The G-Shock GBD-200 looks like a classic square G-Shock, but its display is doing something the old models never could. It uses a Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) LCD, an always-on screen that stays sharp and readable in direct sunlight without draining the battery. And in the Timekeeping Mode, that screen gives you four different layouts to choose from.
Watch the video above for the quick visual tour of all four, then read on for what each screen shows and how to switch between them. If you want the full picture on the watch itself, check out our full G-Shock GBD-200 review.
How to switch displays
This is the easy part. In the Timekeeping Mode, each press of the top-left button (labeled A) cycles to the next display. That is the whole procedure: no settings menu, no app, just one button. The watch loops through the four screens in this order:
BASIC > TIME+DAILY > TIME+MONTHLY > TIME+WORLD TIME > back to BASIC
As the manual puts it, you can display the current time along with one other type of information. Pick whichever second data point matters most to your day.
1. BASIC: Watch Only (Basic Screen)
The plain one. This is the classic digital watch face: current time, date, and day of the week, nothing else. If you like your G-Shock to look and act like a regular watch most of the time, leave it here. It is also the cleanest layout for quick time checks during workouts when you do not want extra numbers competing for attention.
2. TIME+DAILY: Current Time + Daily Information
Current time plus your daily activity stats: today’s step count and your progress toward your daily step count goal. This is the screen for anyone who bought the GBD-200 as a fitness tracker first and a watch second. Glance down and you immediately know whether you need to get moving or you have already hit your target.
The step counting runs on a power-efficient 3-axis accelerometer, so this screen costs you almost nothing in battery life. The watch is rated for about two years on a single CR2032 cell even with daily step tracking running.
3. TIME+MONTHLY: Current Time + Monthly Information
Current time plus your monthly training numbers: this month’s running distance and your progress toward your monthly running distance goal. Runners who track mileage will live on this screen.
One useful detail: if you would rather see running time than running distance, you can change it. That choice is made in the G-SHOCK MOVE phone app, not on the watch itself. Once set in the app, the monthly screen shows whichever metric you picked.
4. TIME+WORLD TIME: Current Time + World Time
Current time plus a second time zone: the world time city and its current time. Travellers and anyone who works across time zones will get the most out of this one. The watch covers 38 time zones plus UTC, with automatic daylight saving switching when connected to your phone.
Which screen should you use?
It depends on what the watch is for that day, and since switching takes one button press, there is no reason to commit: Desk days and weekends: BASIC. Clean, classic, no clutter. Trying to hit 10,000 steps: TIME+DAILY. The step goal progress bar is surprisingly motivating. Training blocks and race prep: TIME+MONTHLY. Your mileage is always one glance away. Travel and shift work across zones: TIME+WORLD TIME. Home time and local time, no phone needed.
Why the MIP display matters here
These four layouts would be far less useful on a standard negative LCD. The GBD-200’s Memory-in-Pixel display is always on, high contrast, and readable in bright sunlight, which is exactly where a training watch spends its time. It was the first square G-Shock to use an MIP screen, and it is a big part of why the GBD-200 feels more like a modern training tool than a retro throwback.
The screen also enables the front button light: the GBD-200 has a dedicated front button for the Super Illuminator LED, so you can light up whichever display you are on without fumbling for side buttons mid-run.
Quick reference
Top-left (A) in Timekeeping Mode: cycle to the next display. Screens in order: BASIC > TIME+DAILY > TIME+MONTHLY > TIME+WORLD TIME. Change monthly screen to running time: G-SHOCK MOVE app on your phone. Front button: Super Illuminator backlight.
If you are still deciding whether the GBD-200 is the right G-Shock for you, read our full G-Shock GBD-200 review for the complete rundown on training features, Bluetooth, and battery life.
Check the current price: G-Shock GBD-200 on Amazon (affiliate link, supports the channel at no extra cost to you)
Display mode names and switching procedure verified against the official Casio module 3506 operation manual, October 2026. Prices move around, so check the live Amazon price before buying.