Casio America releases Casio FB100W series with Bluetooth and Step Tracker

Casio America released the Casio FB100W series (internationally known as F-B100W), which is essentially a Casio F‑91W with a step tracker and Bluetooth smartphone link. Along with the step tracking functions and life log data, a Bluetooth connection with the Casio Watches app offers the usual Bluetooth functions such as auto time adjustment, easy watch setting, around 300 world time cities, time & place log, and phone finder.

The F-B100W has other upgrades over the F-91W with features including dual time, 1/100-second stopwatch (for first 60 minutes, 200-record stopwatch data, 30-minute countdown timer (settable in 1-second and 1-minute increments), 5 daily alarms, hourly time signal, green LED backlight with 1.5 or 3 second duration, full auto-calendar, button operation sound on/off, power saving, and low battery warning. The module (3589) has the same accuracy as G-Shock and Pro Trek at ±15 seconds per month (when not using the Bluetooth smartphone link).

The F-B100W is slightly larger than the F-91W with measurements of 41.9 x 38.1 x 8.8 millimeters and a weight of 26 grams. It also has a larger compatible band size of 145 to 215 millimeters. Battery life is rated for approximately two years on a CR2016.

One detail to be rightfully concerned about is that like the F-91W, the F-B100W has a basic “Water Resistant” rating, meaning that it is resistant to rain and splashes but is not intended for swimming or any other watersports. They could probably survive a light dunking, and there is anecdotal evidence that some people swim with their F-91W watches without incident (which have single rubber gasket seals on the button shafts), but we would suggest not risking it since the FB100W costs twice as much.

The black FB100W-1A with blue display ring, black FB100W-1B with inverted LCD display, and green FB100W-3A are $64.95 each at www.casio.com/us. The FB100W is one of the most affordable Casio watches when it comes to current models with Bluetooth and step tracking, with the other being the WSB1000 with the same price. All three F-B100W models sold out quickly in Japan when they were released in August and remain out of stock there. Some F-B100W models were also released in the U.K. and Europe in late August and early September, where they also sold out.