The most affordable Casio timepieces are more than just cheap watches, as they are often packed with features and offer exceptional value. Some of these watches have the same special functions found on much more expensive G-Shock and Pro Trek models. During times of inflation and economic uncertainty, it may be prudent to build up the emergency fund and give some of these inexpensive Casio watches a closer look. An affordable Casio watch is also an excellent option for students and young people.
Casio AQ-S810W-1AV: Most affordable solar analog
The AQS810W-1AV has the same Tough Solar power system seen on G-Shock and Pro Trek watches, which includes a power-saving feature when the watch is in a dark environment. A solar watch like this is a good choice for those who don’t want to worry about replacing the battery every few years, as a rechargeable Tough Solar battery typically lasts several times longer than a standard battery. The AQS810W-1AV has a rugged G-Shock-like style and 100-meter water resistance.
Size: 52.2 x 46.6 x 13.8 mm Weight: 39.5 grams
Water Resistance: 100 Meters Glass: Resin
Light: LED for backlit LCD display (with 1.5 or 3 second afterglow)
Features: Tough Solar power (with power save function), Neobrite lume on hands, world time, 1/100-second stopwatch (59’59.99” max with elapsed time, split time), 2 countdown timers (00’05” to 99’55”, settable in 1-minute and 5-second increments, repeatable 1-10 times), 5 daily alarms, hourly time signal, battery level indicator, button tone on/off, 6 languages for day of week indicator (English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian).
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Casio F-91W: Iconic and affordable digital watch
It’s safe to assume that the F-91W is Casio’s bestselling watch of all time. It was introduced in 1989, and it seems like just about every guy has owned one at some point in his life. It’s ideal for someone who wants a very lightweight and unassuming watch with a stopwatch, alarm, and date display. Some downsides are that the “Water Resistant” (WR) rating is not suitable for swimming and the LED light is rather weak on this model. Casio now offers the F-91W in various colors.
Size: 38.2 × 35.2 × 8.5 mm Weight: 21 grams
Water Resistance: “Water Resistant” Glass: Resin
Light: LED
Features: 1/100-second stopwatch (59’59.99″ max with elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times), daily alarm, hourly time signal, auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format
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Casio W-217H-1AV: Affordable digital watch for swimming
The F-91W is such an iconic and low-priced watch that we had to include it on the list, but for about the same price, the W-217H-1AV is actually a better value. It has the same functions but is water-resistant to 50 meters, so it’s suitable for swimming. The LED light also works a lot better on the W-217H with the entire LCD display being backlit effectively. The compromise is that the W-217H is a little larger and heavier than the F-91W, but the F-91W is very small and the W-217H is not a large watch. Like the F-91W, it has a battery life of about seven years.
Size: 43.1 x 41.2 x 10.5 mm Weight: 32 grams
Water Resistance: 50 Meters Glass: Resin
Light: LED
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Also Consider: The W-800H takes it a step further with 100-meter water resistance, dual time, a multi-function alarm, and a 10-year battery.
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E-1V: Most affordable G-Shock
The G-Shock DW-5600E-1V doesn’t cost much more than some of the models here if you buy it from certain retailers. It offers G-Shock’s unparalleled shock resistance and is also water-resistant to 200 meters. Though we usually recommend a G-Shock with Tough Solar power (and other additional features) over this basic model, it is the best option for those who want the most rugged watch possible at the most affordable price. G-Shock watches have a better quartz movement, with accuracy of plus/minus 15 seconds per month versus 30 seconds for the most affordable Casio watches. Other affordable G-Shock watches to consider for around the same price are the DW-6900-1V and the DW-9052 series, which are in our list of basic G-Shock watches.
Size: 48.9 x 42.8 x 13.4 mm Weight: 53 grams
Water Resistance: 200 Meters Glass: Mineral
Light: EL Backlight
Features: Flash alert, 1/100-second stopwatch, 1/100-second stopwatch (up to 1 hour, 1-second until 23:59’59, with elapsed, split, 1st-2nd place times), countdown timer (24 hours, settable in 1-second, 1-minute, and 1-hour increments, with auto-repeat), multi-function alarm, hourly time signal, full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format
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Casio MDV106-1AV: Affordable analog diving watch
The MDV106-1AV, also known as the Duro, is more expensive than the other watches on the list but is clearly superior to most of them when it comes to the overall build quality. It looks and feels like a much more expensive watch, and it is the best value for an analog diving watch at this price point. The watch has a stainless steel screw-back case with a rotating bezel and is water-resistant to 200 meters. There is no light, but the hands and indices have a luminous coating.
Size: 44 mm wide, 12 mm thick
Water Resistance: 200 Meters Glass: Mineral
Light: None
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Casio AE-1500WH-1AV: Affordable large display
The AE-1500WH is a recently introduced model and a top seller due to its rugged style featuring a large and wide display with extra-large digits. The watch also has a 10-year battery life with the easy-to-find CR2032 battery. The style is largely inspired by G-Shock and Pro Trek, but the resin glass is less durable than the mineral glass typically used by those lines.
Size: 54.4 × 51.2 × 15.7 mm Weight: 57 grams
Water Resistance: 100 Meters Glass: Resin
Light: LED backlight with afterglow
Features: Dual time, 1/100-second stopwatch (23:59’59.99” max with elapsed, split, 1st-2nd place times), countdown timer (24 hours, settable in 1-minute increments, with auto-repeat), 5 alarms, hourly time signal full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format.
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AE-1200WH-1AV: Affordable multi-city world time
The highly recognizable AE-1200WH is a worldwide favorite and ideal for travelers, as it has the Multi Time feature with four settable cities and a world time map on the LCD display. It is also a capable sports watch with 100-meter water resistance and a 10-year battery life. The AE-1200WH is available in several color options including one with a stainless steel band.
Size: 45 x 42.1 x 12.5 mm Weight: 39 grams (with resin band)
Water Resistance: 100 Meters Glass: Resin
Light: LED with afterglow
Features: Multi Time (4 cities), world time, 1/100-second stopwatch (23:59’59.99” max with elapsed, split, 1st-2nd place times), countdown timer (24 hours settable in 1-second, 1-minute, and 1-hour increments), 5 daily or one time alarms, hourly time signal, full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format, button tone on/off.
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See more AE-1200WH colorways on Amazon
Also consider: The AE-1000W series has the same features as the AE-1200WH but with a larger and tactical-style case measuring 48.2 × 45 × 13.8 mm.
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The AE-2100W doesn’t cost much more than the AE-1000W and has a more rugged appearance with a stainless steel case section, front screws, mineral glass, and 200-meter water resistance.
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Casio LWA-300H-7EV: Affordable and stylish women’s watch
The LWA-300H is a sporty yet refined analog watch for women. This basic watch has three analog hands and is simple to adjust for those who are accustomed to traditional watches. The stainless steel bezel resembles the much more expensive G-MS line and adds a touch of class to the watch, and the 100-meter water resistance allows it to handle most outdoor activities. The battery life is about three years.
Size: 42.6 × 42 × 11.4 mm Weight: 34 grams
Water Resistance: 100 Meters Glass: Resin
Light: None
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Casio DW-291H: Affordable Heavy Duty watch
This “Heavy Duty” (HD) model is one of the most G-Shock-like of the non-G-Shock Casio watches and features mineral glass and 200-meter water resistance. Some reasons to choose this over the G-Shock DW-5600E-1V are the longer 10-year battery life, the larger size with larger and easier-to-press buttons, and its unique retro-futuristic style. Other advantages over the DW-5600 are Multi Time (with 4 cities), 5 alarms, and an LED backlight with adjustable afterglow (rather than the EL backlight with fixed afterglow).
Size: 50.5 × 50.4 × 13.5 mm Weight: 63 grams
Water Resistance: 200 Meters Glass: Mineral
Light: LED backlight with adjustable afterglow (1.5 or 3 seconds)
Features: Multi Time (4 cities), world time, 1/100-second stopwatch (23:59’59.99” max with elapsed, split, 1st-2nd place times), countdown timer (24 hours settable in 1-second, 1-minute, and 1-hour increments), 5 daily or one-time alarms, hourly time signal, full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format, button tone on/off
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Casio SGW-100: Affordable compass watch
Though most people can use the compass on their smartphone these days, it can be beneficial to have a compass sensor ready on the wrist during outdoor expeditions. The SGW-100 is the most affordable Casio watch with a compass sensor, which is part of the Twin Sensor function that also includes a thermometer. The watch is battery-powered with a battery life of about three years. It also has mineral glass and 200-meter water resistance, making it one of the more durable sport watches on this list.
Size: 51.5 x 47.6 x 13.2 mm Weight: 55 grams
Water Resistance: 200 Meters Glass: Mineral
Light: LED
Features: Low temperature resistant (-10 °C), Twin Sensor (compass and thermometer), world time, 1/100 second stopwatch (1 hour), countdown timer (24 hours, settable in 1-minute increments, with auto repeat), 5 daily alarms with snooze, auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format
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WV200A-1AV: Affordable Wave Ceptor Auto Timekeeping
The WV200A-1AV is one of the most affordable Wave Ceptor models. This feature is the same as the “Multi-Band 6” feature found on some G-Shock watches, but in this particular model, only the transmitters in the U.S.A. and U.K. are supported, but the U.K. transmitter can reach several other countries. The U.S. transmitter in Colorado should reach most of the continental U.S. (excluding Alaska) along with parts of Canada and Mexico, but some locations may have trouble receiving the signal if they are far from the source. (There is also the WV-200R-1A in Europe and Japan that is a “Multi-Band 5” model that also includes support for the transmitters in Germany and Japan.) The Wave Ceptor function automatically adjusts the watch’s time (in sync with atomic clocks) up to six times a day. It is also possible to disable it and perform a manual sync when desired. The WV200A-1AV has a case made of resin and stainless steel and a battery life of about three years.
Size: 52.2 x 47.7 x 15.2 mm Weight: 58 grams
Water Resistance: 200 Meters Glass: Mineral
Light: LED
Features: radio signal receiver, world time, 1/100-second stopwatch (up to 1 hour), countdown timer (settable in minutes up to 1 hour), daily alarm, multi-language (9 for day of week display), button tone on/off, auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format
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W-735H: Affordable Vibration Alarm
The W-735H has the Vibe Alert function like the G-Shock GD-350, which is a useful feature if you don’t want the alarm to disturb or alert other people, or if you’re in in a loud environment where the beeping alarm might not be heard. When set, vibration is used instead of sound for the following alerts: daily alarm, hourly time signal, timer time up, and stopwatch auto-start countdown). The W-735H also has 100-meter water resistance and a 10-year battery life.
Size: 51.4 × 47.1 × 16.1 mm Weight: 50 grams
Water Resistance: 100 Meters Glass: Resin
Light: Super Illuminator LED backlight with afterglow
Features: Dual time, 1/100-second stopwatch (23:59’59.99” max with elapsed, split, 1st-2nd place times, 5-second countdown auto start, countdown timer (24 hours, settable in 1-second, 1-minute, 1-hour increments), daily alarm, hourly time signal, full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format
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Some of these watches are also available at the authorized Casio Store on eBay.
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Among inexpensive Casio watches, the AE-2000 and AE-2100 are pretty nice as well. They have 200m WR, a mineral glass crystal and a metal lower bezel. Also, they can use the standard resin Casio strap adapters. A couple drawbacks are the weak, single-LED light and the low sound level on the beeper.
Thanks, I added the AE-2100 to the list. It looks like it’s worth spending about $10 more for it over the AE-1000.
Another nice one is the AE-1400. It’s a world timer model like the AE-1000 and AE-1200, but a bit larger, with a 5-button interface.
Nice list! I always recommend the MRW-200H series as a nice cheap Casio as well.