Apple Watch vs Pebble Time Steel

[extricated]

This Pebble is a good example of what Jony Ive was avoiding with the new Apple Watch screen technology.
Remember the New Yorker article where he talked about wanting the graphics to "swim in deep space"?

He went on to explain that an Apple Watch uses a new display technology whose blacks are blacker than those in an iPhone’s L.E.D. display. This makes it easier to mask the point where, beneath a glass surface, a display ends and its frame begins. An Apple Watch jellyfish swims in deep space, and becomes, Ive said, as much an attribute of the watch as an image. On a current iPhone screen, a jellyfish would be pinned against dark gray, and framed in black, and, Ive said, have “much less magic.”

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Too bad the only way Pebble can make a good looking watch is if they copy Apple.

 

[franzkfk]

Don't get me wrong, I hate Samsung's copying as much as the next guy. But it's highly unlikely Pebble designed this thing within just a couple of months after the Apple Watch was announced. It's more than likely coincidence.

It is not coincidence. So the similarities of Galaxy S6 are too a coincidence? Don't be ridiculous.

 

[Runt888]

Engadget has hands-on pictures. The bezels are absolutely ridiculous. Make me think of a cheap chinese knockoff of a watch made for 5 year olds.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Engadget has hands-on pictures. The bezels are absolutely ridiculous. Make me think of a cheap chinese knockoff of a watch made for 5 year olds.

Image

Yeah, and to think someone on here thought the bezel on the Apple Watch was way too big!

 

[Knowimagination]

Those bezels are hideous. I also can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want a pebble steel for $300 when they could buy an apple watch for an extra 50 bucks.

 

[Originality14]

The Pebble Watch battery life is going to be awesome. But personally, I think the Apple watch will be better in the long run because of the possibility of many more apps to download on it. Also, the ability to text and call from your watch will change the dynamics of the debate. I have a pebble, LG, and Samsung Gear S. The ability to reply to notifications seals the deal for me.

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Those bezels are hideous. I also can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want a pebble steel for $300 when they could buy an apple watch for an extra 50 bucks.

Agreed

 

[jsmith189]

The 10:10 thing is sort of industry standard. It's symmetrical, which people tend to like more. On a lot of watches, it also lets the logo be shown (and almost framed) pretty nicely. I wouldn't fault them for that.

The design, however...

 

[dacreativeguy]

Don't get me wrong, I hate Samsung's copying as much as the next guy. But it's highly unlikely Pebble designed this thing within just a couple of months after the Apple Watch was announced. It's more than likely coincidence.

Couple of months? The Apple Watch was announced in September and the Pebble Steel won't be ready till May. Plenty of time to rip off the design and build a few prototypes. Wouldn't be surprised if they get a nice lawsuit for their efforts.

 

[ksuyen]

Is it only me who thinks that on every products Apple created, there is a sense a lot of thoughts have been put on it?

It's more palpable more than ever when you compare side by side Apple Watch and Pebble like in the pic. Both may look similar on the picture, but there are these subtle little things that tell them apart, one is more elegantly refined while the other is rougher on the edge.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Plenty of time to rip off the design and build a few prototypes. Wouldn't be surprised if they get a nice lawsuit for their efforts.

Lol, because nobody ever did a watch in gold with a red strap until Apple came along? Please. My conceit only reaches so far.

 

[NeilHD]

Those bezels are hideous. I also can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want a pebble steel for $300 when they could buy an apple watch for an extra 50 bucks.

Not comparing like-for-like. At the very least compare a Pebble Time with the Sport version of the Apple watch, and a Pebble Time Steel with the SS version of the Apple Watch.

But beyond that, for me it's mainly battery life. 10 Days is massive. And the always-on display. Also I like the simplicity. I don't want or need a hundred apps. Photos on my watch? Why?! I want simple notifications and music control, and maybe a fitness tracker. My favourite Pebble feature? I get in my car, plug my phone in and as I drive off I hit the middle button three times. Music starts playing. Hard to do that on a touchscreen and without looking.

The Smartbands have some interesting applications, too. Looking forward to seeing what comes out of that.

I'm not anti Apple-watch as it does look cool, I may even get one on V2 or V3 of it (when battery life hits 2-3 days minimum), but for now the Time Steel has got my money. There is room for more than one product in the market, and I like what Pebble have done. They pretty much kicked off the entire Smartwatch thing and have done a good job so far.

 

[Zaft]

Not comparing like-for-like. At the very least compare a Pebble Time with the Sport version of the Apple watch, and a Pebble Time Steel with the SS version of the Apple Watch.

But beyond that, for me it's mainly battery life. 10 Days is massive. And the always-on display. Also I like the simplicity. I don't want or need a hundred apps. Photos on my watch? Why?! I want simple notifications and music control, and maybe a fitness tracker. My favourite Pebble feature? I get in my car, plug my phone in and as I drive off I hit the middle button three times. Music starts playing. Hard to do that on a touchscreen and without looking.

The Smartbands have some interesting applications, too. Looking forward to seeing what comes out of that.

I'm not anti Apple-watch as it does look cool, I may even get one on V2 or V3 of it (when battery life hits 2-3 days minimum), but for now the Time Steel has got my money. There is room for more than one product in the market, and I like what Pebble have done. They pretty much kicked off the entire Smartwatch thing and have done a good job so far.

I agree with this. I got the 1st Pebble steel around a week ago and love it.
It actually made the battery on my phone better because I use it less.

I get around 5 days of battery which is great. I may get an apple watch when the battery is around 3 days.

 

[Knowimagination]

Not comparing like-for-like. At the very least compare a Pebble Time with the Sport version of the Apple watch, and a Pebble Time Steel with the SS version of the Apple Watch.

But beyond that, for me it's mainly battery life. 10 Days is massive. And the always-on display. Also I like the simplicity. I don't want or need a hundred apps. Photos on my watch? Why?! I want simple notifications and music control, and maybe a fitness tracker. My favourite Pebble feature? I get in my car, plug my phone in and as I drive off I hit the middle button three times. Music starts playing. Hard to do that on a touchscreen and without looking.

The Smartbands have some interesting applications, too. Looking forward to seeing what comes out of that.

I'm not anti Apple-watch as it does look cool, I may even get one on V2 or V3 of it (when battery life hits 2-3 days minimum), but for now the Time Steel has got my money. There is room for more than one product in the market, and I like what Pebble have done. They pretty much kicked off the entire Smartwatch thing and have done a good job so far.

I'm not saying that the pebble doesn't have a market, but I am sorry those bezels are truly terrible. I get that the battery life is better but to me it comes at way to great of a cost (terrible screen and looks). I personally have no interest in the pebble, but I get that lots of people like it.

Also comparing the steel pebble to the aluminum apple watch isn't really that big of a deal metal to metal comparison is plenty good and the quality of the aluminum apple watch is going to be nicer than the steel pebble.

 

[Piggie]

Agreed, absolutely horrid and stupid bezels.

Other than the bit at the bottom, which I'm sure they will work on, in time.
How come Motorola are the only ones so far who have cracked the bezel issue?

 

[douglasf13]

The Pebble Watch battery life is going to be awesome. But personally, I think the Apple watch will be better in the long run because of the possibility of many more apps to download on it. Also, the ability to text and call from your watch will change the dynamics of the debate. I have a pebble, LG, and Samsung Gear S. The ability to reply to notifications seals the deal for me.

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Agreed

I don't know about you, but I've had notification issues with both my Pebble and Garmin from time to time, so I'm hoping the Watch is much more solid in that regard, too.

 

[Southernboyj]

Why so much hate on Pebble? Pebble really started the smartwatch frenzy.

I'm getting the Apple Watch, but I had the Pebble Steel for awhile and it was awesome for what it tried to do. Plus.. 7 day battery life.

 

[J4B3]

The only appealing thing about the $299 Pebble Steel is that now spending $349 on an Apple Watch doesn't seem so bad.

 

[taedouni]

The only appealing thing about the $299 Pebble Steel is that now spending $349 on an Apple Watch doesn't seem so bad.

Early backers could get the Pebble Steel for $250. Plus the Steel is made from steel whereas the Apple Watch at $350 is the sports edition which is made out of aluminum. Pebble is cheaper and is better in a different way. I have a Pebble Steel and love it but I may just cancel my pledge for the Pebble Steel and pickup the Apple Watch.

I'll just keep my Fitbit for fitness tracking (since it can stay on me except for when I go swimming or shower and I can charge it then) due to the long battery life which enables me to track sleeping.

 

[tgwaste]

Lol, because nobody ever did a watch in gold with a red strap until Apple came along? Please. My conceit only reaches so far.

Yep. Definately no copying going on here. Lol. Give me a break.

 

[Roessnakhan]

Those bezels are hideous. I also can't for the life of me understand why anyone would want a pebble steel for $300 when they could buy an apple watch for an extra 50 bucks.

Being able to make almost a week without charging the thing, being able to switch the straps at less than what will almost be certainly be an exorbitant cost of the Apple Watch straps?

I'll agree about the bezels though.

 

[whetrick1]

Well I have a Pebble steel and didn't pay anywhere near 300 for it. And to txt off of the Apple watch you would still need the iPhone hookup, so why would you want to txt from your watch. And I've had know problem with it staying hooked up with my iPhone6.. I personally like the looks of the Apple watch but the price is going to be a problem for me justifing spending that much money on a watch because it has more gadgets on it that I really don't need..

 

[DDustiNN]

Yep. Definately no copying going on here. Lol. Give me a break.

Image

I know, right?! Look at Pebble... Offering leather and metal watch bands as options, along with color choices... Just like they did last year with the Pebble Steel. LOL!

Apple totally did it first

 

[tgwaste]

I know, right?! Look at Pebble... Offering leather and metal watch bands as options, along with color choices... Just like they did last year with the Pebble Steel. LOL!

Apple totally did it first

pictures speak a thousand words, look at it again.

Also note: that was their 2nd picture. The first one looked even more like it and they changed it.

If you don't think Pebble took the last 6 months to try to be as close to apple as they could get away with, well then you're just foolish.

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Well I have a Pebble steel and didn't pay anywhere near 300 for it. And to txt off of the Apple watch you would still need the iPhone hookup, so why would you want to txt from your watch. And I've had know problem with it staying hooked up with my iPhone6.. I personally like the looks of the Apple watch but the price is going to be a problem for me justifing spending that much money on a watch because it has more gadgets on it that I really don't need..

You didn't? I payed $250 for my Steel. Thats pretty close to $300 to me. But ya the connection problems are horrible and make the watch useless. At least for me. I had the same problems with both Kick Starter version and Steel with iPhone 5S, 6 and 6+. All constantly lost BT connection.

 

[douglasf13]

pictures speak a thousand words, look at it again.

Also note: that was their 2nd picture. The first one looked even more like it and they changed it.

If you don't think Pebble took the last 6 months to try to be as close to apple as they could get away with, well then you're just foolish.

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You didn't? I payed $250 for my Steel. Thats pretty close to $300 to me. But ya the connection problems are horrible and make the watch useless. At least for me. I had the same problems with both Kick Starter version and Steel with iPhone 5S, 6 and 6+. All constantly lost BT connection.

I had connection issues with mine, too. Pebble was a fun starter smartwatch, to see whether it's a concept that would interest me, but I can't imagine choosing it over the Watch, at this point. I charged my Pebble every night, anyways, so the battery life was lost on me.