Solar smartwatches and watches are a better alternative to traditional watches as these watches can be charged using solar or artificial light. And that’s also a reason why solar watches tend to last longer than traditional watches as they don’t need battery replacement every year or two.
Opening your watch just for replacing its battery can compromise its integrity. Improperly sealed watch by your jeweler can also jeopardize the waterproofing capabilities of the watch. We all know too well the pain of losing the watch that you have been wearing for the past several years.
For all these reasons alone solar watches are perfect but finding a good and reliable watch at a reasonable price is no easy task. Keeping all your requirements for style, durability, taste, and budget we have shortlisted 7 best solar watches under $100 that you can buy.
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- Cheap Solar Watch Under 100 Dollars Comparison Table
- Best Solar Watches Under $100
- Buying Guide
- FAQs
Cheap Solar Watch Under 100 Dollars Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Overall  | G-Shock Solar Black Resin |
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Most Affordable Cheap Solar Watch  | Casio Men Solar Sports |
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Best Looking Solar Watch For Dresses  | SEIKO SNE03 |
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Best For Women  | Seiko Women's SUT116 Watch |
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Best Solar Watches Under $100
1. Nautica N83 Cocoa Beach Solar Watch
The first and one of the cheapest solar watches on our list is from Nautica. We won’t be surprised if you haven’t heard this name before but this watch brand is wholly owned and managed by Timex. And this right here is an N83 solar watch from Nautica.
Since it is a solar watch therefore you won’t have to worry about the longevity of the watch. Simply wear the watch and whenever you will go outside the watch would charge the internal battery automatically. Therefore saving you potential trips to jewelry stores for battery replacement in the future.
As the name of the watch suggests it is a fun-looking solar watch that is perfect for a sunny day at a beach. This solar watch sports a cool 20mm blue-colored fabric slip-thru strap that is breathable and comfortable to wear. The strap will fit users with a wrist circumference of up to 8 inches.
Furthermore, it sports a 43mm brass case with a gunmetal finish that enhances the looks of the watch. The luminous coating on the watch hands allows you to read time in the dark as they make watch hands glow in dim environments. Aside from keeping track of time, you can also keep track of date as it also comes with a date window.
Water won’t be an issue for this solar watch as it is water-resistant up to 50m. Keeping aside all the good looks, what makes this one of the best solar watches under 100 dollars is 1-year manufacturer warranty. Hence, if you are looking for a solar watch for your next trip to the beach or something that will go perfectly with your casual outfits, give this one a look.
2. Casio MTPS110-1AC
Inspired by diving watches, the next solar watch on our list is Casio MTPS110-1AC. The watch is perfect for users who want their next watch to look and feel different rather than looking like another rugged watch from Casio.
It’s no secret that Casio makes some of the best solar watches. And one of the reasons for that is not only this solar watch can charge itself using sunlight but also fluorescent light. Therefore you can charge this watch even while you are sitting indoors, how great is that! It gets better as the watch also has a low battery level indicator. Whenever battery would be low on this solar watch then the second hand would start moving 2 seconds at a time. We don’t think you can get so many features on a solar watch that is priced below $100.
Talking about the build of the watch, it sports a 46.9mm watch case which is fairly large but is to be expected from Casio watches. The solar watch also sports a robust resin strap that ensures the watch can survive some intense actions. Furthermore, you can also wear this watch in a pool as it is water-resistant up to 100m.
Mineral glass on the watch dial protects it from scratch and bumps. Aside from reading time, you can also keep track of day and date as it also has a day and date window.
You can also customize the look of the watch just by changing the strap on the watch. On a side note, looks of the watch might suggest that it has rotating bezels but in fact, it is fixed non-rotating bezels.
To conclude, we would like to say that this is one of the best solar-powered analog watches from Casio. It has got all the looks, charisma, features like a low battery indicator, and a lot more so do check it out.
3. Seiko SNE032
Are you looking for a watch that will go perfectly with your polo shirts or suits? Then SEIKO SNE032 is the best solar-powered watch under $100 for the job. Now that we have established that you won’t have to spend tons of money on the watch let’s talk about its gorgeous looks.
The Seiko solar watch features a gold and silver dual-tone finish on the strap as well as on the dial. Moreover, the SEIKO branding on the center of the dial and second hands sports a gold finish. The dual-tone finish is accompanied by the black hour and minute hand, along with black markings on the dial. All these intricate features give the watch its elegant looks.
Given that the watch is so gorgeous it won’t be okay to open the watch to replace the battery. Opening beautiful watches like this can compromise its integrity but not this one as it comes with solar charging. Simply wear the watch and it will charge itself using solar energy. A single charge would last you up to 10 months therefore you won’t have to worry about changing the battery again. Similar to Casio watch if the battery is low on this watch then seconds will start moving 2 seconds at a time. You can make it go away by simply placing your watch under the sun.
In terms of the build of the watch, it features a 37mm stainless case along with an 18mm stainless steel strap. Moreover, the watch also sports pencil watch hands design which adds to the beauty of the watch. For the protection of the watch dial, it features a hardlex glass which is stronger than mineral glass found on other watches. Furthermore, the watch comes with a 3-year warranty so it is definitely built to last.
The watch is also waterproof up to 30m which makes it one of the best solar-powered analog watch if you have a tight budget. We definitely think that this solar-powered dress watch should be in your watch collection.
4. Timex Men’s Expedition
If you are looking for an even more affordable solar-powered watch then give Timex Men’s Expedition a chance. This solar watch has a cool-looking design that will go perfectly well with all your outfits.
To charge the watch all you need to do is wear the watch, so no matter whether you are in the office or outdoor on a beach, it can charge itself using solar as well as indoor fluorescent lighting. Furthermore, the watch also comes with a four-month power reserve feature. Meaning once the watch has been charged, it can run up to 4 months without requiring further exposure to the sun.
Talking about the build of the watch, it has a 40m resin case which is just the perfect size for an analog watch. Resin case on the watch ensures that the watch can survive occasional hits and bumps. It also sports a breathable and comfortable to wear 20mm nylon strap that can fit the wrist with a circumference of up to 8 inches.
Timex Men’s Expedition is also perfect for pool parties as it is water-resistant up to 50m. Moreover, watch sports acrylic crystal glass that protects the watch face from day-to-day bumps. On a side note, acrylic glass is weaker than mineral and hardlex glass found on Casio and Seiko solar watches. However, considering this solar watch is priced below $60 it seems like a fair trade-off.
It’s is a great watch and at this price, it is practically a steal. This solar watch would definitely last you a long time before you will need to buy another watch.
5. Casio Men’s Solar Sports
Getting a solar watch doesn’t mean you have to compromise with the durability of your watch. This is a solar watch from Casio that is durable, and so much so that it can be even called a G-Shock alternative.
Before talking about its build quality let’s talk solar capabilities of the watch. The watch comes with Casio’s solar recharging system that can convert the dimmest of light into energy. You can even charge the watch using indoor lightning along with solar energy. Moreover, if you decide to not wear the watch then it can run on reserve power for 10 months.
Furthermore, the watch also comes with a battery power indicator function. Basically, the display of the watch shows its battery level and whether it’s currently high, medium, or low. If you find you are running low on battery just place the watch under the sun.
The watch also has a power-saving function that disables the sounds on the watch to preserve battery life on the watch.
If you like to play sports or do work that requires lots of manual labor then this is a match made in heaven for you. It comes with a resin strap that is lightweight and survives some extreme pressure. The watch face is protected by a plastic resin glass that feels similar to a car window. You won’t have to worry about a small fall or bump breaking this watch.
Moreover, you can also go swimming with this solar watch as it is water-resistant up to 100m.
Since it’s a hybrid watch it sports both analog and digital displays. You can even read time in the dark as watch hands have luminous coatings that make them glow in dark. The watch also has a built-in LED light so you can also read the digital display in the dark.
This might be the best Casio solar-powered watch under $100 as it also comes with an alarm function, stopwatch, military time mode, calendar, and all the features you would expect on a digital watch. It’s so good that it’s listed as an Amazon’s Choice product in the solar watches category.
6. Seiko Women’s SUT116 Watch
Allow us to present to you Seiko solar watch for women that is available for less than $100. This is a solar watch so it can charge itself using solar energy whenever you are outside wearing the watch.
The solar watch has a 25mm watch case and 13.3mm strap making it a perfect petite dress watch for women. This watch also sports a dual-tone gold and silver finish that only adds to the grace of the watch.
This Seiko watch also features day and date windows that allow you to keep track of them along with time. However, you will need to readjust the date at the end of every 2 months because if the month doesn’t have 31 days in it then you will have to manually reset the calendar on the 1st of every second month.
Furthermore, the watch dial is protected by hardlex glass which is stronger than mineral glass found on sub-par watches. Also, you won’t have to worry about splashes of water damaging the watch as it is water-resistant up to 30m. Overall. it’s a reasonably priced Seiko solar watch for women and is definitely bang for your bucks.
7. G-Shock Solar Black Resin
When it comes to durability there are only a few watches that can match G-Shock. After all, the whole reason for the creation of G-Shock watches was to create a watch that is long-lasting, not easy to break, and water-resistant. This watch has all that and also solar charging capabilities.
This watch comes with solar charging and can function for up to 9 months without being exposed to the sun. The watch also has multi-band atomic timekeeping. It allows the watch to receive satellite signals and automatically set to accurate time according to your location. The watch would also show you the strength of the atomic signal at your location. This solar watch would also indicate the intensity of signal as L1= weak, L2=medium, L3=strong.
Therefore not only you won’t need to replace the battery but also won’t need to worry about the accuracy of the watch.
Along with time, you can also keep track of the date using the watch so you don’t need to use your smartphone again and again. It also has an inbuilt stopwatch, countdown timer, world time, and other useful features found on digital watches.
It’s also a perfect durable watch for users who are in public services jobs like police, firefighter and etc. This watch features a resin strap and resin case that can protect the watch from serious hits, shock, and bumps. You can even go swimming wearing the watch as it water-resistant up to 200m.
Buying Guide For Best Cheap Solar Watches Under $100
1. Solar And Fluorescent Charging
Some solar watches can also be charged using fluorescent lighting. However, it won’t be okay to rely only on fluorescent charging as it is very slow compared to Solar charging. Fluorescent charging is a nifty feature to have but don’t expect your watch to be fully charged solely using fluorescent charging.
So if the watch you have selected doesn’t have fluorescent charging that doesn’t mean you are missing out on a very crucial feature as solar charging is more efficient and reliable than the other.
2. Battery Reserve
When you place your watch under the sun, it stores all the energy into the watch’s battery. Once the battery is charged, the watch will use energy from the battery whenever you aren’t under the sun.
Therefore it is important to see how much battery backup your solar watch will give you on a single charge. It can be as high as 10 months to as low as 2 months so if you think charging your watch every 2 months can be a hassle for you then go with another one.
3. Durability And Water Resistance
Not all watches are durable enough for day-to-day usage. For instance, some watches feature a nylon strap which can get worn out with daily use. Then there are watches with stainless steel straps which are durable but not lightweight enough for some users.
Some watches are only waterproof till 30m meaning they are splash-proof at best and would require some extra aftercare. However, G-Shock Black Resin is water-resistant up to 200m and therefore won’t require any aftercare.
Hence, if you are in a profession that requires working with tools then go with G-Shock or Casio otherwise go with any casual or dress watch.
4. Warranty And Brand Name
If you are spending your hard-earned money on the watch make sure to check whether or not the watch comes with a manufacturer warranty. You might face a situation where you notice a manufacturing defect after the return period is over. So buyers be aware!
Also, check whether the watch is from a good brand or not, so at least you would be able to reach out to customer care if anything goes wrong with your watch.
FAQs
What Is The Best Solar Powered Watch Under $100?
G-Shock Solar Black Resin is the best solar-powered watch under $100 as it offers multi-band atomic timekeeping, also water-resistant up to 100m and more.
Do Solar Watch Last Forever?
Yes, solar watches have an inbuilt power reserve that can store solar energy. Therefore, the watch can run using the reserve power without being exposed to sunlight for months. And, if you notice that the battery is running low simply place your watch under the sun.
Can You Overcharge A Solar Watch?
No, you can't.
Can A Solar Watch Battery Be Replaced?
Solar watches don't need their battery to be replaced as they can be charged using sunlight hence they don't require battery replacement like other watches.
Can LED Light Charge Solar Watch?
Yes, but solar charging is faster and more efficient than using fluorescent light to charge your watch.
