G-Shock watches solve the durability problem well, but their size can create another one. A tough watch is less appealing for everyday wear if its case feels unnecessarily large, especially for people with smaller wrists or anyone who prefers a more compact watch.
Price: From $132
Where to Buy: Casio
Casio’s new G-Shock GMA-S160 addresses that problem directly. Available in black as the GMA-S160-1B, navy as the GMA-S160-2B, and white as the GMA-S160-7A, it measures 40.7 × 35.7 × 10.8 mm and weighs 31 grams.
Those numbers make the GMA-S160 smaller than the GMA-P2100. Casio has retained the fundamentals that make it a G-Shock, including shock resistance and 200-meter water resistance, along with dual time, a stopwatch, hand shift, and dual LED illumination.
Smaller than the GMA-P2100
Casio positions the GMA-S160 as smaller and slimmer than the GMA-P2100, and the specifications support that comparison.
The GMA-P2100 measures 46 × 40.2 × 11.2 mm and weighs 40 grams. The GMA-S160 measures 40.7 × 35.7 × 10.8 mm and weighs 31 grams. That makes the new model 4.5 mm narrower and nine grams lighter, with a shorter case length as well.
Whether those differences make it more comfortable requires wear testing, but the GMA-S160 is clearly the more compact watch on paper. Casio specifies the same compatible wrist range of 145 to 190 mm for both models.
A more restrained design
The smaller proportions come with a relatively restrained exterior. Casio has softened the edges of the angular case and added gentle curves where the case and strap meet. A matte finish on the bezel and band contrasts with the metallic dial, while metallic accents on the buckle and band loop echo its sheen.
Casio describes the result as sophisticated and luxurious. Those are subjective terms, but the design itself is less visually bulky than many traditional G-Shocks.
The three versions share the same basic design and specifications, so the choice largely comes down to color: black for the GMA-S160-1B, navy for the GMA-S160-2B, or white for the GMA-S160-7A.
Core G-Shock protection remains
The smaller case has not removed the GMA-S160’s key durability specifications. All three models have a shock-resistant structure and 200-meter water resistance. Casio uses resin and bio-based resin for the case and bezel, and bio-based resin for the band.
Casio says using bio-based resin in key components is expected to help reduce environmental impact. That is the company’s stated objective, not evidence that the complete watch has a lower environmental footprint.
Mineral glass protects the dial, and Casio lists Neobrite luminous material for visibility in darker conditions.
Simpler functions, dual LEDs
The GMA-S160 combines analog hour and minute hands with a digital display that can show seconds, month, date, and day. Its hand-shift function temporarily moves the analog hands when they obscure information on the display.
Dual time lets you keep track of another time alongside the primary one. It is not the broader World Time system found on some other G-Shocks. The watch also has a one-second stopwatch that measures elapsed time up to 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
Casio does not list a countdown timer or daily alarms for the GMA-S160. That matters if you are moving from a more feature-heavy G-Shock: the smaller case comes with a shorter function list.
Separate white LEDs illuminate the analog face and digital display. Both are part of Casio’s Super Illuminator system, with selectable illumination durations of 1.5 or three seconds and an afterglow.
Other features include a full auto-calendar programmed through 2099, a button-tone on/off setting, and a 12/24-hour digital time display. Casio rates timekeeping accuracy at ±15 seconds per month. A CR1025 battery powers the watch, with an estimated life of approximately three years.
There is no Tough Solar charging or Bluetooth smartphone connection. Buyers who want app connectivity, automatic time correction, or solar charging will need to look elsewhere in Casio’s lineup.
Who is the GMA-S160 for?
The GMA-S160 is for someone who wants G-Shock durability without a large watch. At 35.7 mm wide, 10.8 mm thick, and 31 grams, it is smaller and lighter than the GMA-P2100 while retaining shock resistance and 200-meter water resistance. Dual time, hand shift, a stopwatch, dual LED illumination, and a full auto-calendar cover a useful set of everyday functions.
The trade-off is the feature set. Compared with the GMA-P2100, the GMA-S160 gives up broader World Time functionality, a countdown timer, and multiple alarms. It also lacks Bluetooth and solar charging.
Price: From $132
Where to Buy: Casio
If those extras matter, another G-Shock will be a better fit. If size and weight matter more, the GMA-S160 makes a focused case for itself: core G-Shock toughness in a smaller, simpler analog-digital watch.
