Casio F-B100W Hands-On: A Retro Digital Watch With a Clever Modern Twist

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There are some watches that don’t need to be complicated to be enjoyable, are there?

The Casio F-B100W is a perfect example.

At first glance, it looks and feels exactly like the sort of old-school digital Casio many of us grew up with. It’s compact, lightweight, simple and completely unpretentious.

But look a little closer and there’s actually quite a bit more going on here.

I recently spent some time with both the black Casio F-B100W-1AJF and teal green F-B100W-3AJF, wearing them, handling them and shooting them for Casio.

This isn’t one of my usual longer-term reviews where I’ve lived with a watch for weeks. Think of this instead as a proper hands-on first look. I’ve spent enough time with both versions to get a good feel for what the F-B100W is about, how it wears and whether those extra features actually make sense.

And I think Casio has got the balance rather right.

The retro side of Casio is something I’ve always enjoyed. Watches like the Casio × Back to the Future CA-500WEBF-1AER are a good reminder that watches don’t always need to be serious or expensive to be enjoyable.

The F-B100W has some of that same charm, albeit in a much simpler and considerably cheaper package.

An Old-School Casio With Some New Tricks

The easiest way to understand the F-B100W is probably to look at it as a modern twist on the classic Casio digital watch.

That was certainly my first impression when I picked these up.

It feels properly old-school Casio.

You’ve got a rectangular resin case, a large positive LCD display, four pushers and plenty of those little coloured lines and markings around the display that give classic digital Casios so much character.

But underneath all that, you now get Bluetooth smartphone connectivity and a built-in step tracker.

That’s what I like about these.

It doesn’t feel like Casio has designed a fitness tracker and then tried to disguise it as a retro watch. Instead, it feels much more like they’ve taken a traditional digital Casio and quietly added a few useful modern features underneath.

It’s a slightly odd combination on paper.

In person, it works.

How Big Is the Casio F-B100W?

The F-B100W measures 41.9mm long, 38.1mm wide and just 8.8mm thick, while the complete watch weighs only 26g.

Coming from many of the mechanical watches I normally wear, that weight really stood out.

The F-B100W feels compact, slim and incredibly light on wrist. It’s one of those watches you can put on in the morning and almost forget about.

And I mean that as a compliment.

There’s nothing fancy about the construction. You’ve got a resin case, resin glass and a bio-based resin strap. It’s lightweight and functional, which is exactly what I’d expect — and want — from this kind of Casio.

It still feels solid though, and I found it very comfortable.

The strap also has that practical, sporty feel that suits the watch perfectly. This isn’t trying to convince you it’s a luxury object. It’s purposeful, comfortable and built to be worn.

At £55 in the UK, I certainly wasn’t left wishing it felt more premium. That would rather miss the point.

If anything, the amount of functionality here makes the F-B100W feel like a bit of a bargain.

Black or Teal? F-B100W-1AJF vs F-B100W-3AJF

This was a surprisingly difficult choice.

The F-B100W-1AJF in black has that classic retro digital Casio look. It’s understated, easy to wear and probably the version most people will immediately associate with the brand.

If you like traditional black resin Casios, this one feels very natural.

Then there’s the F-B100W-3AJF in teal.

And this is where things become a bit more fun.

The teal completely changes the personality of the watch. It feels much more modern and eye-catching, and I could definitely see myself wearing this one through the summer when I wanted something colourful and lightweight on the wrist.

I’m not sure I’d necessarily choose one over the other.

The black is probably the easier everyday option, while the teal is the one I’d reach for when I wanted something with a bit more personality.

For me, the teal almost has that summer watch feel to it.

And I think having both options highlights one of the strengths of the F-B100W. You can have the familiar retro Casio look, or essentially the same watch with a much more playful personality.

Looking for the Casio F-B100W?

If either version has caught your eye, I’ve linked the current listings below so you can compare prices and availability.

What Is the F-B100W Display Like?

The display is clear and easy enough to read.

No, it isn’t one of Casio’s super-sharp MIP displays that you’ll find on some newer G-SHOCK models.

If you’ve read my G-SHOCK GW-BX5600 review, you’ll know how impressed I’ve been with Casio’s newer MIP technology. Those displays really are a big step forward in clarity and contrast.

But comparing a £55 F-B100W directly with one of those more expensive G-SHOCK models wouldn’t really be fair.

For what this watch costs, I had no complaints.

You get a large positive LCD with the time taking centre stage, while a progress indicator can show how you’re getting on with your daily step goal.

The layout is straightforward and feels immediately familiar if you’ve used digital Casios before.

There’s also a green LED backlight with selectable 1.5 or 3-second illumination.

It does what it needs to do without trying to reinvent the digital watch.

The Step Tracker Is Simple — And That’s Probably the Point

Inside the F-B100W is a motion sensor that automatically counts your steps.

The watch can display up to 999,999 steps, and you can set a daily target anywhere between 1,000 and 50,000 steps. There’s also a step-count graph and a reminder that can give you a little nudge if your activity has been low.

Personally, I already use other devices for that sort of thing, so the step counter isn’t the main reason I’d buy one.

But I can absolutely see the appeal.

If you simply want to know how much walking you’ve done during the day without wearing a full smartwatch or dedicated fitness tracker, this does the job in a much simpler package.

I could definitely see myself grabbing one of these if I was going out walking for the day and fancied keeping an eye on my steps without thinking too much about it.

And that actually fits the F-B100W rather nicely.

It isn’t trying to bombard you with fitness metrics.

It counts your steps and then gets on with being a watch.

Bluetooth Adds Some Useful Convenience

The other modern addition is Bluetooth connectivity through the CASIO WATCHES app.

Once connected, the F-B100W can automatically correct its time four times a day. You can also change settings through your phone, access world time for around 300 cities, review your activity data, use Casio’s Time & Place function and trigger a phone finder.

Bluetooth is one of those features I’m always happy to have on a Casio.

You don’t really need to think about it once everything is set up. The watch keeps itself accurate, and changing settings through your phone is generally easier than pressing combinations of tiny buttons.

And importantly, the F-B100W doesn’t suddenly become useless without your phone.

Used as a normal quartz watch, Casio rates its accuracy to ±15 seconds per month.

That balance works for me.

The Bluetooth features are useful additions rather than the whole reason the watch exists.

The Buttons Are Small, But Easy Enough to Use

Any watch this compact is going to have relatively small pushers.

That’s just physics.

What I do like, though, is that the four buttons actually protrude from the sides of the case rather than being deeply recessed or sitting almost flush.

That makes them much easier to get at.

I had no issues using them.

Could somebody with much larger fingers find them slightly fiddly? Possibly. But that’s going to vary from person to person and, for a watch this small, I thought Casio had handled it pretty well.

I definitely prefer this arrangement to tiny recessed buttons that require a fingernail and a degree of patience to operate.

Plenty of Familiar Casio Features

Beyond the Bluetooth and step tracker, there’s still plenty of traditional Casio functionality packed in.

You get dual time, a 1/100-second stopwatch with memory for up to 200 lap or split records, a 60-minute countdown timer, five daily alarms, an hourly signal and a full automatic calendar through to 2099.

Power comes from a standard CR2016 battery, with Casio quoting approximately two years of battery life.

That’s another thing I rather like about it.

There’s no charging routine and no need to treat it like another piece of technology constantly demanding your attention.

Put it on. Wear it. Check your steps if you fancy.

That’s about it.

Casio F-B100W Specifications

• Case size: 41.9 × 38.1mm

• Thickness: 8.8mm

• Weight: 26g

• Case / bezel: Resin

• Strap: Bio-based resin

• Glass: Resin glass

• Wrist fit: 145–215mm

• Water resistance: Water resistant

• Connectivity: Bluetooth / CASIO WATCHES app

• Step tracker: Yes

• Step counter range: Up to 999,999 steps

• Daily step target: 1,000–50,000 steps

• Dual time: Yes

• Stopwatch: 1/100 second

• Stopwatch memory: Up to 200 records

• Countdown timer: Up to 60 minutes

• Alarms: Five daily alarms

• Hourly time signal: Yes

• Backlight: Green LED

• Full auto calendar: To 2099

• Battery: CR2016

• Battery life: Approximately two years

• Accuracy without Bluetooth: ±15 seconds per month

• UK price at time of writing: £55

Who Is the Casio F-B100W For?

Potentially quite a few people, actually.

First, there’s the budget-conscious buyer who simply wants something reliable, legible, lightweight and inexpensive.

For £55, you’re getting a lot of watch here.

Then there are existing Casio fans who already like this traditional digital style but have always fancied a few more modern features such as Bluetooth and step tracking.

There’s also another group that I think is important: people who simply like how these watches look.

Retro Casios have become style pieces in their own right, and the different colour options make the F-B100W particularly good fun.

I can also see these appealing to younger people who are only just getting interested in watches.

Both of my kids loved them when I had them around, and I think that says quite a lot.

They’re colourful, simple and approachable. You don’t need to know anything about watches to understand why they’re fun.

If you like the idea of a compact connected Casio but want something considerably tougher, my G-SHOCK GD-B500-7ER review‍ looks at one of the smaller and slimmer modern G-SHOCK digital models.

That gives you a similar grab-and-go appeal, but in a much more rugged package.

Final Thoughts: A Fun Little Casio That Knows What It Is

I think that’s ultimately why I enjoyed the Casio F-B100W.

It knows exactly what it is.

This isn’t trying to be some feature-packed sports watch or smartwatch replacement. If I wanted serious fitness tracking, I’d personally use something else.

What the F-B100W gives you instead is that classic Casio digital charm in an incredibly lightweight package, with a few genuinely useful modern features added underneath.

For me, I could see wearing one if I was heading out for a day of walking and fancied casually keeping track of my steps.

But honestly?

I’d probably wear one just as often because it looks fun.

The black F-B100W-1AJF gives you that traditional retro Casio experience, while the teal F-B100W-3AJF adds a much more playful, summery feel.

And that teal version in particular is just a fun watch to have on your wrist.

At £55, there really isn’t much here for me to complain about.

It’s inexpensive, comfortable, easy to read, full of retro charm and just clever enough underneath without spoiling what makes a simple Casio enjoyable in the first place.

Sometimes that’s more than enough.

Fancy One?

If you fancy adding an F-B100W to the collection, you can check the latest eBay prices and availability below.