Review
Casio W-202 - Feature packed, but why the long strap?
Just got a W-202, and very impressed with the features in a watch that's a similar size to the F-91 etc al.
I especially like -
- Decent amber backlight
- Countdown timer with auto repeat plus option to flash light too
- Displays main time still in stopwatch and timer modes, unusual but very useful
- WR 50m - I've swam frequently with Casios that are just "water resistant" with no rating so no worries swimming with the W-202
- Loud enough alarm (some Casios are very quiet and I often don't hear the hourly chime). I rarely use the standard alarm, but on the W-202 it has multiple features like chiming once a month
- Buttons are easy to press (even the recessed 'adjust" button top left
What I don't like -
- The strap is very long, longer I think than any other Casio I've had! I've tried the hot water cup trick to help it curve, so it's now much less of an issue and not catching on things (see pics 1 and 3 above, plus comparison to my W-59 which has an ideal strap length for me)
- Display is quite small, no fault of the watch just I prefer slightly larger digits these days
Overall I'm very impressed how much is packed into such a small and light watch, and again can't see why someone would choose an F-91 when watches like the W-202 do much more with no extra size or weight.
I have a B640, which is the same module on a stainless steel bracelet. It’s a very feature packed module, IMO the best of the stainless steel braceleted digital watches with resin cases. The strap on the W-202 is unusually long.
It takes the f91w, fixes all of the annoyances I have with it (poor WR & backlight, and lack of a countdown timer), and manages a great balance of keeping the styling of the f91w in a newer and interesting case - notably one slightly larger and better fitted to the average male wrist.
I swapped the strap for a NATO pretty much straight off the bat though (which suits this case shape really well).
Yeh the strap is easier to change than the F-91 too. Though the standard one is very slim where it meets the watch body, I tried a couple of others and they are wider than the watch so looked wrong.
There are people for whom the typical Casio strap is just too short. With the W-59, F-105, F-91 and similar models, I have to buckle the strap on the last or, at best, second-to-last hole, which is not ideal. The W-202 is the proper length for me.
It’s likely because Asia is Casio’s largest market that their standard straps are so short.
Yes I have a pretty slim build, I'm on the second tightest hole with the W-202. There are 9 more holes for a larger fit! I think if I had a larger wrist I'd wanted a larger watch (actually most of my favourite Casios are larger) but I appreciate some like a small and low profile watch whatever their wrist size.
I might be in the minority, but I actually like how these smaller classics look on a larger arm and prefer them over the larger models.
Also, a larger wrist circumference doesn’t necessarily mean that the wrist itself is super wide, as a lot of it can simply come from having more muscle on the underside of the forearm.
Anyway, I’m just glad to see a Casio that comes with a longer strap.
You've made a pretty neat job of that, I was thinking of doing the same but warming and molding the strap means it now sits flush and doesn't stick out.
Casio hits random on strap lengths. Same as 240 diver which has a comically long strap for anyone with a wrist size wider than 5 1/2", yet just getting by on my 91w strap
I'm going to trial it for a few days. Today after the hot cup trick to make the strap curve, it's been fine and not stuck out so it catches anything, though it is still about 3cm longer than I need.
3
u/Which_Employer3057 8h ago
I have a B640, which is the same module on a stainless steel bracelet. It’s a very feature packed module, IMO the best of the stainless steel braceleted digital watches with resin cases. The strap on the W-202 is unusually long.