Fresh off a recent win against the Fitbit Charge 6, the Apple Watch SE (2022) is ready to take on another popular challenger to determine which device offers better step-count accuracy. This time, it's the G-Shock Move DWH5600's turn to see how its step-counting skills measure up.
Priced at $320, the G-Shock Move smartwatch costs more than the Apple Watch SE, even though it omits an onboard GPS and altimeter, relying instead on a paired smartphone for the former.
There are also no third-party apps to speak of. However, the G-Shock move does have some advantages over the Apple Watch SE, even if the latter is the best smartwatch for the money in 2024.
Apple Watch SE vs. G-Shock Move: Features
For one, the G-Shock looks way cooler (see also: less dorky) than the Apple Watch SE (IMHO). The Move also offers a substantially more rugged build quality. In addition to a shock- and drop-proof design, water resistance is good for 200 meters, making the watch truly suitable for all water sports, even scuba diving. The Apple Watch SE, by comparison, has just 50 meters of WR.
You also get solar charging with the DWH5600 and superior battery life compared to any current Apple Watch model.
But what about fitness tracking? Both devices sport an accelerometer to assist with step-count tracking and an optical heart rate monitor, though only the G-Shock provides blood oxygen saturation readings (SpO2). The Apple Watch has far more activity profiles, though,
In terms of metrics, both devices cover the basics, like pace, distance, average heart rate, calories burned and more. By the way, G-Shock uses Polar’s fitness and health algorithms to process its data. (That's a good thing.)
Apple Watch SE vs. G-Shock Move: Step-count accuracy
Our step-count accuracy test is fairly simple. I affix a fitness tracker/smartwatch to each wrist, fire 'em up, and set out on my way, manually counting every step. When I hit 100, I click an old-school tally counter in my pocket and start again at one — wash and repeat until I've walked several thousand paces. (I also run Strava on my iPhone as an additional data source).
With the sun shining brightly and my belly full of leftover pizza and yerba mate tea, I stepped out of my apartment to begin the test. Here's how it went:
Apple Watch SE vs. G-Shock Move: Test results
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Apple Watch SE | G-Shock Move | Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps | 5,338 steps | 5,327 steps | 5,300 steps (manual count) |
| Distance | 2.6 miles | 2.4 miles | 3.1 miles |
| Elevation gain | 261 feet | n/a | 249 feet (Strava) |
| Pace | 21 minutes 4 seconds per mile | 22 minutes 4 seconds per mile | 17 minutes, 13 seconds per mile |
| Calories burned | 373 calories | 407 calories | n/a |
| Average heart rate | 121 bpm | 122 bpm | n/a |
| Maximum heart rate | 161 bpm | 161 bpm | n/a |
Except for some odd numbers from Strava for pace and distance — 17 minutes, 13 seconds per mile is a tad quick — the recorded data matches up quite nicely across the board. Both the Apple Watch and G-shock were within 40 steps of my manual 5,100-step count, which equates to 99% or better accuracy. That alone is impressive.
Similarly, the Apple Watch and G-Shock align closely on pace, heart rate, distance and calories. Of course, the latter lacks elevation data, which is a bummer given that ~250 feet of ascent is nothing to scoff at.
Verdict: G-Shock Move DWH5600 wins
Ultimately, the G-Shock Move wins this step count battle against the Apple Watch SE by just eleven paces. But more importantly, both smartwatches spit out incredibly similar metrics that match up with one another and previous step-count trials. This is to say, these are as accurate as any wearable I've tested, and I wouldn't hesitate to rely on either for future workouts.
Well, that's not entirely true...
The lack of elevation data from the G-Shock means I'll still reach for the Apple Watch SE first before my next walking or hiking excursions (though, for watersports, I'm all Casio all day). The coastal Pacific Northwest is darn mountainous, after all.
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