WORTH IT
Casio W-221H
Updated
Ten years of battery for under $50
Light, simple, and cheap, with a 10-year battery and world time. Plain resin, and the display is small.
8 out of 10 Overall
- Design 8 out of 10 Clean retro-square digital look that works with almost anything
- Quality 7 out of 10 Simple, proven Casio build; resin case and glass scuff easily
- Utility 8 out of 10 World time, alarms, and a 10-year battery cover daily life
$45.95
at Casio
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Quick facts
Who it's for
Anyone who wants a no-fuss everyday watch, a beater for workouts and travel, or a break from smartwatch charging.
What it solves
Smartwatches that need a charger every night, and cheap digitals whose batteries die every couple of years.
Pros
- 10-year battery means almost no upkeep
- Very light at 35 g
- World time, alarms, timer, and stopwatch
- 50 m water resistance
- Fair price
Cons
- All-resin build feels basic
- Small digits for some eyes
- No solar, Bluetooth, or step counting
- Hard to find in the UK
- Battery About 10 years
- Water resistance 50 m (5 bar) Fine for swimming, not diving
- Weight 35 g
- Case 43.7 × 38.4 × 12.2 mm
- World time 29 zones, 48 cities
- Light LED backlight With afterglow
Timekeeping 4
Features 5
Build 7
Models 2
Good to know
- It launched in early 2026, so it's newer than the classic Casio F-91W and W-218H it sits beside.
- Casio UK calls it a non-UK model, so UK buyers will mostly find imports from third-party sellers.
- The case is resin, not metal. It's light and tough, but it scuffs.
- Retail sources list both CR2032 and CR2025 for the battery; check the caseback before replacing it.
What's in the box 2
- Casio W-221H watch
- Instruction manual
Specs checked October 30, 2026 against Casio US: W-221H-1AV product page , Notebookcheck: new Casio digitals now in the US , Notebookcheck: Casio launches the W-221H , Casio NZ dealer: W221H-1B specs , MEDIUM: Casio W-221H-1AV , Juwelier Bektas: W-221H-1AVEF (EU price) .
Why it's worth it
The W-221H is Casio's newest everyday digital watch, and it's a nice antidote to the nightly smartwatch charge. The battery is rated for about 10 years. It weighs 35 g, handles swimming with 50 m water resistance, and packs world time, three alarms, a countdown timer, and a stopwatch behind a clean square face. It's plain resin and won't count your steps, but for under $50 it's the kind of watch you put on and forget about.
The review
The W-221H is a square, all-resin digital Casio that launched in Japan in early 2026 and reached the US shortly after. In the US it comes in black (W-221H-1AV) and a cream colorway (W-221H-8AV).
What it does well
The headline is the battery, rated for about 10 years. Add 35 g of weight, 50 m water resistance, and an LED backlight with afterglow, and you have a watch you can wear to the gym, the pool, and a flight without thinking about it.
The feature list is generous for the price: world time across 29 zones and 48 cities, a 1/100-second stopwatch, a countdown timer, three alarms (one with snooze), an hourly chime, and a full auto-calendar to 2099. Accuracy is rated at ±30 seconds a month.
Where it falls short
- Everything is resin, including the glass, so it will pick up scuffs over time.
- The display digits are on the small side compared to bigger sports digitals.
- There's no solar charging, Bluetooth, or fitness tracking. It's a watch, not a wearable.
- It isn't officially sold in the UK, so prices there run higher through import sellers.
Should you get it?
If you want a cheap, reliable watch that just works, yes. At $45.95 from Casio US, it costs a bit more than an F-91W but gives you a decade of battery and a cleaner, more modern face. It also makes an easy gift.
Where to buy
$45.95 at Casio
Shop at Casio (opens in a new tab)Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.