Since its first release in 2013 after a very successful campaign on KickStarter, the Pebble smartwatch has improved a lot over its basic design and sometimes limited functionality, so let’s take a look at Pebble Steel and see if it’s worth the effort. worth the update.
To understand the concept of smartwatches, take a look at the first Pebble smartwatch we reviewed.
Design
If the original Pebble has a retro flair that may not suit everyone, the Pebble Steel comes with a better and more attractive material choice, which now looks great with normal outfits and clothing and, although very similar in design to the original, now it looks more elegant and nice.
The case appears more resistant, clad in metal (with brushed or matte finishes), it has black borders around the screen along with leather or metal bracelets.
The Pebble steel measures 1.5 × 1.4 × 0.4 inches and weighs about 1.95 ounces, making it slightly shorter than the original Pebble and slightly heavier. On the left side we find a subtly improved magnetic charging port for the custom cable (not compatible with the original Pebble) and a “back” button.
On the right side we have the other 3 buttons that are used for navigation and selection.
If you don’t want a smartwatch that looks like a toy or is from a sci-fi movie, then the Pebble Steel is one of the best options, as it has a more discreet and mature design, suitable for adults.
Monitor
The Pebble Steel features a 1.26-inch 144×168-pixel e-paper screen protected from scratches by Gorilla Glass (which also reduces glare). On top of all this, the display is quite similar to the one found on the original Pebble, with a monochrome LCD along with backlighting (great for reading in sunlight).
As said before, to navigate through the menu, you have to use all four buttons and we found the menu to be clean and intuitive and the navigation to be simple and to the point (as in the previous model).
Pebble Steel does not have the touch screen capability. Some may see this as an advantage as swiping on a really small screen can be awkward and difficult, others may not be on the same level as other smartwatches that feature this option.
Performance and battery life
Pebble Steel has the same 5 ATM waterproof standard so you can swim up to 165 feet in salt or fresh water and you can obviously shower with it (just be careful with your choice of bracelet).
The processor is a 120MHz ARM M3 Cortex that is capable of running apps and games smoothly and sensor-wise the Pebble Steel has a light sensor, compass, and 3D accelerometer.
The battery life, like that of the original Pebble, does not fall short. With a 7-day capacity, it puts every other smartwatch on the market to shame that can only last a day or two.
iOS and Android
Like the original Pebble smartwatch, the Pebble Steel is compatible with iOS and Android and connects via Bluetooth.
Syncing with both operating systems is a breeze and then you are presented with a very organized and extensive list of applications (and the new AppStore!).
Like all other smart watches, with Pebble Steel you can receive SMS, emails, answer or hang up a call, play music or skip tracks, have calendar appointments and take notes.
One downside would be the fact that you can’t have more than 8 apps at a time, so if you get bored of a watch face or want a new app, you will constantly run out of space, but thanks to the Pebble Locker you can store apps in your phone and more easily have them on your watch.
While we tested with both the Android and iOS operating systems, we had a wide variety of applications, the synchronization was stable and has not had any problems and the experience was quite similar to what you would find on the original Pebble.
Conclution
The Pebble Steel still manages to stand out as the best overall smartwatch even against stiff competition for both Android and iOS, but this is down to its longevity. We are still waiting for other smartwatches to really reach their potential and try to take the crown.
Meanwhile, for people who want a premium, understated and stylish smartwatch (which could easily be mistaken for a high-quality regular watch) with all the functionality and great battery life, we recommend the Pebble Steel smartwatch.
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