Casio Calculator Watch Review: Unexpectedly Timeless "Geek Chic" Design

It’s wild that the Casio Calculator Watch is not just still around but actively thriving. Retro designs are “in” right now, so it’s not a surprise to see these neat gadgets strapped on wrists in Brooklyn and Silver Lake, but there is something to be said about a collective desire to bring back some tactile analog push-button satisfaction to our lives. The Casio Calculator watch is a really cheap and, perhaps even more importantly, compact and lightweight piece of fun throwback tech that I just can’t get enough of. Here I review the simple CA53W-1 — but first, a bit of context.

[toc-section heading="Casio Data Bank History"]

The original Casio calculator watch was the C-80, which was released back in 1980 and the general design really has not changed much in these last 46 years. You’ve got a rectangular case with a digital display screen up top, some pushers on the side, and, of course, the physical calculator buttons. A few years later, in 1983, would come the Casio CD-40, which was the very first Databank watch that would increase functionality to include phone number storage. I know this is ancient history, but before the cell phone or even the Palm Pilot, the ability to have easy access to phone numbers was hugely convenient. Not that I was alive then.

Over the years Casio would keep iterating and improving its calculator watch with better water resistance, more storage, and additional functionality like voice memo. But the heart of the Casio calculator watch remains with the core functionality that allows you to punch some physical buttons to do some calculations.

While it’s not hard to draw a line from the Casio Calculator Watch to the smartwatches we see today, it’s not likely that we will continue to see today’s smartwatch design still in production over 35 years from now. Sure, the hype over all things retro-analog is likely at a high right now, but there is something to be said about the very human tactile satisfaction that comes with the simple act of pushing some physical buttons rather than *shudder* another touchscreen.

[toc-section heading="In The Movies"]

It’s impossible to talk about the Casio Calculator watch without mentioning just how much it has been featured in media. Of course, Marty McFly wore one in all three Back to the Future movies. In fact, Casio dropped a limited edition iteration with a red, yellow, and green-accented steel case with “OUTATIME” text up top that hearkens back to the license plate on the iconic DeLorean. Walter White also wears one in Breaking Bad before he upgrades to a TAG Heuer Monaco.

[toc-section heading="Reviewing the Casio Calculator Watch"]

The watch I have here is the Casio CA53W-1, which is the most basic calculator watch Casio still produces. It’s also the best, in my opinion. Why do I say this? Well, let’s take a look at the other models Casio produces. First up is the DBC32 Data Bank which is certainly the most sophisticated in terms of functionality, with features like a big screen, full calendar, 25-page contact storage, backlight, and a 10-year battery. That said, it’s not really as universally slick-looking as the CA53W and it is bulkier, at 37.4mm wide, 50.4mm tall, and 12mm thick. Then there’s the DBC611 Data Bank, which has the same features as the DBC32 but a shorter three-year battery life. The case is 33.1mm wide, 46.5mm tall, at 8.7mm thick, and it comes on a steel bracelet, which is what makes it unique.

The CA53W is lightweight and really unobtrusive on the wrist. The black resin case and strap measures 25g total and it measures 34.4mm wide, 43.2mm tall, and just 8.2mm thick with a five-year battery life. While neither a calculator nor phone number storage are necessary with smartphones (neither is the time, for that matter), the addition of the phone number storage seriously detracts from the retro design of the basic CA53W calculator watch. This is all about charm, and the CA53W has it in spades.

Obviously the true functionality of a basic calculator on one’s wrist in 2026 is going to be limited to things like calculating a tip or something along those lines. Still, the ease of use here makes it fun to operate and not an annoying pain that’s easier to sideline with a smartphone. The standard display screen tells you the time and day while holding down the ÷ button shows you the full calendar (year, month, day, and date). There are two pushers on the lower right side of the case, only one of which really protrudes out. Pushing this once activates the calculator mode, pushing it again enters alarm mode, another push goes to dual time mode, and another push goes into stopwatch mode, with one more push bringing you back to the standard timekeeping display. It’s just so simple to use.

[toc-section heading="Iterations and Pricing"]

The Casio Calculator CA53W-1 is the black-on-black model that I prefer, but there are several color options you can pick up. Just a few of these are the CA53WF-2B, which is navy blue with black accents; the CA53WF-8B, which is white with black accents; and the CA53WF-3B, in olive green with black accents. This model is priced at $40, though it’s often on sale for much less. As for the other Casio calculator watch I mentioned, the DBC32 Data Bank is priced at $90. Again, I think the classic CA53W is the way to go, and I would go so far as to say that every watch collector should have one (or more) of these in their collection. You can learn more at casio.com.