The Casio A700 and Casio A158 look similar at first glance, but they feel like two different ideas of a vintage digital watch.
The A158 is the more classic choice. It is simple, affordable, light, familiar and very close to the old-school Casio look many people picture first. The A700 is the cleaner, slimmer and slightly more refined option. It feels more modern on the wrist, mainly because of its ultra-thin case and sharper design.
The final answer is simple:
Buy the Casio A158 if you want the more iconic, cheaper and longer-lasting battery option.
Buy the Casio A700 if you want the slimmer, more elegant and better-finished vintage Casio.
If you are buying with your heart, the A158 has more nostalgia.
If you are buying with your head and care about style on the wrist, the A700 is the better-looking watch.
- Quick Verdict
- Main Differences
- Design and Style
- Comfort and Wrist Feel
- Features and Everyday Use
- Backlight
- Water Resistance
- Battery Life
- Durability and Long-Term Wear
- Price and Value
- Which One Should You Buy?
- Better Alternatives to Consider
- Pros and Cons
- Casio A700 Pros
- Casio A700 Cons
- Casio A158 Pros
- Casio A158 Cons
- Final Verdict
- FAQ
- Is the Casio A700 better than the A158?
- Is the Casio A700 worth the extra money?
- Which watch is thinner?
- Which has better battery life?
- Can you swim with the Casio A700 or A158?
- Which one is better for small wrists?
- Does the Casio A700 have better glass?
- Which one looks more vintage?
- Which one should I buy as my first Casio?
- Author
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall style | Casio A700 | Slimmer and cleaner on the wrist |
| Best classic Casio feel | Casio A158 | More traditional vintage design |
| Better for small wrists | Casio A700 | Thinner case wears flatter |
| Better value | Casio A158 | Usually cheaper and still very useful |
| Better battery life | Casio A158 | Around 7 years vs around 3 years |
| Better daily practicality | Casio A158 | Longer battery life and simpler ownership |
| Better dressy casual look | Casio A700 | More polished and less toy-like |
| Better collector appeal | Casio A158 | More recognizable vintage Casio look |
Main Differences
| Feature | Casio A700 | Casio A158 |
|---|---|---|
| Case size | 37.4 × 35.5 × 6 mm | 36.8 × 33.2 × 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 50 g | 46 g |
| Water resistance | Water Resistant | Water Resistant |
| Battery | CR1616 | CR2016 |
| Approx. battery life | 3 years | 7 years |
| Glass | Mineral glass | Resin glass |
| Style | Slim, cleaner, more modern vintage | Classic, basic, old-school vintage |
| Best for | Style and slim wrist feel | Value and nostalgia |
Design and Style
The Casio A158 is the safer classic. It has that familiar rectangular Casio face, chrome-tone case, stainless steel bracelet and simple digital display. It is not luxurious, but that is part of the charm. It looks like a proper cheap Casio from the best possible angle.
The Casio A700 is more stylish. The biggest difference is thickness. At only 6 mm, the A700 looks flatter and more refined on the wrist. It slides under sleeves better, looks cleaner from the side and feels less chunky than many other affordable digital watches.
The A158 feels more retro. The A700 feels more designed.
Winner: Casio A700.
It simply looks more elegant and modern while still keeping the vintage Casio identity.
Comfort and Wrist Feel
Both watches are light, but they wear differently.
The A158 is slightly lighter at 46 g, and it has a very familiar small digital watch feel. It works well for people who want a watch they barely notice during the day.
The A700 is technically heavier at 50 g, but the thinner case makes it feel flatter and more comfortable in a different way. On small and medium wrists, the A700 often looks more natural because it does not sit as tall.
The bracelet matters too. Like many affordable Casio Vintage bracelets, both can feel a bit light and rattly compared with more expensive watches. Some owners also complain that these folded-style bracelets can pull arm hair. That is normal in this price range, not a defect.
Winner: Casio A700 for wrist feel.
The A158 is lighter, but the A700’s thin case makes it feel more refined.
Features and Everyday Use
Both watches cover the basics:
| Feature | Casio A700 | Casio A158 |
|---|---|---|
| Digital time | Yes | Yes |
| Daily alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Hourly time signal | Yes | Yes |
| LED light | Yes | Yes |
Neither watch is a feature monster. If you want world time, multiple alarms, countdown timer, better water resistance or a much more practical travel watch, you should look at models like the Casio AE1200 or W800H instead.
The A700 and A158 are not about maximum functionality. They are about simple, affordable, vintage-style daily wear.
Winner: Tie.
For basic everyday use, both do the same job.
Backlight
This is where expectations matter.
The A158 uses a basic LED light. It is enough to check the time in the dark, but it is not impressive. Do not expect a bright full-screen glow like an Illuminator model.
The A700 also uses an LED light, and depending on the exact version, many buyers find it a little more pleasant in daily use. Still, this is not the main reason to buy either watch.
If backlight quality is a priority, the Casio A168 is usually the better vintage-style pick because of its stronger electroluminescent-style backlight.
Winner: Slight edge to Casio A700.
But if backlight is very important, consider the A168 instead.
Water Resistance
Both the Casio A700 and A158 are basic “Water Resistant” watches. That means they are built for minor daily water exposure, not serious water use.
Community opinion is often more relaxed than the official rating. Some owners say they rinse these watches or accidentally get them wet without problems. That can happen, but it does not change the correct advice.
Soap, hot water, pressure changes, old gaskets, opened case backs and damaged buttons can all reduce water resistance.
Winner: Tie.
Treat both as splash-friendly, not swim-friendly.
Battery Life
This is one of the clearest practical wins for the A158.
The Casio A158 has an approximate 7-year battery life on a CR2016 battery. The Casio A700 has an approximate 3-year battery life on a CR1616 battery.
That does not mean the A700 is bad. Three years is still fine for an affordable digital watch. But the A158 is easier to own long-term because you will probably change the battery less often.
This matters more if you want a cheap daily beater and less if you rotate several watches.
Winner: Casio A158.
The battery life advantage is real and practical.
Durability and Long-Term Wear
Neither watch is a G-Shock. Both have resin cases with a metallic-looking finish, so scratches and wear can appear over time. The bracelet can also pick up marks.
The A158 has resin glass, which can scratch more easily but is also typical for this price category. The A700 uses mineral glass, which gives it a more premium feel and better scratch resistance in normal use.
However, the A700’s cleaner polished look may show cosmetic wear more obviously if you treat it roughly. The A158 already looks like a simple old-school Casio, so small marks do not ruin its personality as much.
Winner: Casio A700 for glass and finish.
Winner: Casio A158 for carefree beater character.
Price and Value
The Casio A158 is usually the better value watch. It gives you the classic digital Casio look, the same basic features, very low weight and much longer battery life.
The A700 costs more in many markets, but it also looks like a more refined product. You are paying for thinness, design and a cleaner wrist presence rather than more features.
So the question is not “which one gives more functions?” The answer is basically neither.
The better question is:
Do you want the cheapest classic Casio experience, or do you want the better-looking slim version?
Winner for value: Casio A158.
Winner for style per dollar: Casio A700.
Which One Should You Buy?
| Buyer Type | Better Choice |
|---|---|
| You want the most classic vintage Casio | Casio A158 |
| You want the thinnest and cleanest look | Casio A700 |
| You want better battery life | Casio A158 |
| You wear shirts and want a slim watch under cuffs | Casio A700 |
| You want the cheaper option | Casio A158 |
| You want a dressier digital Casio | Casio A700 |
| You want a simple daily beater | Casio A158 |
| You already own an A158 | Casio A700 is a nice upgrade |
Better Alternatives to Consider
| Watch | Why consider it |
|---|---|
| Casio A168 | Better backlight than the A158 |
| Casio A159 | Similar to A158 but with slightly different finishing and collector appeal |
| Casio F91W | More iconic, lighter and cheaper, but less dressy |
| Casio W800H | Better practical daily watch with stronger water resistance |
| Casio AE1200 | Better travel features and more functionality |
| Casio B640 | Better water resistance and sportier vintage style |
If you want the best-looking slim vintage Casio, get the A700.
If you want the best practical vintage-style Casio, the answer may actually be the W800H or B640, not the A158.
Pros and Cons
Casio A700 Pros
| Pros |
|---|
| Very slim 6 mm case |
| Cleaner and more elegant design |
| Mineral glass |
| Looks better with casual-smart outfits |
| Great for small and medium wrists |
Casio A700 Cons
| Cons |
|---|
| Shorter 3-year battery life |
| Usually more expensive |
| Still only basic water resistance |
| Not a major feature upgrade over the A158 |
Casio A158 Pros
| Pros |
|---|
| More classic Casio look |
| Better battery life |
| Usually cheaper |
| Very light |
| Simple and easy to wear daily |
Casio A158 Cons
| Cons |
|---|
| Basic LED light |
| Resin glass |
| Bracelet feels cheap |
| Not suitable for swimming |
| Less refined than the A700 |
Final Verdict
The Casio A700 is the better-looking watch. It is slimmer, cleaner and more elegant. If you want a vintage Casio that looks less basic and works better with casual-smart outfits, the A700 is the one I would choose.
The Casio A158 is the better value watch. It has the more classic look, longer battery life and lower price. It is not as refined, but it delivers the simple vintage Casio experience extremely well.
The final answer is simple:
Casio A700 for style, slimness and a more refined wrist presence.
Casio A158 for value, nostalgia and longer battery life.
If you are buying with your heart, choose the A158.
If you are buying for the cleaner everyday look, choose the A700.
FAQ
Is the Casio A700 better than the A158?
For style and wrist feel, yes. The A700 is slimmer and more refined. For value and battery life, the A158 is better.
Is the Casio A700 worth the extra money?
Yes, if you care about the slim case and cleaner design. No, if you only want basic digital watch features.
Which watch is thinner?
The Casio A700 is thinner at 6 mm. The A158 is 8.2 mm thick.
Which has better battery life?
The Casio A158 has better battery life. It is rated for about 7 years, while the A700 is rated for about 3 years.
Can you swim with the Casio A700 or A158?
Swimming is not officially recommended for either watch. They are basic Water Resistant models, not proper swim watches.
Which one is better for small wrists?
The Casio A700 is usually better for small wrists because it is extremely thin and wears flat. The A158 is also small, but it does not feel as refined.
Does the Casio A700 have better glass?
Yes. The A700 uses mineral glass, while the A158 uses resin glass.
Which one looks more vintage?
The A158 looks more traditionally vintage. The A700 looks like a cleaner modern take on a vintage Casio.
Which one should I buy as my first Casio?
Buy the A158 if you want the classic affordable Casio experience. Buy the A700 if you want something slimmer and more stylish from the start.
