Screen, battery, design
With each new model released, the Pebble has gradually become more useful and remains the smartwatch by which others are judged.
But with stiff competition like the Apple Watch looming on the horizon, is the latest model necessarily the best of the bunch? Count on TechRadar to break it down for you.
Screen & Battery
Part of the secret to Pebble's long battery life lies in the decision to utilize an e-ink display with an LED backlight capable of being activated with the flick of the wrist or the push of a button, which also remains perfectly readable even in direct sunlight.
That display didn't change all that much with the first two generations of Pebble hardware, with the original and Pebble Steel offering a 1.26-inch screen packing 144 x 168 pixels. The company hasn't provided detailed specifications for the new Pebble Time model, although it appears to offer a screen with the same basic dimensions and resolution.
The big difference, of course, is that Pebble Time features a color e-ink display that remains "easy to read and always-on," without the vampiric battery drain of the LCD and OLED screens used by competitors - and most importantly, lasting up to seven days on a single charge, just like the earlier models.
Pebble Time also upgrades the scratch-resistant optical hard coating used on the first two models to a more robust lens made from Gorilla Glass. All three models are water resistant to 50 meters, but the company does not recommend talking to your Pebble Time while underwater.
Design
The original Pebble wasn't exactly what you would call a stunner, with a 52mm x 36mm x 11.5mm casing that looks downright pudgy compared to later models. Weighing 1.34 ounces, the smartwatch that started it all is available in five colors: Orange, Cherry Red, Jet Black, Grey and Arctic White.
Things started to get interesting last year with the release of Pebble Steel. Although only available in Brushed Stainless or Matte Black colors, the sequel looks downright sexy next to the original model, with a more svelte 46mm x 34mm x 10.5mm casing, despite weighing slightly more (1.97 ounces).
Pebble Time has further refined the appearance with a more streamline look, first offered in Kickstarter-exclusive Black, White or Red with complementary PVD stainless steel bezels ("extra special engraving" is also available for original Kickstarter backers). Thanks to the curved design, Pebble Time seems less rugged than either of the earlier models, but slims down by 20 percent to just 9.5mm with a more wrist-friendly, curved ergonomic frame.
All three Pebbles feature a standard 22mm watch band: Polycarbonate for the original model, leather for Pebble Steel (with the option to purchase a metal band) and soft silicone on Pebble Time. New models include a quick-release pin for swapping in a new band in under 10 seconds, and Pebble plans to publish 3D data to allow do-it-yourselfers to create their own straps.
Features
The basic Pebble mission has remain unchanged across three models: To provide "glanceable notifications" for incoming emails, texts and other messages pushed from an iPhone or Android smartphone connected via Bluetooth 4.0.
Rather than embrace touch, all of the Pebbles are controlled by four tactile buttons: One located on the left edge which essentially acts as a home button, and three at right (from top to bottom, up, select and down). All three models also include a 3D accelerometer and compass built-in, and charge via USB with an included cable that magnetically attaches to the side.
Pebble Time introduces a couple of big improvements, most notably an integrated microphone that can be used to reply to incoming notifications or take short voice notes. Out of the gate, this feature will be the most useful for Android owners, thanks to compatibility with SMS, Hangouts, Gmail, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and more; iPhone users will be limited to Gmail notifications only at launch.
Last but not least, Pebble Time features a "smart accessory port," which the company says will allow hardware developers to build "sensors and smart straps that connect directly to the watch" in the future.
Software, pricing, availability
Software
In conjunction with apps from the likes of Misfit and Jawbone, all three Pebbles make great fitness trackers also capable of controlling music and media playback with the right third-party software, and there are now more than 6,500 such apps and watch faces available capable of making any Pebble do your bidding.
Other uses for Pebble apps include mobile payments (PayPal), controlling a GoPro camera, playing basic games, generating QR codes and tracking weather and flight information. None of the Pebble models offer onboard wireless internet connectivity, which must be provided by a connected iPhone or Android smartphone.
The third generation Pebble Time also introduces a more efficient way to juggle apps with a timeline interface that allows users to scroll into the past or future using the up or down buttons on the right-hand side of the watch. A press on the center button calls up a new app menu, but Pebble app developers will be able to pin important details to the timeline, such as upcoming events, weather or traffic information.
Pebble has promised timeline support for earlier Pebble and Pebble Steel models, but has yet to promise an exact date when that will arrive (presumably after Pebble Time has shipped). All three models work with iPhone 4S or higher models running iOS 8, as well as Android 4.0 and above smartphones.
Pricing & Availability
By now you may be wondering how much Pebble your hard-earned money can buy, and thankfully the math is pretty simple.
The original model is now the budget model, priced at only $99 (UK£99, AU$99), while the Pebble Steel doubles the style and price to $199 (UK£149, AU$199). At this writing, the Pebble Time is currently only available via Kickstarter starting at $179 (about UK£115, AU$227) and ships anywhere in the world; the final retail price will match Pebble Steel. (An early bird $159 price for the first 10,000 backers sold out within minutes of launch, and the $179 pledges are going fast.)
The original Pebble and Pebble Steel models are available now from the company's website as well as AT&T, Amazon, Best Buy and Target stores in the US and a range of other retailers in Benelux, Canada, Nordics, UK, France and Switzerland. Pebble Time is currently available only on Kickstarter, and is expected to ship in May, 2015.
Verdict
It's hard to go wrong with any Pebble; which model you choose ultimately comes down to individual taste. We've never warmed up to the design of the original, but last year's Pebble Steel persuaded us to buy.
If you're averse to the very concept of Kickstarter, Pebble Time may be a pass for the time being, at least until the initial orders ship in May and start making their way to retail stores, presumably by summer.
However the latest generation wearable still stands out as the most feature-rich model of the three Pebbles and seems like the best bang for your buck out of the bunch.
Perhaps the biggest hurdle for Pebble is the very large shadow of the Apple Watch, and the next generation of Android Wear devices sure to march out later this year. Will Pebble Time be enough to stop the faithful from switching allegiances?
Time will tell, but for now, you can't really go wrong with any Pebble model, which remains the standard by which all others are judged.
from TechRadar
