Casio W59 is better than Casio F-91W

Bigger buttons = better watch. At least when comparing the W59 to the F-91W.

For small-wristed folk such as myself that prefer smaller digital timepieces, the go-to brand is Casio for that sort of thing. And the go-to watch in that brand is, of course, the F-91W.

However, as good as the F-91W is for a simple and good wristwatch, what works against it are its buttons. They work, but can be annoying to press as they are just a smidgen too small.

Choices of other Casio models that have the same functionality as the F-91W that have bigger buttons are the W800H, the F105W, and the one I'm talking about that I just bought, the W59.

Here's the thing about each of the three models and why I feel the W59 is the best of the lot.

W800H: Nothing wrong with this watch at all. It's the strap. Too long. For larger-wristed folk, this is the ideal good cheap Casio digital because it has everything you'd want from an F-91W with a larger case, and in addition shows the full date with year on the main display. I would own one of these myself were it not for that long strap.

F105W: I own this one and it's about the same size as the W59, but my complaint is that the color of the LCD is a gray that's slightly darker, most likely to accommodate it's "electroluminescent" backlight. It does have bigger buttons compared to the F-91W, but that slightly darker display annoys me.

And then there's the W59.

When you want an F-91W with bigger buttons that are easier to press, this watch nails it. Slim profile, ultra lightweight case, proper beep tone that can be heard easily, and you get slightly better water resistance at 50M instead of the F-91W's 30M. That doesn't count for much, but hey, it has it.

There's also something else about the W59 as well. Style. This model carries the same late-1980s look as the F-91W does with its blue border and red text on the display. Also, the W59 strap actually looks better because it has that cooler looking textures to it.

Where legibility is concerned, W59 is really good. Because it has the older style night light, the LCD color is a lighter shade of gray that makes for great contrast. Very easy to read the time, just like the F-91W.

After wearing the W59, I do consider it better than the F-91W. Same functionality, same great legibility, same great reliability, bigger buttons. Works great.

Published 2018 Dec 7