Left: Pebble Steel. right: original plastic Pebble
If you like the functionality of the Pebble smartwatch but are less keen on the plastic finish, it looks like you won’t have long to wait for a metal version. We’ve seen a couple of leaks of the Pebble Steel, seemingly the exact same innards as the existing Pebble watch but with a stainless steel casing and Gorilla Glass.
There are said to be two versions, one in brushed stainless steel (shown alongside the original plastic version above) and a matte black one (shown below the fold) …
Matte black version
The Pebble Steel is expected to come with a choice of metal and leather straps, and to retain the waterproofing of the plastic model.
We’re guessing it will be officially unveiled sometime this week at CES. It is said to be priced at $240 – a hundred bucks more than the original – and to be available from the end of the month.
Update: Pebble has officially announced the Pebble Steel for $249 shipping January 28. The metal version of the smart watch will be available only at getpebble.com initially. Press release below:
- Unveiled on Pebble’s website and blog at 11:00 a.m. Pacific, Pebble Steel is the premium smartwatch for iOS and Android.
- Pebble Steel comes in Black Matte or Brushed Stainless, included with both a leather and metal strap for $249.
- Pebble Steel is open for orders now, and shipments begin January 28.
Las Vegas, NV (January 6, 2014) – Pebble Steel, the premium watch for iOS and Android, is the newest addition to Pebble’s smartwatch family. Proudly announced today just in time for CES, Pebble Steel wraps everything users know and love about Pebble—clear ePaper display, week-long battery life, and waterproof design—into a slimmer, classic form factor. Available now in Black Matte or Brushed Stainless exclusively on getpebble.com for $249, worldwide shipments of Pebble Steel will begin January 28.
“With Pebble, we created an iconic, colorful, and sporty smartwatch,” says Product Evangelist Myriam Joire, “but we wanted to build something even more refined. Pebble Steel cranks the style dial to 11.”
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Shut up already and take my money!
THIS is what a smartwatch should look like.
Seriously? they should be ugly as hell?
What do you expect a (smart)watch to look like?
– The curved-screen prototypes I have seen (in real life) didn’t provide a better view at the information on the screen -> flat display, check.
– A round display is nice and all, but only if you want to display a traditional watchface with rotating hands -> (almost) square screen, check.
– Touchscreen would be nice, but the production quantities do not seem to allow for precision/responsiveness as in an iPod nano, plus: fingerprints on your watch -> Button-opperated, check.
Now, one may or may not like the brushed stainless steel or the black anodised steel, but most people like one or the other and additional colours/materials may come later.
And the rounded sides or the black area around the screen are perfectly acceptable.
It shouldn’t win design awards (maybe it will ^^), but it it SO far ahead of everything else it’s not even funny anymore.
So if you find this ugly as hell, then yes, this is what I want it to look like.
Despite what any Pebble “plants” may say, the steel watches are horrid looking. They look like cheap Casios. Apple will blow them off the planet.
What kind of watchband is that on the normal Pebble? It looks quite nice.
I would like to know as well. I just got a pebble and I want that band
I third this! Would really like to know what kind of strap is on the red Pebble, looks great!
I think I found it, or something like it:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HZBOWM/ref=s9_simh_gw_p241_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=18S7J3H4Q1SVYD8QB25F&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846
Kind of pricey, though. I’d look around before buying that one.
And if anyone finds a cheaper one, let me know!
It’s the “Replacement Black Polyurethane Link Bracelet Band 22mm for Luminox 3000 and 3900 Series Watches” by Watch Experts on Amazon.com.
Here’s a link: http://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Polyurethane-Bracelet-Luminox-Watches/dp/B004HZBOWM/
I have the original Pebble. The steel ones are fugly. They have been late to the gate with apps and this cosmetic variation only makes me long for my Kreyos to hurry. Pebble, thy days are numbered if this is your idea of progression.
I don’t think they see it as progression. They’ve gotten flak for the build quality of the Pebble, but they’ve also said they don’t intend to release an update to the hardware until all the software has come together (at this point, it’d be SDK 2.0 and the App Store). This way you get a more professional looking watch for the people complaining about plastic, but you don’t alienate the backers and new buyers with updated specs and features.
Ewwww. That is not nice, ’tis like my dads dodgy knock off watches. I’ll stick to plastic, thanks.
Wow, this really looks like a step backwards in design and aesthetics. Disappointing.
Where did you get your steel band from for the original pebble? It looks awesome