Casio AE-1500WH Vs Marathon General Purpose Digital

The first COVID-19 booster shot hit him hard. As I waited for him and his daughter in the park, surrounded by the buildings in his condominium complex, I noted the time on that late November morning in 2021. It was unseasonably cold and damp, and I started regretting my choice of timepiece that day, a Nomos Orion dress watch. After a few minutes, he, alongside his adorable daughter, emerged from their condo, giggling towards the cookie container I laid on the picnic table just more than 6 feet ahead of me. As they approached, his daughter flashed her new Casio Baby G-Shock proudly before snatching the cookies and running off maniacally laughing, implying that she would not share the bounty of freshly baked goods.

“Well, you look wonderful,” I said sarcastically to my friend, who looked like he had just spent a year in a bomb shelter with no light.

“Yeah, I don’t care. Last night the Amazon delivery driver tossed the box containing our new G-Shocks across the lawn and onto our porch,” his voice drifted off as the lag he was experiencing due to the shot made him realize that his daughter had run off with the cookies. “As long as we can buy watches,” he continued as he lifted the sleeve of his unapologetically
well-worn hoodie to reveal his new Casio DW-5600, “I think my sanity will be intact throughout this pandemic. One thing, though, these things used to be sixty bucks, and now they fluctuate anywhere from $120 to $150. What the hell is going on?”

At the time, the nightmare that would take over global logistics was partially to blame for the random price fluctuations. However, today, the basic square G-Shock price can still fluctuate past $100, which is well above its MSRP. One factor that annoys all watch enthusiasts, regardless of what price range of watches they collect and enjoy, is the infuriating market and how many outlets take advantage of the watches in demand by raising prices on a whim.

This brings us to two underappreciated watches that can easily stand in for the seemingly overpriced G-Shock. The Casio AE-1500WH and the Marathon General Purpose Digital are far less expensive than the famed square watch, especially since they are frequently on sale and are just as suitable for the types of tasks that a lot of us put these types of watches through.

On the Wrist

The first thing you will notice about these two watches is that they are substantially larger than Casio’s square offerings in their G-Shock lineup. These watches focus on durability, longevity, and legibility. When it comes to the latter, these two excel past the classic square G. The Casio AE-1500WH wears almost as comfortably as a square G-Shock due to its lightweight chassis and strap, but its large size and flat caseback will cause some fatigue over time. This is especially the case if one is highly active, sweating, and rotating their wrists frequently.

In contrast, the heavier and dimensionally bulkier Marathon is more comfortable. This is due to the end of its strap heavily tapering downward where it meets the case. The strap also becomes thicker as it approaches the covered and fixed lugs. As a result, there is an air pocket at the side of one’s wrists. The added airflow from this visually awkward design makes sense after a few hours of hiking or when at the gym. Both watches are less comfortable than the square G-Shock, but the added screen real estate makes these two watches ideal partners for when on long hikes, and they make great backup watches for GPS sport watches from the likes of Garmin and Suunto. Having such a watch on the other wrist allows for the GPS-enabled watch to either permanently show the map or have the dedicated data field, which would be for the time or chronograph, be for another function that is more mission-critical. I’d even recommend these two watches for recreational divers whose basic dive computers do not have a data field set for the time of the day.

The added legibility makes these two watches great companions for activities labeled as “adventures” by people. Because of this, these two watches are arguably better tools than the square G-Shock. Where G-Shock made its name in being able to handle the hazardous aspects of such activities, the build quality of these watches stands up to the test as well.

Case and Materials

Both of these digital watches are made of mostly good-quality plastics. However, the Marathon’s case is made of metal, whereas the Casio makes do with hard plastics. Though this makes the Marathon heavier, it doesn’t feel more premium. The metal is coated with black paint, which feels almost like plastic. I had to scratch the case with my knife to make sure that it was, in fact, metal. In terms of materials used, the Marathon won this round. Also, the Marathon is built to a higher degree of toughness than the Casio, possibly surpassing many G-Shocks.

The strap on the Casio is thinner and feels cheaper. If you are considering either of these watches, it is good to know that the strap on the Marathon will not fit wrists smaller than 6.75″. The spring bars on the Casio are accessible, whereas the Marathon’s are hidden behind screws. This is probably the biggest advantage that this Casio has over the Marathon. After speaking to a couple of people who have had these watches for many years, each one said that the straps are the first failing point on these watches. Both straps tend to dry out and crack well before both of the watches’ ten-year batteries die. The quality of the strap on the Marathon is slightly higher, so when it comes to their straps, this round is a draw – assuming that your wrists are larger than 6.5″.

Both of their displays are well protected by plastic lenses, though the Casio’s is slightly better protected by being more recessed within the case. The LCD of the Casio is brighter, but the Marathon enjoys better viewing angles in the extremes. The Marathon’s LCD contrast level is also adjustable in ten steps. The midway point of 5 is the sweet spot for this watch, and the Marathon takes the win in terms of its display.

Functions

When it comes to the functions of these watches, they are extremely well-matched. They are so well matched that their menu sequence for their functions is nearly identical. Both watches feature the time, date, multiple alarms (five for the Casio and two for the Marathon), an hourly chime, a timer, and a second time zone. A couple of differences may make you choose one over the other.

In Casio’s favor, the Marathon requires the reset button to be fully depressed and held down for a full two seconds for the chronograph or the timer to be reset. This can be very inconvenient and get in the way of timing fast-paced events or false starts.

Everything else gives the Marathon the lead simply because it is more thorough and more thought went into its specific features. Little touches such as fifteen-second chimes for the countdown timer and a beep for every last ten seconds allow the wearer to focus on the task at hand and not need to look at their watch constantly. The seconds track around the home screen’s rim and run the course of the entire dial, making it useful at a glance and not just an aesthetic decision as on the Casio. When adjusting the time or other features, the Marathon’s buttons on the right side change the field upwards or downwards, whereas, on the Casio, you can only change it upwards. The light on the Marathon is a cool uniform green, while the Casio’s dual amber LEDs are brighter; they are less uniform and look cheaper. Lastly, the alarms and chimes on the Marathon are louder and crisper.

There is one aspect of the Casio that the Marathon cannot come close to; we will cover that in our closing thoughts.

Closing Thoughts

Even though these two watches are very similar in design and functions, they are differentiated by their missions. As we have seen, the Marathon is a focused digital watch in terms of function and durability, befitting its role on the wrist of our finest in militaries worldwide. This is not great news for most people; when I say people, I mean civilians. Like my review of the Marathon Chronograph Search and Rescue, this General Purpose Digital suffers from wearability issues due to its size. The same strap overhang, which results in a more comfortable experience, also makes this watch almost unwearable with some coats and sweaters.
Furthermore, since this watch is not concerned with aesthetics, it looks very dated. The Marathon looks like a digital sports watch from the early 2000s. You can see similar design languages in the Marathon and my very old Polar running watch from that era. Whereas the Marathon only looks at home in a gym, the Casio fits wherever it goes.

The Casio looks better in everyday settings, such as a bar after hockey practice or a fast-food joint after helping a friend move their entire life into their new depressing apartment after their divorce in the middle of a pandemic. The Casio, however, is a timepiece that exists in a vast and complex catalog. This model alone has a few variants, including one with a negative LCD. Consumers are accustomed to Casio’s designs, and this model is very handsome, and some would say drop-dead gorgeous when placed next to the Marathon.

You cannot go wrong with either of these two watches. The Casio is the more fashionable choice, while the Marathon is arguably the best and ultimate tool-watch bang for the buck in existence.

Check out more affordable watch reviews at The Watch Clicker here

Check out the Casio website here and the Marathon website here