The Best Digital Watches (2025 Guide)
Did you know that the very first digital watch was born out of a Stanley Kubrick film? In 1968, MGM released Kubrick’s landmark sci-fi cult classic, 2001:
A Space Odyssey. Naturally, the production design department needed just the right futuristic touches, which led them to commission the Hamilton Watch Company to build a few props for the sets. Hamilton, during a landmark move to Europe by the Electro Data Corporation out of Pasadena, California, created a digital clock and several analogue wristwatches for the film.
From Film Prop to Consumer Product
The clock didn’t make it past post-production, but John Bergie, Hamilton’s then-president of the digital watch division, had a larger well, technically smaller idea for the clock, turning it instead into a fully digital consumer wristwatch. In the years leading up to 1972, after the film’s release, that’s exactly what they carried through, crowning Hamilton the makers of the very first fully digital watch: the Hamilton Pulsar.
A Digital Watch Revolution
Inspired by the scores of great digital watches and technological advancements we’ve rounded up our favourite digital watches as a means by which to survey the current digital watch landscape. As always, we’ve organized our guide by price, so if you’re looking for something budget-friendly, the first few picks are going to be where you should start. Without anything further, let’s dive right in with our first cult classic pick from Casio: the AE1200WH D1A, or for short, the Casio World Time.
Casio’s Digital Innovation
Hamilton wasn’t the only watchmaker funding the innovation of digital quartz-powered watches in the decades following World War II. Japanese watchmakers like Casio, who are now arguably the leaders of the digital watch market, also began releasing their own fully digital creations, the first of which was dubbed the CIO Chon in 1974. Production of the CIO Tron did eventually stop, but with Casio’s continued innovation, in 2012, they released one hell of a watch originally designed for their youth collection that is still considered one of the best digital watches ever made: the AE200 WA HD, nicknamed the Casio World Time or Casio World Timer.
Features of the Casio World Time
Like most Casios, the 39.5 mm World Time packs in features, with a dial display full of many digital screens for each major function, punctuated by black framing. The case itself is rugged, squared off, and molded from a black resin Casio’s popular and highly utilized material in their quartz-powered lineup. You’ll also quickly notice that this quartz-powered digital watch features a 10-year battery life rating for decades-long maintenance-free operation. Dimensionally, it supports a 39.5 mm diameter case with a 12.5 mm thickness and a water resistance rating of 100 m, or about 330 ft.
Design and Usability
Apart from the dial, which we’ll get into in just a moment, the four highly polished silver-tone pushers old Time a retro-futuristic appearance. Starting on the right side, the World Time sports two pushers: one roughly at the 2:00 position for a backlight and one just below at the 4:00 position that reads as “search” and controls access to any secondary time zones. On the left-hand side, two other symmetrically laid-out pushers at the 10 and 7 allow you to switch through various modes to adjust the settings as necessary.
Digital GMT Functionality
Now, we’ve established that the World Time isn’t necessarily a chronograph, despite its timing capabilities, but as the name suggests, the watch could certainly be a digital equivalent of a GMT as it does provide the ability to quickly cycle through 31 time zones mirrored on a quirky digital world map across 48 cities. The map’s unique charm only further adds to all the love this watch gets, and it’s a defining visual feature of the World Time.
Display and Comfort
Just below, you have the largest section of the digital display that shows the day, date, and time, and just north, in the upper left corner, is a digital dial layout for timing framed by a traditional 60-minute track with small white applied numerals every 5 minutes and tiny indices for each minute in between. On the wrist, the stealthy World Time wears true to size and fits comfortably with the 21 mm ribbed resin band secured with a standard Casio-branded buckle closure.
Best Budget Digital Watch
If you’ve been looking for a digital watch well under $100, packed with a charm that will last a very virtual lifetime with very little maintenance, the World Time is undeniably your best bet. Casio dominates the digital sector, so it would be a serious crime to include just one model in this guide. Instead, we’re going to include some of their heaviest hitters to showcase just how much value they offer for the money.
The Iconic Casio F91W-1
The Casio F91W-1 is one such watch that has a massive cult following, and for just over $20, you can pick one up for yourself. It’s definitely considered a “just get this watch” for anyone that has under $50, or even under $20, to spend and wants something they can beat up without worrying, yet packs in just as many features if not more than watches 10 or 20 times the price.
A Timeless Design
The current F91W-1 is the modern production of the 1989 release. In other words, it’s been so popular that Casio has continued its production since its release, making it a staple in the budget watch world. Digital interface aside, since its release, it’s gained an extensive use history. We’ll leave it up to you to do some digging in that arena, but you may be surprised just how many notable figures, for better or for worse, have worn the watch for various reasons.
Versatile Dimensions
The 35.2 mm diameter, the 38.2 mm lug-to-lug, and the 8.5 mm thickness lend itself to pretty much every wrist it’s strapped around. Our wearer here has a wrist size of just under 8 inches, but as you can see, it wears fine despite the modest case size. The full resin build is reminiscent of Casio subsidiary G-Shock, which debuted the now infamous rectangular-shaped resin 5000C just a few years prior in 1983. There’s no doubt Casio wanted something like this within their own branded catalogue, so you can almost think of this as a stripped-down G-Shock DW5000C heavily water-resistant, fully digital, resin-constructed, inexpensive, and comes with a lengthy, virtually maintenance-free 7-year battery life.
Gateway to the Horological World
The F91W-1 can be and often has been a lot of young watch enthusiasts’ gateway drug into the larger horological world, packing in plenty of features for a retail price of just over $20, enough to get you hooked. This includes features like a stopwatch, hourly alarms, an automatic calendar, 12 or 24-hour time formats, and a built-in LED, which has an output one can only describe as “okay” at best. But this only adds to the budget charm of the watch, in our opinion. All these features are powered by way of a quartz movement, and you can expect about ±30 seconds of deviation per month.
Casio World Time: A Classic Choice
Hamilton wasn’t the only watchmaker fueling the innovation of digital quartz-powered watches in the decades following World War II. Japanese watchmakers like Casio, who are now arguably the leaders of the digital watch market, also began releasing their own fully digital creations, the first of which was dubbed the Cio Tron in 1974. Production of the Cio Tron eventually ceased, but with Casio’s continued innovation, in 2012, they released one of the best digital watches ever made: the AE2000WA-HD, nicknamed the Casio World Time or Casio World Timer.
Like most Casios, the 39.5 mm World Time is packed with features, with a dial display full of many digital screens for each major function, punctuated by black framing. The case itself is rugged, squared off, and molded from a black resin Casio’s popular and highly utilized material in their quartz-powered lineup. You’ll also quickly notice that this quartz-powered digital watch features a 10-year battery life rating for decades of maintenance-free operation. Dimensionally, it supports a 39.5 mm diameter case with a 12.5 mm thickness and a water resistance rating of 100 m (about 330 ft). Apart from the dial, which we’ll discuss shortly, the four highly polished silver-tone pushers give the World Time a retro-futuristic appearance. Starting on the right side, the World Time sports two pushers: one at the 2:00 position for a backlight and one just below at the 4:00 position that reads as “search” and controls access to any secondary time zones. On the left side, two other symmetrically laid-out pushers at the 10 and 7 control mode switching for necessary setting adjustments.
Features of the World Time
Now, we’ve established that the World Time isn’t necessarily a chronograph, despite its timing capabilities. But as the name suggests, the watch could certainly be a digital equivalent of a GMT, as it provides the ability to quickly cycle through 31 time zones mirrored on a quirky digital world map across 48 cities. The map’s unique charm adds to the love this watch receives and is a defining visual feature of the World Time. Below is the largest section of the digital display that shows the day, date, and time. In the upper left corner, a digital dial layout for timing is framed by a traditional 60-minute track with small white applied numerals every five minutes and tiny indices for each minute in between. On the wrist, the stealthy World Time wears true to size and fits comfortably with the 21 mm ribbed resin band secured with a standard Casio-branded buckle closure. If you’ve been looking for a digital watch well under $100, packed with charm that will last a lifetime with very little maintenance, the World Time is undeniably your best bet.
Casio’s F91W: A Cult Favorite
Casio dominates the digital sector, so it would be a serious oversight to include just one model in this guide. Instead, we’ll showcase some of their heavy hitters to illustrate just how much value they offer for the money. The Casio F91W-1 is one such watch that has a massive cult following, and for just over $20, you can pick one up for yourself. It’s often regarded as a must-have for anyone looking to spend under $50 or even under $20 for something they can beat up without worry, all while packing in just as many features if not more than watches ten or twenty times the price. The current F91W-1 is the modern production of the 1989 release, making it a staple in the budget watch world since it has been so popular that Casio has continued its production.
Digital interface aside, the F91W has gained extensive usage history, and you might be surprised to discover how many notable figures, for better or worse, have worn the watch for various reasons. With a diameter of 35.2 mm, a lug-to-lug measurement of 38.2 mm, and a thickness of 8.5 mm, the F91W lends itself to virtually every wrist size. Our wearer here has a wrist size of just under 8 inches, but as you can see, it fits fine despite the modest case size. The full resin build is reminiscent of Casio’s subsidiary G-Shock, which debuted the now-infamous rectangular-shaped 5000C just a few years prior 1983. There’s no doubt that Casio wanted something like this in their own branded catalogue, so you can think of this as a stripped-down G-Shock DW5000C. Heavily water-resistant, fully digital, resin-constructed, inexpensive, and with a lengthy, virtually maintenance-free 7-year battery life, the F91W can often serve as a gateway for young watch enthusiasts into the larger horological world.
Features of the F91W
Packed with plenty of features for a retail price of just over $20, the F91W includes a stopwatch, hourly alarms, an automatic calendar, and 12 or 24-hour time formats, along with a built-in LED whose output one can only describe as “okay” at best, but this only adds to the budget charm of the watch, in our opinion. All these features are powered by a quartz movement, and you can expect about 30 seconds of deviation per month. The F91W series comes in a handful of different main case colors OD green, blue, gold, silver, and stainless steel so if you want something that looks a bit different than the black DW5600, there are a few solid options available.
Pricing and Availability
Although Casio currently lists the F91W at a $23 price point, look toward Casio’s Amazon storefront if you want to stay under $20, as there are often sales that bring the price down.
Timex T80: A Retro Reissue
The Timex T80 is another classic reissue that revives a design from 1974 with several modern integrations. This release was Timex’s first watch with an LCD (liquid crystal display) and serves as the basis for the modern T80 framework. Timex, Casio, Seiko, and their contemporaries developed these early digital watches around the same time, often riffing off each other. You’re not seeing double when you compare the Casio F91W against the T80, as they share striking visual similarities.
The T80, quite similar to the Casio F91W, features a small 34 mm square shape with rounded corners that taper off into its integrated-style lugs and stainless bracelet. The majority of the main case is high-polished, wrapping all the way around until it joins the horizontally brushed case back, which is held on with corner screws. Water-resistant to only 30 m, keep in mind that despite its budget price tag, you’ll want to take it off before showering. At the 2, 4, 8, and 10 positions are pushers more accurately, buttons that control the T80’s features. The buttons at 2 and 4 control timing and resetting functions, while the button at 8 cycles through the modes, and the button at 10 controls the alarm and confirms changes to base time.
Indiglo Technology
The T80 features Timex’s standard Indiglo a product of the 80s that allows the entire digital screen to glow blue-green for a few seconds before fading away. The T80 comes with several different bracelet and strap options; our favourite is the elastic stainless steel that fits the wrist without any major adjustments, though there’s also a stainless unit with a stretch composition and a few resin options available.
Choosing Between T80 and F91W
You may be wondering which watch is right for you: the Timex T80 or the Casio F91W. Just take a look at both watches on the wrist; if you’re leaning toward either design, you really can’t go wrong with either option. They’re virtually the same price point, but the Timex brings a more retro feel to its design aesthetic. While the F91W may boast a wider range of features, the T80 nails its execution.
Casio G-Shock DW5600: A Tough Choice
The Casio G-Shock DW5600 is a watch most have heard about. Its wide and long-standing production run with countless iterations, collaborations, and features makes it one of the most recognizable and popular G-Shock watches of all time. We also have to admit that if you want a tough, rugged digital watch that you can wear for a lifetime, this is the one you’ll want.
The DW5600 has been worn by all kinds of celebrities, from those in Hollywood to rappers, and it’s no surprise that the watch retains an incredibly robust aesthetic while offering you a sleek, thin profile on the wrist. Measuring 48.5 mm in diameter and 13.4 mm thick, the DW5600 is a true G-Shock classic with a water-resistance rating of 200 m, allowing it to withstand much more than just a few splashes of water. If you happen to love the vintage look of the classic G-Shock model but need something a bit more sporty, we recommend considering the all-black version, the DW5600BB-1, which has an especially stealthy vibe.
G-Shock Features
Packed with features, the G-Shock DW5600 includes stopwatch functionality, alarm settings, and a backlight for night visibility. The digital display is large, easy to read, and precise, making it a top choice for outdoor activities or sports. It also boasts a battery life of about two years, slightly shorter than the Casio F91W but expected of a watch with more functions.
Pricing and Availability for G-Shock
Currently priced just below $100, the DW5600 can often be found at Amazon or your local retailers, making it a very accessible option for many watch lovers.
Conclusion
As you consider what digital watch to purchase, remember that there are plenty of excellent options out there. Whether you go with the Casio World Time for its feature set and nostalgic appeal, the F91W for its ultra-budget price point, the Timex T80 for its retro charm, or the rugged durability of the G-Shock DW5600, you’ll find something that suits your style and budget.
