Analog watches have the traditional appeal of a classic clock face, but additional functions and features such as the date can be a little harder to work out and to read at a quick glance.
Digital watches on the other hand can provide plenty of functions, but the digital 12:00 style of displaying the time isn’t to everyone’s taste.
If this sounds familiar, what you need is a timepiece which combines the best of both worlds – a digital analog watch.
A hybrid analog/digital watch offers a traditional clock face display, but with added digital features.
These watches – we’ll call them ana digi watches to make it less of a mouthful! – are available in a wide range of styles, from a rugged and sporty design to withstand everyday wear in a demanding job, to something more sophisticated.
We’ve rounded up some of the best ana digi watch designs on the market to give you a speedy overview and make your selection that bit easier.
We’re also giving you our tips on the main features and considerations to bear in mind when choosing an analog digital watch combo.
See Our Top Anadigi Watches
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Best For Low Budgets
1Casio Forester Ana-Digi Watch
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| 3
Best Overall
3Timex Tactic DGTL Big Combo Ana-Digi Watch
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Best For Higher Budgets
5Casio GST-S310-1A G-Shock Ana-Digi Watch
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1. Casio Forester Ana-Digi Watch
- Beige dial with silver-tone pushers
- Analog-digital display
- Sporty design
- Canvas band with buckle closure
This Casio watch is a great-value option for people looking for a robust, everyday timepiece. There’s a durable canvas strap with a buckle closure, and a sporty-looking rounded face.
The beige dial can be illuminated, a handy feature if you want to use this watch during any outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.
As well as the skeleton hands to give you the time, there’s also a digital time display with day, date, month and stopwatch functions.
The watch is water resistant to 100m, so it’s suitable for swimming. Some users have reported that the battery life is short, but overall we found this a well-priced choice for someone with an active lifestyle.
Specifications
Pros
- Quartz movement
- Water resistant to 100m
- Durable design with stainless steel face
- Illuminator dial
Cons
- Some wearers report the battery life is short
- When face is lit, the digital part of the face remains dark
2. Timex Katmai Combo Ana-Digi Watch
- Rugged design
- Chronograph, alarm and timer functions
- Light-up watch dial
- Rotating bezel
Timex is a well-known and respected watchmaker and this Expedition Katmai model offers great value for money.
The large round bezel is chunky and rugged in design, with a black face and yellow accents which pick out the second hand and the function buttons.
This watch features Timex’s Indiglo backlight technology, so you can hit the button to light the face if you need to check the time in the dark.
The fabric strap with buckle closure feels robust and is available in a choice of colours. The other buttons around the bezel are for chronograph, alarm and timer functions.
Specifications
Pros
- Adjustable nylon strap
- Digital display can be set to fix on the time or date depending on preference
- Available with a range of straps
- A reputable brand at an accessible price point
Cons
- Instructions not supplied in the box (but are available online)
- Some wearers find the watch ticks loudly
3. Timex Tactic DGTL Big Combo Ana-Digi Watch
- Rugged and robust design
- Backlit face to tell the time in the dark
- Water resistant to 50m
- Great value for a Timex timepiece
Another quality and good value timepiece from Timex, this Tactic model has a rugged and hard wearing design.
The chunky style features a large, 54mm diameter bezel and a buckle closure plastic strap. In addition to the hour, minute and second hands, there are several digital displays for functions such as the calendar and alarm, and Timex’s indiglo backlight function allows you to light up the face after dark.
Around the edge of the face is a list of international locations, and outside the bezel are buttons to activate the various functions.
This watch can display two time zones, has a 24-hour military time mode and the 24-hour chronograph has 1/100-second resolution.
This watch is also water resistant to 50m so is suitable for swimming. Although some may find the style too chunky, it’s great for withstanding the knocks of active leisure or work activities.
Specifications
Pros
- 24-hour chronograph
- Adjustable resin strap
- Daily alarm
- 24-hour military time mode
Cons
- Case is thick (18mm)
- Can be hard to read the digital display in daylight
4. NAVIFORCE Digital Dial Fashion Watch
- Sleek but sporty style
- Bracelet style strap with clasp closure
- Made in durable stainless steel
- Backlit display
Naviforce is a relatively new brand, founded in 2012 in China, so doesn’t yet have the reputation of some of the longer-established watchmakers.
The design of this ana digi fashion watch manages to be both sleek and sporty, with a black stainless steel bezel and bracelet with a clasp closure.
This is a stylish watch at a very attractive price point. The slightly textured face has an analog day display in addition to the hour, minute and second hands, plus two digital displays.
Two time zones can be displayed which makes this ideal for a frequent traveller. The face is also backlit to help you view the digital displays after dark.
Specifications
Pros
- Two time zones
- Great price point
- Water resistant to 30m
- Stylish face design with textured surface
Cons
- Reasonably heavy (just over 7oz)
- Can be hard to set some of the functions
5. Casio GST-S310-1A G-Shock Ana-Digi Watch
- Solar powered
- Hand shift feature (moves hands so you can see digital displays clearly)
- Shock resistant
- Countdown timer and five separate alarms
Casio’s G-Shock collection of watches has long been popular for sporty design, durability and Casio quality.
This particular model benefits from solar technology, meaning the lithium battery can last up to 20 years. A chunky stainless steel bezel is set on a black polyurethane strap offering a blend of style and performance. We liked the attention to the technical aspects and functions of this watch.
For example, press the ‘hand shift’ button and the analog hands will move out of the way of the digital displays, giving you a clear view.
Press the button again and the hands return to the correct time.
Other features include a backlit face, countdown timer, alarm (you can set up to five), and a day, date and month display. This watch is also water resistant to 200m making it a recommended all-rounder.
Specifications
Pros
- Backlit face
- Long lasting battery
- Hands glow in the dark
- Water resistant to 200m
Cons
- Alarm function is not very loud
- Hour markings on watch face don’t glow in the dark, only the hands
6. Casio Baby-G MSGS200-7A Ana-Digi Watch
- Fashionable and durable design
- Shock resistant
- Solar powered
- LED light
This Casio Baby-G Ladies’ watch manages to successfully blend sporty and sophisticated style in one design. The white polyurethane strap is an elegant alternative to dark colours and complements the stainless steel bezel.
This watch delivers on function as well as appearance, with world time for 31 different time zones and 48 cities, full auto calendar, countdown timer and stopwatch. There’s also a battery level indicator as this is a solar powered timepiece.
We like the LED light which effectively illuminates the face. It’s water resistant to 100m making this watch versatile enough to wear for swimming and outdoor activities as well as work or a dressier occasion.
Specifications
Pros
- Water resistant to 100m
- World time function for 31 different time zones and 48 cities
- Auto calendar
- Alarm function
Cons
- Only one digital display
- Some wearers find the strap quite short
Analog And Digital Watch Buying Guide
Movement
In the world of watches, movement refers to the mechanism that makes the hands move and any other features such as a chronograph or stopwatch. There are two main categories of movement – mechanical and quartz.
If you’ve ever seen the inner workings of a watch or clock with a number of round cogs (called gears), this is a mechanical movement.
The watch wearer winds up the watch, using a spring mounted on the side of the face. This creates the energy to power the springs and cogs inside the watch, which ensure it keeps time.
Creating these intricate components is a skilled process, so you’ll tend to find mechanical movements in luxury timepieces, particularly those of a traditional design.
Quartz Movement
A watch with a quartz movement uses a battery to provide power. The battery passes an electrical current through a quartz crystal – hence the name.
The crystal vibrates, driving a motor to move the hands of the watch.
Quartz watches have fewer components and are easier to produce, meaning you’ll find most low or moderately priced timepieces use a quartz movement.
Display
People choosing a ana digi watch are often attracted by the appeal of an analog display. From the point we first learn to tell the time as a child, an analog clock face provides an easy way to check the time with a quick glance.
As well as hour and minute hands, many ana digi watches will feature a second hand which can be useful if you need to measure time more accurately. The hands may glow so it’s easier to read the time in low light.
You may be opting for an ana digi watch because you want extra features such as a timer or chronograph.
You’ll often find these located around the edge of the dial, with buttons on the outer bezel to activate each function.
There’s typically a small digital display, most often located near the 6 o’clock position, to display the relevant information.
Materials
Timepieces are available in a range of materials, and the best one for you will depend on your budget, style preference and how robust you need it to be.
There are two things to consider – the material used for the bezel and the strap material. If you’re looking for a hard-wearing watch you can wear every day, you’ll want to choose materials that can withstand some bumps and knocks, without showing too many scratches.
You don’t need to worry about these points if you’re selecting a dress watch that will be worn now and then.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a hard-wearing material that can be used for both the bezel and the watch strap.
It’s tough and durable, and won’t corrode so it can handle exposure to seawater or perspiration.
Allergic reactions to stainless steel are rare, so it’s unlikely to cause irritation. The affordability of stainless steel also makes it an attractive option if you’re looking for an everyday watch.
Leather
Leather straps are one of the most popular for watches because they offer both comfort and durability. Over time the leather will soften and mould comfortably to your wrist and various colours and textures of leather are available.
One possible downside is that leather can show some cracks with wear, and if it’s a pale leather strap it can discolour.
Resin
Resin is another material that can be used for both the bezel and strap. Resin became a popular choice for people looking for a watch they could use in the water, as it doesn’t deteriorate.
It’s a robust choice and often used for sports watches. Resin is not as flexible as some materials so some people can find that the strap is less comfortable, and it may crack over time.
Features
Watches can offer a huge variety of features and extras. Unless there’s a specific function you’re looking for, the choice can be bewildering. We’ve picked out a couple of the features that can be useful for any watch-wearer.
Water Resistance
It’s all too easy to forget to remove your watch whilst showering, or get your watch wet in other situations such as wet weather. Many people also like to keep their watch on whilst swimming, whether to time themselves or simply know when it’s time to leave the pool.
The water resistance of a watch indicates how resistant it is to splashes of water.
If the description simply says that the watch is water resistant, it should be fine if you accidentally get it wet, but this doesn’t mean it will be ok if you fully submerge it in water.
If you want to wear your watch in the water, look for ‘water resistant’ followed by a measurement in metres – e.g. 50m. This isn’t a measure of how far underwater a watch can go, but how much pressure the watch was tested to withstand.
If a watch is water resistant to 50m, this means that you should be able to wear it in the water for swimming, but it wouldn’t be suitable for diving, for example. If you want a watch specifically for scuba-diving, look for a model that clearly states it is suitable.
For our selection of dive watches, make sure you check our guide on best dive watches under $500.
Also bear in mind that water resistance is dependent on all ‘entry points’ to the inner watch workings being firmly sealed.
One of the most common ways to damage that seal is when replacing the battery, so if water resistance is important to you, having a professional install a new battery for you means they can check on the seal.
Solar Powered
If you’re keen to move away from battery-powered watches that need ongoing battery replacement, you could consider a solar powered watch.
As with other items which use solar power, these watches harness the energy from sunlight and store this in a battery to power the watch.
Many are engineered so the stored energy can keep the watch going even during a long period without exposure to sunlight.
Solar-powered watches do tend to be a bit more expensive as they require more complicated components compared with battery-powered alternatives, but bear in mind that you won’t have any battery replacement costs. Though you can choose a watch that don’t need batteries.
Pricing Range
The advantage of ana digi watches is that because many use a quartz movement and are battery operated, they can be extremely reasonably priced.
Entry-level timepieces can be bought for as little as $25, going up to hundreds of dollars depending on the manufacturer, features, materials and design.
If you’re looking at solar powered options, the entry point is higher but even so you can find a great value option for around $75.
Our Verdict
We reviewed some great ana digi watch options which prove that whatever your budget, it’s possible to find a timepiece that combines form and function.
We were impressed with the range of features available even in watches at the bottom end of the price range, such as Casio’s Forester Ana-Digi Watch.
Many of the watches in our selection offer functions such as date display, alarms and multiple time zones. That means our top pick had to go above and beyond to beat the others as our pick for ‘Best Analog Digital Watch’.
For design, features and durability – not to mention the fact it’s solar-powered, our choice for the top prize is the Casio GST-S310-1A G-Shock. It’s a bit pricier than the others, but we think it will stand the test of time, if you’ll excuse the pun.
