We Compared the Leading Chess Clocks. Here's Why FairTempo is #1:
Written by Jessica Harmon
The next step is a chess clock built for two players. An analog face looks the part but has no increment, so modern time controls are out of reach, and a digital model is the answer. The choices multiply fast, though, and each one handles the details differently.
Start with a dual display that shows both times, then check the press surface: it should be big enough for a quick tap. Next comes memory, because a clock that keeps your rules saves minutes of button pressing before every game. Last are the time modes: increment suits blitz, byo-yomi suits Go, and count-up suits a beginner who needs to see how long a move took.
Judging that list from product photos is hard, and the five clocks here take very different approaches. Some chase preset counts, others chase low weight or a short button list. So we set them side by side on the details that decide a game night.
Here's what we found.
How We Compared Them
We compared the five on four criteria: Ease of Setup, Time Control Options, Button Feel and Value for Money. For each model we read the published specs, materials, dimensions and weights, then looked at how the display and controls are laid out. Real buyer feedback came next, wherever buyers had written it, covering what they praise and what they complain about.
Nobody put these clocks on a bench. This is a comparison on paper, and we say so plainly. Where a model had little buyer feedback, we leaned on its specs alone and scored it with care. Value for Money was judged by what the owner gets in the box and on the table, which keeps the ranking tied to facts you can check on each chess clock yourself.
Beyond the headline strengths, the comparison turned up practical details. Two switches sit on the underside, one for power and one for sound, so you can play quietly in a shared room. The clock comes in black or yellow/orange, both the English version.
The box is complete: the clock, an instruction manual, 2 AA batteries and a hard gift box. That makes it ready to play once unboxed and ready to hand over as a gift. The battery compartment on the back closes with a cover.
The one honest limitation is that it is built for home, family, teaching and club-night play rather than rated events, so tournament players should check the organizer's rules first. That is minor for the kitchen-table and club-night games this guide is about.
The Results:
With remembered settings, a dual display and byo-yomi alongside three other time modes, FairTempo is our top pick among the five.
Value
With a clock that remembers your rules, you stop re-entering minutes before every game. You stop passing a phone across the table, scribbling move counts on a pad and waiting while someone hunts for the right menu. The first setup takes a few button presses, and then you press the bar and play.
Doing nothing has its own cost. Games drag, one player waits, and the evening ends in the same argument. A phone app that pings mid-move, or a bargain timer you replace after its buttons stop responding, costs you focus and fun, on top of the wasted effort.
Here is what the facts show. The body is ABS plastic, four shock-absorbing foot pads keep it steady on the table, and the battery compartment closes with a cover. A hard gift box stores it between games. Take it out, set your rules once, and the game gets your full attention.
Game night, with the clock keeping the peace
It is Friday evening. The clock sits between the boards, both times showing on the dual display, and the only sounds are a press of the bar and a piece sliding across the wood. Nobody checks a phone. The sound switch is off, the move count ticks up, and the game finishes before bedtime.
Who else benefits? Parents teaching a child to manage time, coaches setting up several boards, and Go hosts who want byo-yomi all find a use for it. It also suits anyone buying for a chess fan, since it arrives in a hard gift box.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Increment mode adds seconds after each move, and the clock also offers sudden-death, byo-yomi and count-up. That covers blitz, Go and casual teaching from one clock.
Yes, 2 AA batteries (No.5) come in the box, so you can switch it on and play. We cannot quote a runtime, so use the power switch on the underside to turn it off between games. When the cells run down, swap in two fresh AA batteries at the compartment on the back.
Four clearly separated buttons do the work: up, confirm/reset, start/pause and down, plus a large press bar. Choose your mode, confirm, and the settings are remembered, so setup happens once. A manual is included for the first run.
Yes. It suits chess, Go and Chinese chess, and byo-yomi is one of its four time modes, which helps Go players who want to read off seconds.
The product facts do not state FIDE or tournament approval. This model is designed for home, family, teaching and club-night play. If you play in rated events, check the organizer's equipment rules before you bring it.
Yes. Settings are remembered, so your favorite time control is ready for the next game without re-entering anything. After you put in fresh batteries, glance at the display to confirm your time control before the first move.
It has an ABS plastic body, four shock-absorbing foot pads and a covered battery compartment, and it comes in a hard gift box for storage. We would not promise years of use from any plastic clock, so set it on a steady table and press the bar rather than pounding it.
It keeps things simple. Four buttons and a large press bar do the work, there is a pause function, and a manual is included. Once the rules are set, a beginner only has to press the bar after each move.
Purchase and Delivery Process
This model comes in two options: black or yellow/orange, both the English version. Pick the color that suits your table; the clock inside is the same.
Every option has the same box contents: the chess clock, an instruction manual, 2 AA batteries and a hard gift box. Nothing else is needed to play your first game.
Where Can I Buy the FairTempo?
Getting your own FairTempo with a 50% discount is simple. Just follow these steps: