Casio is updating its iconic F-91W digital watch with connected features like step tracking and Bluetooth, blending nostalgia with modern fitness functionality in a compact design set for release in 2026.
Casio is preparing to give one of the most recognisable digital watches in the world a more connected future. The brand’s F-91W, first released in 1989, has long been prized for its low price, simple layout and reputation for durability, with sales now said to have passed 100 million units. According to the details reported by New Atlas and background information on the model, its appeal has rested on basics: a resin case, long battery life, a stopwatch, an alarm, an auto calendar and a modest LED light.
The new F-B100W keeps that familiar silhouette but adds features more often seen on entry-level fitness wearables. It includes step counting, shows activity data on the watch itself and links to a smartphone over Bluetooth, allowing the time to be set automatically and the activity log to be synced through Casio’s app. Notebookcheck reports that the Bluetooth function is the reason for the “B” in the model name, and says the watch is being positioned as a compact update to Casio’s retro formula rather than as a full smartwatch.
That balance between nostalgia and utility appears to be central to the product. Casio has already used step tracking in other vintage-inspired watches, and TechRadar noted that the company is broadening its wearable range with similar retro models and a connected smart ring. The F-B100W also adds practical improvements over the F-91W, including five alarms, a timer and 200 stopwatch entries, while Casio says the battery should last about two years.
The watch is listed on Casio’s Japan site at ¥8,800, or roughly $92, with three colourways shown, including one with a reverse LCD display. Notebookcheck reported an expected summer 2026 release window, while New Atlas said it should arrive later this month in Japan, suggesting that international availability may follow more slowly. The wider market context also supports Casio’s confidence: coverage of the F-91W’s continued popularity indicates the original remains a strong seller, which helps explain why a familiar design with modest connected features could still find an audience.
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