Has the time come for you to switch your trusty analog to a sporty digital? Take a look at this list of the best digital watches to own right now.
If the time has come to transition from analog to digital, you’re not alone. Many active individuals are realizing the benefits of owning a digital watch.
They’re great for sports training and for improving general health and fitness, plus they’re multifunctional. They also add a real sporty vibe to the wrist.
If you’re unsure how to navigate this large, diverse market sector, don’t worry — I’m here to help.
I’ve rounded up some of the best models on the current market, from affordable to high-end. The list features the likes of Casio, Nixon, Fossil, and more.
Table of Contents
Why These Best Digital Watches Are Worth It
There are a whole host of advantages to owning a watch with digital capabilities. Rather than the traditional hands and indices, the digital watch offers the time on a screen.
Often, time presents itself in a 24-hour format, but watches from this category offer a ton more functions, too.
Referencing the time on this type of watch is incredibly quick and easy. Clear numbers provide clarity when glancing down at your wrist and are often more compact.
These lightweight and comfortable wristwatches come in an array of styles and designs to choose from. Many have a distinct aesthetic, too. Take, for example, the brand Casio.
This Japanese brand specializes in faultless designs with long lifespans. Its products look resolutely retro, taking you back to the 1980s — the height of the quartz craze.
Likewise, its G-Shock range looks like nothing else on the market. The series is recognizable for its robust, masculine, bold digital designs.
And here’s the thing. You don’t have to invest in the market’s best smartwatches to buy one.
While smartwatches give you more in terms of customizable workouts, GPS, and sports – they aren’t the only options available. A digital watch can still assist you in improving your fitness.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re training for a marathon, playing in a team, or improving your fitness. You can record time and measure distance just as effectively with one.
The Analog vs Digital Watch Debate
Try as you may, you will never quell the “analog vs digital watch” debate. Too many people swear by the analog, and too many swear by digital.
The crux of the matter is that both have advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a timepiece.
For this article, however, I’ll sit on the digital side of the fence. Generally speaking, they’re pretty robust and inexpensive. They’re the two key things why people love them so much.
Thanks to the wide range of designs available on the market, they’re also fun and cool. Because they’re so affordable, you can build up quite the collection by mixing and matching them with different wardrobes.
These watches are in a niche bracket. They bridge the gap between modern and not-so-modern — a sort of “retro-futuristic” fusion, if you like.
Of course, for some enthusiasts, it’s analog all the way. But since the classic 1980s and 1990s, styles have come back into fashion, and digital watches are a quirky accessory.
Top Digital Watches for Men
We’ll kick this guide off with two of the best digital watches for men.
Casio F-91W
If you opt for any Casio digital watch, you know you’re getting unbeatable features for next to no money. It’s one reason why Timex and Casio rival one another.
For a mere $25, you can get your hands on one of the most affordable Casio’s on the market. Call the Casio Casio F-91W a toy, but you can’t fault its price.
The watch has been around since 1989, and you can see why it’s still the number 1 selling watch on Amazon. In fact, Casio manufactures around three million of these a year!
Three million people can’t be wrong, right? This watch is nothing extravagant, but it has all the essentials. It features an LCD screen, 30 meters of water resistance, and an accuracy of +/-30 seconds per month.
This small digital watch is 37.5mm in dimensions and 33.5mm in height, making it a perfect candidate for those with small wrists.
Omega Skywalker X-33
The Omega Skywalker X-33 is worth considering for something a little more high-end. It has been around since the late 1990s and has that retro edge that many adore about digital watches.
It might not be an Apollo-era Speedmaster, but this modified version has improved materials. These include its ceramic bezel, grade 2 titanium case, LCD display, and matching titanium bracelet.
What I love about this watch is that it allows you to read the time in analog or digital format. It also offers three time zones, a chronograph, countdown timers, and a perpetual calendar for all your essential needs.
Top Digital Watches for Women
Here are a couple of the best digital watches for women that combine robustness, style, and functionality.
Timex T80 Steel
Take a look at this model’s gradient resin strap. This is the ultimate companion for the sporty type. You can also opt for the strap in purple or pink, but I love the tropical vibes this one gives off.
The Timex T80 Steel measures 36 mm in diameter and incorporates Timex’s innovative Indiglo backlight technology. It features a date display, a 30-meter water-resistant steel case, an alarm, and a stopwatch.
For me, the hyper-bright gradient green strap is this design’s winning feature. But if you disagree, you may enjoy it better on the brand’s steel and silver-tone bracelet instead.
Casio G-Shock GA-B2100C-9AER
If you want to splash out a little more, this vibrant yellow G-Shock is the watch to do it with.
It’s the perfect companion for those with active lifestyles who want the most out of their watches. Without bordering Smartwatch territory, its menu is brimming with similarly useful features.
The watch features five alarms, an auto calendar, 200-meter water resistance, and a carbon core guard structure for shock resistance. It also features a countdown timer, a day-date display, a tough mineral glass top, a stopwatch, and world time functions.
In addition, it offers Bluetooth connectivity and solar-charging power. Compact and lightweight, this sporty, vibrant companion can go anywhere and do anything with you.
The Best Casio Digital Watch
Aside from the G-shocks, which deserve an entire guide of their own, the Casio World Time is an excellent option.
Casio World Time AE1200WHD-1A
You can purchase the Casio World Time digital watch for around $20 on Amazon, no lie. This 42.1mm watch is 100-meter water resistant and offers several useful functions for those who frequently travel.
If you’re hopping from one country to another and must monitor time zones, its world time function is superb. All the while, the time displays clearly on a digital screen with an LED backlight.
What’s more, it features an alarm and stopwatch function. All these valuable tools become intuitive once you get the hang of handling this travel-friendly Casio.
The Best Gold Digital Watch
Casio is an expert in creating cool, retro-inspired gold digital watches. Check out this favorite pick of ours.
Casio A159WGEA-1EF
This gold-colored Casio A159WGEA-1EF takes you right back to the 1980s with its design from the Vintage Retro Collection.
Although Casio describes it as “splashproof,” the watch isn’t exactly water-resistant. It does the job, though. Its stainless steel case has a gold ion plating that gives the wrist a classic feel.
Functionality-wise, it features an alarm, stopwatch function, date, auto calendar feature, LED light, and accuracy of -/+ 30 seconds per month.
The Best Fossil Digital Watch
Nowadays, Fossil’s digital offerings are smartwatches. But if you’re still looking for the brand’s classic digital design, Amazon has some great options. If you’re still undecided about Fossil watches, you can read more about the brand at The Slender Wrist.
Fossil Everett FS5859
The Fossil Everett is a resolutely modern-looking digital watch, thanks to its sleek black-coated stainless steel case. It comes on a comfortable silicone rubber band in black to complete its contemporary look.
As one of the best Fossil digital watches on the market, this model boasts a state-of-the-art solar digital movement. The movement sits inside a 100-meter water-resistant case topped with mineral glass.
The 45mm model certainly packs a punch on this wrist, so it’s not a great watch for small wrists. Still, its modern aesthetics, legible display, and tough case tick all the right boxes for an active individual.
The Best Nixon Digital Watch
Nixon gets a lot of flak, but it creates some good digital watches. Take a look at the Regulus.
Nixon Regulus
If you want a tough, shock-proof, and water-resistant watch, the Nixon Regulus is worth considering. Nixon designed it in conjunction with the US Special Forces. Among its favorite features are a silent mode, an LED Backlight, three alarms, and a 5-year battery.
The Nixon Regulus’s shock-blocking shell makes it a great option for military personnel. Its silent mode enables you to remain stealthy when needed, and its 100-meter water-resistant pushers are another great feature.
The Best Hamilton Digital Watch
Hamilton put itself on the map for digital watches back in the 1970s with the Pulsar, and it’s still going strong.
Hamilton American Classic PSR
This Hamilton digital watch celebrates the brand’s revolutionary Pulsar launch in 1970. At the time, it looked incredibly futuristic.
It featured in the Indiana Jones film “Dial of Destiny” with its distinctive tonneau-type case and hybrid display. The watch boasts the Hamilton typography on the bottom right side of the case and a sapphire glass lens.
If it’s good enough for Indy…
FAQs
Here are a few FAQs about digital watches to help you figure out where to start.
Is it worth it to buy a digital watch?
Digital watches are worth buying if you want an easy, fun, and hassle-free wristwatch. They’re also really affordable.
Are digital watches better than analog?
Since digital watches feature a quartz movement, many prefer them over analog for accuracy. In this case, “better” depends on what you’re looking for in a watch.
Is a digital watch more accurate?
A digital watch is more accurate than an analog watch. This is because quartz is the more precise movement of the two.
The Takeaway
It may take a while to transition from an analog watch to a digital one, especially if you have always preferred classic timepieces.
Digital watches offer a wide range of functions and promise many advantages. These span from alarms to countdown timers, not to mention their ability to keep accurate time.
Hopefully, this article helps outline the benefits of owning one. It should also give you a good selection of the best digital watches on the current market.
What do you use your digital watch for? Are you a seasoned athlete who swears by a particular brand? Or you may love it for its retro style and durability. Leave your views in the comments below and share your love for the digital watch.
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