Skmei 1496 vs Casio W-218H: A Comparison

[@HappyGuy11]

Great video!

[@FrugalWatchBox]

Thanks

[@AliexpressWatch]

Casio digital watches are amazing. It was my fathers go to watch. A legacy of affordability, reliability I see them as a staple of continuity. When I started buying Skemei digital watches I was surprised by the quality to price point. For the price of one Casio, I purchased many color variants of Skemi and this was a big plus. In regard to digital watches where Casio was in 1989, I see Skemi at that building point with brand-loyalty and pricing. For tradition Casio. For Skemi a new tradition in reliable watches. I like both brands, my one complaint is I have purchased one or two Skemi digital watches with a scratch, the protective film was removed. Great review Frugal Watch Box.

[@FrugalWatchBox]

I love both watches too. Whenever I buy a Casio I would look for the Skmei equivalent. So far all my Skmei watches have been reliable.😊👍🏻

[@markthomas741]

The SKMEI looks like a homage to me and great value for money!

[@FrugalWatchBox]

I completely agree with you-Skmei does make surprisingly decent quality watches.

[@braum3601]

Do the watch buttons oxidize over time, or are they made of stainless steel?

[@FrugalWatchBox]

After about 4 months of occasional wearing, the watch is still in good shape. The buttons work well with no signs of oxidation, though I’m not sure if they’re stainless steel. Overall, it’s a good watch with a clear display and decent backlight.

[@sathishrao7926]

Now that SKMEI has what it takes to produce decent digital watches at sub $10 prices, don’t you think they’ll be doing a world of good for themselves by producing watches which look different than copies of Casios ?

[@FrugalWatchBox]

I completely agree with you. There are other Skmei models that aren't replicas, but I haven't had the chance to feature them in my videos yet.

[@pollo007x]

They manage to do this amazing price by copying casio, because they dont have to spend money on design, development and other kind of spending that a New product requires. Their New products are so few that they can keep managing this prices because the most of their products are "homages". If they manage to make a solid fan base, they could keep doing more and more original products, but I doubt it.

[@kookurikapooh]

This is not a homage. It’s not the same as the Casioak that paid a homage to the AP Royal Oak that clearly added their own design and functionality features. This watch does none of that. Aside from the name change and inconsequential text indicators, and an additional button, it’s visually the same. This is a direct rip off.

[@FrugalWatchBox]

This isn’t the Casioak; it’s the W-218H, a simple and affordable digital watch. No frills, just practical and reliable-perfect for everyday wear without spending much.

[@kookurikapooh]

@ I know it isn’t the Casioak. I know that. I gave an example of what an homage is, and that example is the Caisoak paying homage to the AP Royal Oak. This Skmei watch is not a homage.

[@FrugalWatchBox]

@kookurikapooh I understand your point.

[@ingramli7733]

IMHO a Casio F-91W is already very affordable, frankly, if someone has to resort to a clone of a Casio, he/she has much more important issues to worry about in their life than having a watch....

[@pollo007x]

What kind of issues?

[@ingramli7733]

​@@pollo007xWhen one is in serious financial difficulties, survival should be the primary concern, watch is hardly a necessity in term of survival.

[@ingramli7733]

@@pollo007x financial difficulties

[@ingramli7733]

@@pollo007x 1

[@FrugalWatchBox]

I have the retro a168 too. A great watch.