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The quick verdict
The bottom line: nobody does cheap watches like Casio. Every watch on this list costs less than a nice dinner out, and most of them will outlast watches costing ten times more. My number one pick is the GW-M5610U, because solar charging and atomic timekeeping at around $150 is the best value in all of watches, but if your budget is tighter, the F-91W and the Royale both punch absurdly far above their price. This is the full live comparison from my channel, ranked from 10 to 1.
10. Casio F-105W
Street price: around $18 to $25 USD as of September 2026
The F-105W is the F-91W’s smarter sibling. Same legendary 1989 design, same 7-year battery, same 30-metre water resistance, but with one meaningful upgrade: a proper electro-luminescent backlight instead of the F-91W’s dim little side LED. If you actually need to read your watch in the dark, this is the one to get.
It makes the list because it fixes the single biggest weakness of the most famous cheap watch ever made, and it usually costs about the same money. I did a full F-91W vs F-105W comparison if you want the blow-by-blow. Get this one if you want the classic look with a backlight you can actually use.
9. Casio A158WA
Street price: around $22 to $30 USD as of September 2026
The A158WA takes everything good about the F-91W and dresses it up with a stainless steel bracelet. Same module family, same 7-year battery, same featherweight feel at under 50 grams, but it looks like a proper vintage watch instead of a plastic toy. The chrome-plated resin case and metal bracelet give it a retro charm that the resin-strap models cannot match.
It makes the list because it is the cheapest way to get a metal-bracelet Casio digital, and it wears beautifully on almost any wrist. The bracelet is light and a little rattly, which is part of the charm at this price. Just know the backlight is the same weak micro-light as the F-91W, not the EL panel of the A168.
8. Casio A168WA
Street price: around $30 to $40 USD as of September 2026
The A168WA is the A158WA with the backlight fixed. Stainless bracelet, vintage square case, and a full electro-luminescent Illuminator backlight that lights up the whole dial in a cool blue-green glow. Same 7-year battery, same 30-metre water resistance, same under-50-gram comfort.
It makes the list because it is the best all-rounder of the vintage line: metal bracelet, readable display, usable backlight, and still comfortably under $40. If you can only buy one watch from the classic digital range and you want it to do everything, this is the sensible pick. For the gold-tone version of this watch, read my Casio A168 Gold review. The display is a touch busier than the A158, which is the only real trade-off.
7. Casio AE-1500
Street price: around $30 to $40 USD as of September 2026
The AE-1500 is the big one. At over 54 mm across with a huge, high-contrast display, it is built for people who want maximum readability: older eyes, work gloves, or just anyone tired of squinting. You get a 10-year battery, 100-metre water resistance, dual time, five alarms, and an LED backlight with afterglow.
It makes the list because nothing else this readable costs this little. I called it an absolute beast in my AE-1500 review, and I meant it: it is a lot of watch for the money. The resin crystal will scratch if you abuse it, and the display can be harder to read at an angle on the negative-display versions, so stick with the standard positive display if legibility is the point. If you prefer a slimmer case with the same 10-year battery, read my Casio W800H review.
6. Casio F-91W
Street price: around $20 to $25 USD as of September 2026
The icon. In production since 1989, selling millions of units a year, worn by everyone from students to soldiers to fashion designers. Seven-year battery, alarm, stopwatch, hourly chime, 21 grams on the wrist. It tells the time accurately and asks for nothing in return.
It makes the list on heritage alone, but it earns its spot on merit: there is still no cheaper reliable watch from a real brand. Read my full Casio F-91W review for the deep dive. One warning: this is the most faked watch on the planet. Read my guide to spotting a fake F-91W before you buy, and stick to reputable sellers. Casio also makes a greener version with bio-based resin: read my Casio F-91WB bio-resin review.
5. Casio AE-1200, the Royale
Street price: around $20 to $40 USD as of September 2026
The Royale. World time with a little world map on the dial, 10-year battery, 100-metre water resistance, five alarms, dual time, and an amber LED backlight. It is the most watch you can buy for under $40, full stop. Mine has lived in travel bags and desk drawers for years and it is always running when I pick it up, which is the whole point of a 10-year battery.
It makes the list because the feature set is genuinely silly at this price. World timers usually start at five times the money. The resin case and crystal will show wear, and nobody is paying a premium for one used, but as a beater travel watch it is close to perfect. Read my full Casio Royale AE-1200WH review for the complete breakdown.
4. Casio DW-5600E
Street price: around $50 to $70 USD as of September 2026
The DW-5600E is the original G-Shock square, the direct descendant of the 1983 DW-5000C that started it all. Two hundred metres of water resistance, proper shock resistance, an electro-luminescent backlight with afterglow, and a toughness reputation earned over four decades. This is the watch that proved a digital could be indestructible.
It makes the list because it is the cheapest real G-Shock and the cheapest watch here that you can genuinely beat up without thinking. No solar, no atomic sync, just a battery and a tank of a case. If you want G-Shock toughness on the smallest budget, start here.
3. Casio MDV-106, the Duro
Street price: around $50 to $70 USD as of September 2026
The Duro, nicknamed the Marlin, is the best-value dive-style watch in existence. Stainless steel case, 200-metre water resistance, screw-down crown, mineral glass crystal, and a proper rotating bezel, all for the price of a video game. Watch people compare it to divers costing ten times more, and the comparison is not a joke.
It makes the list because it looks and feels like a $300 watch. The quartz movement is basic but accurate, and the bracelet versions are excellent value. If you want a splash of colour, the green-dial MDV-107, the so-called Starbucks, is worth a look too. This is the one I recommend to anyone who wants a “real watch” feel on a tight budget.
2. Casio GA-2100, the CasiOak
Street price: around $80 to $100 USD as of September 2026
The CasiOak is the G-Shock that broke the internet. Octagonal bezel, carbon core guard case, analog-digital display, 200-metre water resistance, and at 11.8 mm thin it wears like a normal watch instead of a hockey puck. It looks far more expensive than it is, which is why it became a phenomenon.
It makes the list because it is the best-looking cheap G-Shock and the easiest one to wear every day. Read my full GA-B2100 review if you are tempted by the solar and Bluetooth upgrade, but the standard GA-2100 gives you ninety percent of the experience for less money. Dozens of colourways exist, so pick the one that speaks to you.
1. Casio GW-M5610U
Street price: around $120 to $150 USD as of September 2026
The best square G-Shock you can buy, and my number one pick. Tough Solar charging means you never change a battery, Multi-Band 6 atomic timekeeping keeps it accurate to the second, and it wears smaller and lighter than it looks at just 52 grams. Two hundred metres of water resistance, the classic square case, and a price that is regularly discounted well under list.
It makes the list because nothing else combines solar, atomic sync, G-Shock toughness, and this price. I made an entire video on the 5 reasons it is the best G-Shock you can buy, based on two years of daily wear, and I stand by every word. If you only buy one watch from this list, make it this one.
Watch: the full live comparison
The video above is the full live comparison where I go through all ten side by side. Everything below it is the written version with current prices, so you can shop the list without scrubbing through the footage.
FAQ
What is the best cheap Casio watch overall?
The GW-M5610U. Solar charging, atomic timekeeping, G-Shock toughness, and a street price around $120 to $150. Nothing else at this price does all of that. If your budget is tighter, the AE-1200 Royale gives you the most features per dollar under $40.
What is the best Casio watch under $50?
The AE-1200 Royale for features, or the F-91W for the icon. The Royale wins on paper with world time, a 10-year battery, and 100-metre water resistance. The F-91W wins on history and sheer minimalism. You cannot go wrong with either, and at these prices you can buy both.
What is the best G-Shock on a budget?
The DW-5600E if you want the cheapest real G-Shock, usually $50 to $70. The GW-M5610U if you can stretch to around $150, because solar and atomic sync are worth every penny of the difference. The GA-2100 sits between them and wins on looks.
Where should I buy a cheap Casio to avoid fakes?
Buy from Amazon directly (sold and shipped by Amazon, not a marketplace seller), Casio’s own store, or established watch retailers. Avoid auction sites and social media sellers for the popular models. The F-91W is the most counterfeited watch in the world, so read my guide to spotting a fake F-91W before you buy one anywhere.
Are cheap Casios actually good watches?
Yes. Casio’s cheap digitals use the same quartz technology as watches costing far more, the batteries last 7 to 10 years, and the designs have survived decades because they work. A $25 Casio keeps better time than most mechanical watches costing a hundred times more. The trade-offs are resin crystals that scratch and basic water resistance on the cheapest models, which is exactly what the pricier picks on this list solve.