor -- it costs significantly less. I also like that it has some digital elements.

For those looking for something a little more upscale, Casio has also introduced the new top-end MR-G GPS Atomic Solar Hybrid Basel Special Limited Edition MRGG1000RT- 1A, which is crafted with a new titanium alloy treatment -- Titanium 64 (it's composed of 90 percent titanium, 6 percent aluminum, and 4 percent vanadium, making it seven times harder than pure titanium). That model retails for a mere $6,000.