There was a time when people thought digital watches were the future. Surely, their clear, simple readouts, hassle-free maintenance, and accessory digital functions make them a whole lot more useful than their quartz and mechanical counterparts. Turns out, people don’t wear watches for those reasons, which is why digital watches have been relegated to the background of modern horology.
Sure, the Apple Watch has made a huge dent in the market, but during those times you’re dressing to impress, are you really reaching for the popular smartwatch or the classy vintage Rolex you’ve relied on all these years? Truth is, digital watches just aren’t assigned the same prestige as their more traditional counterparts. That doesn’t mean there aren’t digital watches out there that deserve a place in many men’s wardrobe.
When worn with the right outfits, digital watches can complement your look just as well as any mechanical timepiece. And they do that at a small fraction of the price that more traditional watches command. Some designs may even be fascinating enough to spur conversations, while others are just perfect for giving off that casual, sporty vibe.
For the purposes of this list, we’re sticking with basic timekeeping digital watches. Sure, sports watches and smartwatches do the same things, but they’re the kind of timepieces you really buy for the rich feature sets, rather than for simply checking the time at various points in the day.
These are the best digital watches you can get today.
Casio F-91W
Pros
- Very affordable
- Good features
- Lasts seven years on a single battery
Cons
- Resin case looks cheap
- Looks didn’t age very well
It’s not the prettiest watch nor the most refined-looking with its resin case and strap, but it’s easily the most ubiquitous Casio watch of all time. Chief among the reasons is the price, since it retails for well under $25, all while providing reliable timekeeping, a decent set of features (stopwatch, alarm, LED light, water resistance), and seven years of battery life on a single coin cell. If you want something that looks nicer, you can also go for an A168, which is, basically, the same watch with stainless steel construction, albeit at a more expensive $70 price point.
Timex Ironman Essential 30 Lap
Pros
- Contemporary styling
- Crystal-clear, easy-to-read display
- Stores last 30 laps for the stopwatch
- 100 meters of water resistance
Cons
- Resin case isn’t the best-looking
- On the larger side at 43mm
No, this isn’t the classic Timex Ironman, whose aesthetics, in our opinion, didn’t really age that well. As such, we’d rather recommend this more contemporary version, which looks more like a modern sports watch similar to what you’ll see from Garmin and Suunto. It has a crystal-clear circular screen on a large 43mm watch case, with an easy-to-read time display in the center, along with day, date, and function notifications. Being an Ironman watch, it comes with a stopwatch function, complete with built-in memory that stores your last 30 laps, as well as two time zone settings, a 25-hour countdown timer, built-in LED backlighting, customizable alarm, and 100 meters of water resistance.
Timex T80
Pros
- Stylish vintage looks
- Stainless steel case and band
- Available in special editions with 80s pop culture elements
Cons
- Limited features
If resin cases are your least favorite things about digital watches, then you’ll definitely appreciate the stainless steel construction of this 34mm model, which is available in black, gold, and silver finishes. The styling is a complete throwback to the digital watches of the 80s, albeit with a more refined stainless steel build and an overall look that fits in with modern sensibilities. You can go with straight-up designs like this one or opt for special editions with 80s pop culture graphics like Snoopy, Pac-Mac, and Space Invaders, which usually retail for just $20 more. Features include stopwatch, customizable alarm, light-up LED, and 30 meters of water resistance.
Casio G-Shock 5600
Pros
- Available in many colorways and design variations
- Shockproof and water-resistant up to 200 meters
- Lasts five years on a single battery
Cons
- Large size not for everyone
- Burly looks may be too rugged to pair with some outfits
The 5600 series is easily the most iconic of G-Shock’s watch line and the one we immediately think about whenever we think of the brand. The square case, the octagonal bezel, and the rectangular display all come together to create its memorable look, while the resin material feels hardier and more premium than those on Casio’s more affordable timepieces. We’re sticking with the basic 5600 here with its cleaner, simpler layout, although we know many people who prefer the busier look of some variations with more labels. You can also opt for a solar-powered version for just a little extra. Aside from basic timekeeping, it has a 1/100-second stopwatch (elapsed time, split time, and even top two place times), countdown timer, alarms, auto-calendar, and LED backlighting. It’s also built tough, with a shock-resistant construction and 200 meters of water resistance, all while lasting five years on a single coin cell battery.
Nixon Disk
Pros
- Large, high-contrast display
- Easy-to-read time
- Low-key styling
Cons
- All-plastic case may not fit everyone’s tastes
- Fiddling with the settings could be easier
We love the LCD on this digital watch, which brings excellent contrast for use outdoors, while the large times display makes it easy to see time with a quick glance. Heck, people a few feet in front of you can probably read the time with how big it is. We’re also quite fond of the case styling, which is round but suddenly goes flat on one side, as well as the 39mm size, which is more suited to the smaller watch sizes people tend to favor these days. It’s got all the basic functions, such as auto-calendar, 1/100 stopwatch, timer, alarm, and LED backlighting, all while being water-resistant for 100 meters. The plastic watch case is made from recycled plastics, too, in case you prefer more sustainable products.
Bulova Archive Series LED Computron
Pros
- Unique vintage look
- Angled time display makes it easier to glance at the wrist
- Very classy looks
Cons
- Requires pressing a button to show time
Bulova brought back the this classic 80s model in 2019 as part of their vintage-inspired Archive Series and it’s been one of our favorite digital timepieces since. It has a unique look punctuated by its trapezoidal case and grooved steel surface on top where the watch face usually sits. Instead, it puts the LCD strip right on the edge, so it’s always facing the wearer, allowing you to glance at the time without having to rotate your wrist, which, in the past, was marketed as a safer way for motorists to check the time while they’re driving. We’re not familiar with the original watch, but this one has an on-demand display that required you to press the single button on the side to activate the time display. It’s available in silver and gold.
Tissot PRX Digital
Pros
- Dressier than your standard digital watch/li>
- Solid build
- Quick-release bracelet
Cons
- Not the nicest display layout
Tissot took their vintage PRX watch and swapped out the analog watch face for a digital one to come up with this timepiece. The result is digital watch that inherits the PRX’s sport-luxury styling, but with a digital watch face reminiscent of the outfit’s 70s-era digital watches. It uses their digital quartz movement (Calibre DGT-2040), so it gets dual time zones, day-date functions, alarm, and stopwatch on top of the standard timekeeping. The case and band styling are the main highlights here, as it looks very dressy and elegant for a digital timepiece. It’s available in two case sizes, 35mm and 40mm, both water-resistant up to 100 meters.
Hamilton American Classic PSR
Pros
- Based on the 70s-era James Bond watch/li>
- Modernized hybrid display that combines LCD and OLED
- Unique styling
Cons
- Very expensive for a digital watch
Based on the first ever digital watch from 1972, the Pulsar, this modern recreation mirrors the likeness of the original, from the curvy square case and the raised crystal to the hardy stainless steel build. Of course, it’s been modernized to reflect more contemporary watch use, so you no longer have to press the button to show the time. Instead, it uses a hybrid LCD and OLED display, using the former to show the time continuously and the latter kicking in for a brighter display when you press the button (very useful when you’re checking the time in the dark or under direct sunlight). It sounds like a convoluted way to set up a digital watch display, but it actually works surprisingly well. The watch is water-resistant to 100 meters and comes in either a stainless steel or a PVD-coated finish.