Pebble has now started taking pre-orders for the high-end metal version of its Pebble Time Steel smartwatch while shipping is expected to begin sometime late in September. Sporting a stainless steel chassis and a leather band, the smartwatch has been priced at $250 which is apparently the same price paid by Kickstarter backers, and will be available either in gunmetal black with a black band, silver with stone leather, or gold with red leather. Also, customers also have the option to get a matching stainless steel link band for $50 more.
The company is currently predicting a six-to-eight week shipping window for the smartwatch while those who have already pre-ordered Pebble Time Steel on Kickstarter will receive their watches this month.
The new Pebble Time Steel smartwatch is just 1mm thicker than the Pebble Time, and the company claims that the smartwatch can offer up to 10 days of battery life instead of 7. It gets a color e-paper display, where users can manage notifications, calendar events, incoming calls and fitness tracking data. Hence, the watch is ideally suitable for users who want a viable, low-maintenance alternative and not something highly overpriced or flashy.
The smartwatch can easily sync itself with either iOS or an Android smartphone that offers quick updates and notifications along with apps access, although the watch’s innards aren’t as powerful as one would like and its lacks a touchscreen. However, its greatest strengths are its always-on display and long-standing battery life. Essentially, both Pebble Time Steel and the original Pebble Time smartwatch share the same specs, color display, microphone, and new “Timeline” operating system – though the former offers better visibility with its Gorilla Glass display.
Meanwhile, the original Pebble Watch and Pebble Steel are also available now for a discounted price: the former is now available at $89 while the latter is now priced at $149.
