Pebble released one of the first modern smartwatches and while the original Pebble didn’t have a color display or touch controls, it managed to sync with a lot of smartphones and control some apps and view notifications. A few months later, a better designed and more premium smartwatch was released called the Pebble Steel, which had a lot of the specs of the original, the main difference being the hardware. This year, Pebble announced another smartwatch called Pebble Time, which for the first time features a color e-ink display, allowing it to be turned on at all time and last for up to 7 days. The hardware also integrates a microphone for voice dictation and is water resistant. The design features a thick bezel around the display made of stainless steel and 2.5D glass covering the screen. On the software side, the company revamped the experience with the so-called Timeline which is still controlled by hardware buttons. The watch is once again compatible with Android and iOS devices.
As companies have understood from smartwatches, they are often considered fashion accessories as much as technological gadgets, so style is a very important aspect. The story kind of repeats itself as now there’s a version called Pebble Time Steel, made entirely out of metal and it features some design changes like the bezel around the display, which is now much narrower (there’s still a huge border though). Still, this new version is supposed to look and feel more sophisticated because of the new premium build and the leather straps included with it. The chassis is a little thicker, but it includes a battery that lasts up to 10 days.
Now, those interested in the Pebble Time Steel can pre-order it right from the company’s website for $249 and it will be delivered within 6 to 8 weeks. Color options include silver with stone leather band, gunmetal black with a black leather band and gold with a red leather band. The bands can be changed for any 22mm one and versions that include a metallic band will be available soon for $299. It is said that the bands will also be sold separately for $50, but even more interesting are the so-called smartstraps which will add more functionality to the watch, like GPS or NFC.