Casio’s Obscenely Affordable Everyday Watch Far Outperforms Its Price

Not only does it have a full suite of handy features, but it also functions for a full decade without any maintenance.

Close-up of a black Casio digital watch with "Vibration Alarm" and "10 Year Battery" text on the face.Casio

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I am especially fond of including a watch in my everyday carry. It keeps me from being too attached to my phone and helps add some style to my wardrobe.

That said, I tend to prefer timepieces I don’t mind putting through their paces. Those that are too expensive and fancy worry me. Like parking a sports car on the street or in a crowded lot, I’m always concerned about what harm might come to them.

As such, Casio’s W738H is the perfect alternative, offering exceptional, reliable performance and styling at a price point so low I’d never think twice about donning this watch anywhere and everywhere.

Black Casio digital wristwatch with vibration alarm and 10-year battery on yellow background.
The square case gives G-Shock vibes, but at a fraction of the price.
Casio

Bargain beater

Even for Casio, this watch is a relative bargain. And that makes it a steal by just about any other venerated watch brand’s standards.

Available in three colorways (black, OD green and gray), the W738H will cost you just under $55, putting it in the same range as Timex and Swatch’s most affordable offerings. However, there’s an argument to be made that this Casio is a much better value.

Two Casio digital watches side by side, one with an olive green strap and black bezel, the other with a black strap and silver bezel, both showing 10:58:50.
This watch comes in three colorways: OD green, gray (both above) and all-black.
Casio

You see, the watches in the same range from Timex and Swatch are pretty bare-bones analog quartz offerings that can tell the time and little more (if anything). But since this Casio is digital, it can do a whole lot more.

Perhaps most impressively, it houses a battery that can keep it consistently functioning for an entire decade. That means no charging, no winding, no battery swaps for 10+ years. That alone is worth the sticker price.

And yet, that’s far from all it has to offer…

Digital Casio watch face with vibration alarm, 10-year battery, and light button on black and silver casing.
As we’ve come to expect, this digital watch has a full suite of handy onboard features, including a calendar, LED backlight and so much more.
Casio

True EDC

For this to remain a true everyday watch, it helps that it can do more than just tell the time. At the most basic level, that means it also has an onboard calendar, so you can tell what time of day it is, along with the day of the week and the time of the month, all at a glance.

Dig a little deeper, however, and you’ll discover it can do much more, granting it the same abilities as some classic digital sports watches. It has built-in timers, stopwatches and alarms, giving it some usefulness at the gym, on the track and out on the trails.

It also has an integrated LED backlight, so you can still read it even on the blackest nights. And all of that is housed in a durable, lightweight resin case with an integrated strap, making it comfortable and tough, as well.

Black Casio digital wristwatch with red illuminated display showing time, date, and alarm icons.
The integrated LED backlight (with afterglow) ensures easy reading even in the darkest conditions.
Casio

While this timepiece isn’t going to win any horological awards, it doesn’t have to. Its absurdly low price and handy features are what make this an EDC hidden gem.

And the best part is, you can beat it to death without feeling a shred of guilt or worry.

Furthermore, though wasteful to suggest, it’s so inexpensive that you could feasibly just replace it in ten years once the battery finally goes.

Two Casio digital watches, one with an olive green strap and one with a black strap, on a yellow background.
The case is wrapped in resin, which extends to the integrated strap.
Casio

Availability and pricing

The Casio W738H is available in three colorways, each for just $55 apiece.

Black Casio digital wristwatch with vibration alarm and 10-year battery on a white background.Casio

Casio W738H

Specs

Case Size 42.8mm
Movement Quartz
Water Resistance 100m

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