The quick verdict
Look at six cheap Casios in a group and they seem similar, but each one is unique and has its own strengths. The F91W is the icon everyone should own. The F105W is the same formula with a proper backlight. The CA-53W is the calculator watch legend. The W-800H is the rugged one you can even mod. And the W-217H is a bigger, brighter F91W. Here is the fast tour so you can decide which one is best for you.
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1. Casio F91W: the one that started it all
The F91W remains Casio’s best-selling watch to this day, and it is an iconic piece everyone should consider having in their collection. It is incredibly light, incredibly easy to wear, and incredibly basic, and that basic honesty is exactly what people love about it. The backlight is laughably bad, but at this point that is part of the charm. If you do not have an F91W, they are cheap. Pick one up.
2. Casio F105W: the F91W with a real backlight
The F105W is the logical next step for anyone who likes the F91W. It is almost the same in dimensions, just a little bit larger in every direction, I prefer the colouring on the face, and it has the exact same feature set. The primary difference: this one has an Illuminator, a proper backlight. Where you will struggle to see the F91W in the dark, with the F105W you will not struggle at all.
3. Casio F201WA: the feature-packed one
Next is the Casio F201WA, the watch some people consider the ugly duckling of the group. I do not: that is just the classic digital Casio look. Either way, the F201WA has the most feature-rich set here. Not only does it have a countdown timer, it has an auto-repeating timer, a feature I do not even have on my G-Shock, plus a detailed calendar and a nice face. If features per dollar is your buying rule, the F201WA is the one to consider.
4. Casio CA-53W: the calculator watch
An absolute icon. This is the calculator watch you saw in Back to the Future and the one featured in Breaking Bad. We have calculators everywhere now, but at the time, putting one in a wristwatch was shocking new technology. If you have big fingers, hitting the little keypad buttons takes care, but as a piece of kit and a piece of history, it is very cool.
5. Casio W-800H: the rugged one
Now we are into a thicker design with a more rugged case. The W-800H has four metal buttons, so it is easy to use, and it is the only watch in this cheap collection that shows the year right on the face, in case you ever forget which year it is. The feature set is fairly basic, but this watch has a party trick: you can open it up and modify it to unlock a proper countdown timer. If you are comfortable fiddling inside a watch, that is a very cool option at this price.
6. Casio W-217H: the bigger, brighter F91W
The newest addition to my collection, and I am really liking it. The W-217H is essentially a larger F91W. It mimics the look and feel of the original in a larger case with a larger display that is much easier to read, and it has a massively improved backlight: you can read this thing across the room, that is how bright it is. Of everything here, that backlight is the improvement I keep coming back to.
Pros and cons of going cheap Casio
Pros
- Every watch here costs very little for something that will run for years
- Light, comfortable and genuinely worry-free to wear anywhere
- Real variety: icons, a calculator watch, a moddable rugged case, big-display readers
Cons
- Backlights are the big divider: great on the F105W and W-217H, poor on the F91W
- Resin cases and straps keep costs down, and they feel like it
- Feature sets vary a lot, so pick for the one or two functions you will actually use
FAQ
What is the best cheap Casio watch?
It depends on your priority. The F91W is the essential classic, the W-217H is the easiest to read with the best backlight, the CA-53W is the fun icon, and the W-800H suits anyone who wants a tougher case or a watch to modify.
Which cheap Casio has the best backlight?
The W-217H, with the F105W close behind thanks to its Illuminator. The F91W’s backlight is famously bad.
Are cheap Casio watches durable?
Yes. These resin digitals are famous for surviving years of abuse on a single battery, which is a big part of why the F91W remains Casio’s best seller.
Final verdict
Six cheap Casio watches, all great in their own way. Start with the F91W if you want the icon, step up to the F105W or W-217H if the backlight matters, and look at the CA-53W or W-800H if you want something with a twist. Whichever one you like best, you are not risking much money to find out.