Pebble Steel the best smartwatch overall
Since its first release in 2013 after a very successful KickStarter campaign, the Pebble smartwatch has come a long way from its basic design and sometimes limited functionality, so let’s take a look at the Pebble Steel and see if it’s worth upgrading. .
To understand the concept of smartwatches, take a look at the first Pebble Smartwatch we reviewed.
Design
If the original Pebble has a retro style that may not suit everyone, the Pebble Steel comes with a better and more attractive choice of materials, which now looks great with suits and normal clothing and although very similar in design to the original , now it looks more elegant and nice.
The case looks sturdier, encased in metal (with a brushed or matte finish), has black borders around the screen along with leather or metal straps.
The Steel Pebble 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 looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, then the Pebble Steel is one of the best options as it has a more understated and mature design suitable for adults.
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The Pebble Steel features a 1.26-inch, 144×168-pixel e-paper display that is scratch-protected by Gorilla Glass (which also reduces glare). On top of all this, the screen is pretty similar to the one found on the original Pebble, with a monochrome LCD along with a backlight (great for reading in bright sunlight).
As said before, to navigate 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 straightforward (as on the previous model).
Pebble Steel does not have touch screen capability. Some may see this as an advantage, as swiping on a really small screen can be awkward and difficult, others not at the same level as other smartwatches that have 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 in it (just be careful with your choice of bracelet).
The processor is a 120 MHz ARM M3 Cortex that is capable of running apps and games smoothly and as for sensors, the Pebble Steel has a light sensor, a compass and a 3D accelerometer.
Battery life, like the original Pebble, is nothing short of exceptional. With a 7-day capacity, it puts all other smartwatches 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’re presented with a very organized and extensive list of apps (and the new AppStore!).
Just like all other smartwatches, 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.
A 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’ll constantly run out of space, but thanks to Pebble Locker you can store apps on your phone and have them more easily on your watch.
While testing with both Android and iOS operating systems, we had a wide variety of apps, syncing was stable with no issues at all, and the experience was pretty similar to what you’d find on the original Pebble.
Conclution
The Pebble Steel still manages to stand out as the best smartwatch overall, even against stiff competition for both Android and iOS, but that’s down to its longevity. We’re 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 regular high-end watch) with full functionality and great battery life, we fully recommend the Pebble Steel Smartwatch.
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