Digital watches are much easier to read time from than analog watches, which makes them perfect for travelers, active people, or those who have poor vision. Besides, some people opt for digital watches for their functionality.
I still remember the first time I saw a digital watch. I had become so excited when I learned that there was a light button on the watch (Just FYI, I was only 6 then). Since my childhood, I’ve always had a thing for digital watches. And from my grandfather to my father to myself, we’ve enjoyed wearing those timepieces thoroughly.
Although most of the digital watches were capable of doing a lot more interesting stuff than just telling time, some of these watches contained some features that just didn’t make any sense. Like those watches with calculators and all the tiny buttons. Who could possibly work with those? Not everyone’s Dwight Shrute you know.
So, we decided to make a list of the 15 best digital watches out there and help you buy your desired digital watch.
Just so we’re all on the same page, we will only be talking about digital watches and NOT smartwatches. It’s not that smartwatches aren’t cool or anything. They are pretty amazing. However, we’ll only focus on digital watches for now. Without further ado, let’s dive into our list of amazing, stylish, and trendy 15 watches with digital displays and other features. As a bonus, there will be a few tips to help you choose the right digital watch in the later sections!
For the lazy ones
If you’re bored or short on time or just don’t want to read any further and would like us to recommend the best watch for you, then this part is for you guys. Here are three of our best picks which should provide you with your desired watch.
SUUNTO Core Outdoor Sports Watch
Guess Women’s Stainless-Steel Digital Silicone Watch
15 Best digital watches Reviewed
If you think that a digital watch would be the right kind of watch for you too, then our top 15 of the best digital watches may have a few interesting options for you!
Casio F91W-1 Classic Digital Sport Watch
I don’t know about you guys but the first watch that comes to mind whenever I even think of a digital watch is the Casio F91W-1 classic. Moreover, It’s probably one of the first digital watches out there and even after 25 years of its initial release, this watch is still an amazing choice.
It might not look the best, but the classy vintage feel and comfort that comes with this classic masterpiece are beyond comparable. A watch strap made out of resin combined with a rectangular crystal-clear LCD display makes the Casio F91W-1 one of the best digital watches out there to this day.
Pros
- Lightweight (only 20 gm)
- Long-lasting battery life (approx. 7 years)
- Very reasonably priced
- Splash resistant (30m)
Cons
- Prone to scratches
- The led light covers only 50% of the display from the side
Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar Watch
We all know that Tissot watches can be pretty expensive compared to our usual digital watches. However, after a significant amount of debate and discussion, we came to the conclusion that this watch must be included in our list. Because of the amazing features that this watch possesses, it deserves to be in the list of the best digital watches, if not more! Moreover, I feel like this watch deserves to have a sole review. But we’ll get into that later.
Tissot never fails to amaze us with their uniqueness! The T-touch digital watch may not have “smart” functions like Bluetooth or music control that but it runs completely on SOLAR power. How cool is that? A digital watch running on solar power and with a touch screen! To make your outdoor adventures even more enjoyable, it also comes with a built-in compass, thermometer, altimeter, and a barometer. In addition, you can even choose between Silicone, leather, or titanium watch straps and alter between them whenever you feel like.
Pros
- Solar-powered (no need to worry about batteries)
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass
- Remarkable features like- compass, altimeter, barometer, etc.
- Various options for watch straps
- Water-resistant up to 30m
Cons
- Expensive (priced approx. $1000)
- Some users stated that watch is quite heavy
Guess Women’s Stainless-Steel Digital Silicone Watch
GUESS has always been one of my go-to watch brands for ladies. I’ve bought a couple of watches for my mom and my girlfriend, and every time I got them on my hands, I just couldn’t help but stare at them. Guess makes some of the elegant watches out there and if you’re thinking about gifting a watch to your mother/girlfriend/wife, we have the perfect solution for you.
When I first got this digital watch from Guess, I knew then and then that it would be an amazing watch. The Women’s Stainless-Steel Digital Silicone Watch comes with a black silicone watch strap with a coordinating watch face that has a golden touch. This combination of black and gold gives this watch an elegant look and the digital display just feels right.
This watch doesn’t have any “unique” features, but it can serve your purpose as you can check the time(duh!), date, day, use the stopwatch, and set an alarm as well. Function-wise, it’s a pretty simple watch. However, with the elegant finish and the digital touch, the Guess Women’s Digital Watch took its righteous place in this list.
Pros
- Beautifully designed
- Affordable price
- Scratch-resistant display
Cons
- Not resistant to water
- Comes only in 46mm case size
SUUNTO Core Outdoor Sports Watch
If I had to give an example of the perfect adventure watch, it would definitely be the SUUNTO Core Outdoor Sports Watch. Owning this watch is like having a mini-computer attached to your wrist which keeps providing you with necessary information during your adventures.
The SUUNTO Core has a compass, an altimeter, a barometer, and can show you the times of sunrise and sunset! But, that’s not the most amazing part. This digital watch has a really cool storm alarm system that tracks the change in the air pressure and gives you a warning so you can plan your actions accordingly. Pretty cool, right? We thought so as well!
The all-black body and the watch face combined with a large display give the watch a stylish look and will surely stand out in a crowd! You can choose between different designs and colors as well if you prefer (e.g. The Brushed Steel Edition). To sum it up, this is one of the best digital watches and a great choice for all you adventurers out there!
Pros
- Accurate ABC functions including the storm alarm
- Lots of color variations
- Scratch-resistant
- Water-Resistant
Cons
- The display is hard to read in certain conditions
- Relatively short battery life span
Casio A178wa-1a Illuminator Digital Watch
Casio has always been our go-to brand whenever we wanted a durable sleek looking watch within an affordable range. I remember buying this exact watch for my grandfather who has been using Casio watches ever since I remember. After 12 years, he still uses the watch every day (the backlight light doesn’t work anymore, but he’s not bothered by that). So, naturally, the Casio A178wa 1a Illuminator Digital Watch came into consideration.
The Illuminator is a perfect watch for everyday use and the full stainless-steel body with a shiny bezel makes it look quite classy. In addition, the watch has three rowed link strap with a fold-over clasp which makes it very easy to take it on or off.
Instead of the rectangular display like the classic one, the Casio Illuminator comes with a square-shaped LCD display which makes it even easier to check the time without any hassle. Additionally, the watch also has a dual time option which is essential for travelers and businessmen. And a long-lasting battery with an approx. 10-year lifespan will surely set you straight.
Pros
- Very reasonably priced
- Stylish stainless-steel body
- Water-Resistant
- Dual time zone
Cons
- The stainless-steel body reflects the sun into your eyes during daytime
- The folded clasp sometimes breaks easily
Timex Expedition Shock Resistant Xl Digital Watch
We are all familiar with the renowned brand Timex. And if you’re looking for a watch with a sporty look and the capability of taking a beat down, the Timex Expedition XL just might be the one for you. As a bonus feature, you get to wake up at your desired time using the vibration alarm feature of the watch. However, you’d have to wear it while you’re sleeping and a lot of people (myself included) wouldn’t prefer that.
This digital timepiece comes with an adjustable comfy resin watch strap and three types of alarms that you can set. Moreover, it’s not only water-resistant (up to 200m!) but resistant to shock even by the I.S.O standards, making it quite compatible for outdoor and underwater adventures.
The watch also has a function called ‘Hydration Timer’. To put it simply, it can remind you how often you should drink a glass of water. Pretty useful for someone with a forgetful mind (hands down, me!).Above all, my personal favorite is the Indiglo(yes, not Indigo) backlight feature which goes perfectly with the negative digital display, making it really easy to check the time in the night.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Vibrating alarm function, Hydration timer
- Shock Resistant and Water Resistant (up to 200m)
- Dual time zone with 24hr military time mode
Cons
- The display although quite large, feels a bit faded in many situations
- Comes only with the 50mm watch case, so pretty big for the wrist
- Vibration alarm gets the job done, but feels a bit weak sometimes
Armitron Sport Women’s 45/7012 Digital Watch
Finding digital watches for ladies can be tough. There are lots and lots of options but it could be difficult figuring out the right one for you. For instance, my sister likes a digital watch that will fit properly in her wrist and look classy. She doesn’t care about anything other than checking the time (I wonder even if she does that either). For these kinds of preference, the Armitron Sport Women’s Digital Watch is a perfect choice.
The watch comes with a silicone strap watch band with a golden finished watch head. Combined with a crystal LCD display, this watch is a perfect mixture of classy and compact. In addition, the shock and water resistance are a plus point as well (especially for clumsy people). But, if you’re still not impressed by now, you sure will be when you check the price of this digital timepiece!
With all the qualities mentioned above, if this watch hadn’t made it into our 15 best digital watches list; it would've been a really bad one.
Pros
- A number of color variations and strap choices
- Shock Resistant
- Water-Resistant
- Dual time zone
Cons
- Not compatible for people with a bigger wrist size
- Some users complained about faded display after a certain amount of time.
Casio A168WG-9 Men's Vintage Gold Illuminator
I know what you’re thinking! Another Casio watch? But think about it! Casio is like a pioneer of digital watches out there! And the Casio A168WG-9 Illuminator had to be mentioned because of its amazing vintage look with a golden touch. Literally. This watch is fully gold-toned and comes with a gold-finished steel folded clasp strap.
This watch can be the ultimate solution to up your outfit game as it goes along with almost everything you wear and provides the owner with a stylish vibe! To conclude, the Casio Illuminator can be a stylish companion for the wrist.
Apart from its looks, the battery of a 7-year lifespan makes the Illuminator your long run companion. Additionally, other features include hour alerts, 24hr time format, auto calendar, and stopwatch. Unlike the classic F191-W, this watch features an LED light that illuminates the whole background rather than just the side.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Hour alert, 24-hour time format
- Water Resistant (up to 50m)
- Easily adjustable fold clasp
Cons
- The gold tone on the watch strap fades away easily
- Not shock-resistant
Adidas Watches Archive_M1 watch
I personally didn’t like the initial Adidas watches. However, with Watches Archive_M1 series, they’ve really upped their watch game. And in these m1 watches, Adidas has created a product with the perfect mixture of vintage and digital. It’s been 50 years since the electric digital display was introduced to the world and this was probably Adidas’s way of paying tribute.
The watch comes with a stainless-steel case including the hardened mineral crystal. The 5-link stainless-steel bracelet accompanied by a jewelry clasp makes it comfy to wear and easy to put on.
Besides the cool sporty look to perfectly complement your Adidas gears, the watch features dual time, stopwatch, calendar, etc. Moreover, this digital timepiece is priced at around $100 and comes with lots of color options! (My personal favorites are the camo and all black.)
Pros
- Stainless-steel case with hardened mineral crystal
- Dual Time
Cons
- Buttons are really hard to press at first
- Hard to see in a dim environment
CASIO G-SHOCK G-100BB-1AJF Digital Watch
Did you really think there’d be a post about best digital watches and G-SHOCK series wouldn't be included? If not, high five for you!
We all know about G-SHOCK. Our Watchfriendly team likes to call it the truck watch. Because, apparently this watch has the capability of withstanding an actual truck! (It actually can, I checked)
The G-100BB-1A timepiece comes with shock-resistant bodies that can withstand impact from any direction and resistant to water up to 200m. Full black is another feature of the watch meaning that it comes with black cases, straps, dials, etc.
The popular series comes with lots of options so you can find the perfect one for your wrist. Another thing that must be mentioned is the fact that although these watches may seem heavy, they’re actually quite light.
Pros
- Shock Resistant
- Dual Time zone with 12/24-hour time format
- Anti-magnetic structure
Cons
- Relatively simple features than other G-SHOCK models
Nixon Base Tide Pro
Have you ever wished for a watch that would not look good on your wrists but you could wear while you were surfing on the high waves? Well, if you have then good news for you! Because Nixon has brought you the sleekest looking digital watch with some mind-blowing features that will surely win your consideration.
Not only it can provide you with the basic watch functions, but you can also set multiple alarms in it (Most of us use our phones for that, but not every watch can do it you know). However, the most amazing feature is that it’s also capable of telling you the time of high or low tide of 550 beaches around the world. In addition, It shows the time of the sunrise and sunset as well.
All of these functions are pretty easy to use and the unique double locking looper removes the risk of the watch slipping out of your hand even during the direst of circumstances.
We must admit, there are lots of timepieces out there with numerous features. But, this was one of the most interesting digital watches that we came across. I mean a watch that can tell you about high/low tides. How amazing is that!
Pros
- High/low tide information of 550 beaches
- Comes in both 42mm and 38mm cases
- Shock Resistant
- Water Resistant up to 100m
- Multiple alarm system
Cons
- Some users faced discomfort at the point where the belt connected, so a bit uncomfortable
- Relatively smaller display
Braun Men's Prestige Digital Display watch
Wait a minute. Since when do Braun make watches? Well, brace yourselves, cause they do. Some great ones in fact!
Partnering with Pierre Nobs from Ventura the Braun Men’s Prestige Digital Watch is a high end sleek looking timepiece with a retro feel. This is the same watch that won the iF and the Red Dot award respectively in 2012! This digital timepiece comes with two strap choices. However, I think the single link stainless steel is better than the polyurethane strap. Moreover, the watch features a fully original stainless-steel body, mineral crystal window that is resistant to scratches and comes in 5 languages!
The EasySkroll is the most unique feature of this watch. It is a scroll wheel with a push in function and is used to fully navigate and activate the features of the watch. This feature is quite common nowadays in most of the smartwatches, but this is still probably the only digital watch to this day to have a scroll wheel.
Pros
Scratch-resistant LCD display
- 5 languages
- Easyskroll feature
Cons
- The scroll wheel’s audible beep feels a bit de-synchronized
- Expensive (around $500)
Citizen Eco-Drive Men's Promaster Analog-Digital Display Watch
The watch that has both the capability of serving your digital needs and perfectly complementing your outfit is the Citizen Eco-Drive Analog-Digital Display Watch. Citizen is quite a popular name in the watch industry.
With Anti-reflective mineral crystal on a 45mm watch case, the watch comes with a full stainless-steel body. The watch strap is a 5-link row bracelet with a fold-over clasp. The water-resistant feature of up to 200m makes it a good companion for your diving activities.
The most remarkable feature of this timepiece is that it is completely powered by light. Yes, light! Not solar powered. Any kind of real and ARTIFICIAL light will get this digital watch going. So, you don’t have to worry about battery life or charging it.
Pros
- Anti-reflective mineral crystal
- Powered by light
- Japanese Quartz movement
Cons
- Lacks any customization features
- No synchronization between the analog and digital movements
SEIKO Prospex Fieldmaster Lowercase SBEP001
We are all familiar with the design concept of ‘TUNA’ by SEIKO. In collaboration with Lowercase, Seiko decided to bring the ‘Digi TUNA’ of their Prospex line aka the Fieldmaster. The reason behind this title is pretty obvious. This watch has been made for outdoor adventures. And since it’s water-resistant up to 200m, it can be used for some casual diving. It is, however, not a certified dive watch under I.S.O standards.
The watch is accompanied by a comfortable silicone watch strap that fits into wrists of all sizes. Although the casing is made of stainless steel, the rest of the watch is made out of plastic. The watch has a very sturdy feel, but a plastic body doesn’t put out any “strong” vibes if you know what I mean.
The watch is able to run smoothly for 5 months after a full charge (extended to 20 months if on power saving). The negative display provides an easy to read time, and the backlight can be turned on just by tapping the watch screen or flicking your wrist. To be honest, this seems like a great start at something new by SEIKO.
Pros
- Comfortable and easily changeable straps
- 5 months power reserve
- Unique backlight concept
Cons
- Comes in 49.5mm body only
- Plastic body
Calvin Klein Future Digital Watch
Calvin Klein watches are probably a bit underrated, but they excel in making some of the simplest yet sleek looking watches out there.
With digital quartz movement and a scratch-resistant watch face, Calvin Klein Future series brings you a simple solution at an affordable price. The watch case is made out of stainless steel accompanied by a silicon strap. Water Resistant up to 30m, the watch gives off a sporty vibe.
I personally like the white-colored unisex version of the series. The plain white silicone strap with a steel finished body makes quite a beautiful team with a negative LCD display. The display is crystal clear and easy to read though at times, susceptible to low-light. The watch comes in a 38mm case size, which makes it suitable for smaller wrists as well.
Pros
- Simple yet sporty look
- Large time fonts
Cons
- Comes only in 38mm, so not for bigger wrist sizes
Buying Guide: Finding The Best Digital Watch For Yourself
Now that you’ve gone through our list of 15 best digital watches, you probably noticed the versatility. That’s because finding the best digital watches out there among so many isn’t a piece of cake. And frankly, there can NOT be a single watch out there that will excel in every aspect.
So, you’re probably wondering, “That’s fine and everything. But how am I going to choose the perfect watch for me? Which one I should go for?”.
No worries! Now, to help you pick the best digital watch for your needs, we'll briefly talk about the key features that you should consider when looking for a watch.
Comfort
The first and MOST important thing is getting a watch that you’re comfortable wearing. The stylish looks and the unique features won’t matter at all if you aren’t comfortable wearing the watch itself. And what would happen then? That precious watch that you bought with your hard-earned money will be stored inside a box, never to feel the sun again. Your comfort should always come first even when you're thinking about the wrist you want to wear your watch on!
Be especially careful when choosing a digital watch if you have very large or very small wrists – most digital watches won’t fit extreme wrist sizes.
Display size
You should have also noticed from our reviews that display size varies from digital watch to watch – in some, it’s very big and easy to read, while in others (like in the CASIO Classic), it’s really small and perhaps inconvenient.
The display size will especially matter if you want to read time at a glance, e.g. when running or exercising. Besides, if you have poor vision, a big display is a must.
If you don’t think that a big display will be important for your needs, don’t think too much about it. But if you can, get a digital watch with a larger screen.
Features
Features are a big part of digital watches – in fact, many people opt for digital watches precisely for their functionality. Here’s what you could expect to get from a digital watch:•Stopwatch & timer.•Alarm (some watches allow you to set more than 1 alarm).•Chronograph.•Dual-zone timekeeping.•24-hour military time (most digital watches support this feature).•Backlight feature(nearly all digital watches have this).•Altimeter & barometer.•Compass & GPS navigation.•Heart rate monitor.•Smart connectivity.
Since digital watches come with a very diverse set of features, it’s difficult to recommend what you should be looking for. If you’re an outdoor adventurer and you would like your watch to have a compass and a barometer at the least. Then you would surely be better off with the SUUNTO Core Outdoor Sports Watch rather than a CASIO.
Affordability
This is obviously something you should really consider about. Let’s talk about the example given above. Suppose, you’re an adventurer. You enjoy living your life one day at a time. For your outdoor adventures and hikes, the top of the line choice for you is the Tissot T-Touch Expert watch. However, if you’re a student, buying a watch with approx. a grand may not be the easiest (or the best) decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Among Digital and analog watches, which ones are better?
You can’t really put it like that. It’s like comparing a plane and a car. There are people who prefer classic analog watches over anything else. And there are people as well who loves digital watches more. If you like the numerous features that digital watches offer then you should probably for them. If you prefer something simple yet classy, analog watches could be your thing. In case if you like both, Hybrids are the perfect solution!
Why choose a digital watch instead of a smartwatch?
Digital watches are a completely different entity on its own. Although smartwatches have lots of features and apps, most of them require pairing to your smartphone. Even then, smartwatches rarely have functions like a barometer, altimeter, etc. That’s why to this day, Digital watches haven’t become obsolete. Rather, they’re still quite unique and worth getting one even in this era of smartwatches.
What is the main difference between digital and analog watches?
The primary difference is how you see the time. As simple as that. Analog watches show you the time on a numbered dial and with mechanical hands that indicate hours, minutes and even seconds. Whereas, Digital watches show the time on an LCD Display with variants.
Who made the first digital watch in the world? How much did it cost?
George W.Theiss of the greatly renowned Hamilton watch company introduced us to the world of digital watches back in 1972. It came with an 18-karat gold case and had a whopping retail price of $2100.
Final Words
A number of people have this notion that ever since smartwatches had come, digital watches started to become obsolete. That is far from the case. A digital watch is like a sole entity that doesn’t rely on mobile or the internet, yet makes your adventures more exciting and your outfit whole.
If you’re a regular watch people like me, a digital watch (or more) will definitely be a great addition to your collection!
Have a nice day. Cheers!
