There were plenty of new wearables at MWC 2015, but it's the Pebble Time that's been the most convincing among Barcelona's sea of smartwatches.
It has already been funded by more than 53,000 enthusiastic backers and raised in excess of $10 million, the same amount the startup raised during the entire duration of the original Pebble campaign.
More than anything, though, Pebble has a track record of developing one of the best smartwatches in terms of performance, and it's one that works with both iOS 8 and Android.
No, it's not the premium Apple Watch, and it's not one of the many, many Android Wear smartwatches. It's simply a better-looking, better-functioning version of the original Pebble with the same goal: being a watch first and a smartwatch second.
Design
As someone who wears the Pebble Steel, I was a bit skeptical the new Pebble Time's plastic design. Was this watch enough of an upgrade to ditch my all-metal version?
Luckily, after trying it on, I can report that it doesn't feel or look as much like the toy-like original Pebble. The wrist-hugging lugs at the top and bottom have been reduced significantly.
Yes, there's still quite a bit of bezel, but it's not as large as before, and at least it's made out of stainless steel with rounded off corners and has an overall thinner frame.
Pebble Time, in a lot of ways, actually looks like a mostly plastic Apple Watch, as if Apple decided to unapologetically create an iPhone 5C version of its upcoming smartwatch watch.
There aren't as many colors for early adopters with three case choices at launch: black, white and red, and each have a specific silicon strap and stainless steel bezel colors.
There's an all-black version that sports a black case, stainless steel black bezel and rubber-feeling black strap. The white case mixes things up with a white band, but silver bezel.
Pebble injects some color into the mix with its red model. It consists of a red watch case and silicone strap and a stainless steel black bezel.
Backers haven't been asked to decide on straps just yet. That will likely happen closer to May. But, of course, all will be interchangeable just like with the original Pebble and Pebble Steel.
Pebble Time supports 22mm straps, the standard that's common among wristwatches and they're just as easy to pull apart and change up. With a quick-release pin in the back, they can be changed in about 10 seconds.
The overall design doesn't match the jewelry-level Steel, but it sits better on my wrist than any of the bulky Android Wear watches I have tested and it feels like something I could wear daily, at least during on casual occasions. Proper attire may have me reverting back to the Pebble Steel.
Display
Looking at the Pebble Time watch screen in person, I was able to see notifications even better than before for one reason: the new color e-paper display that rests behind scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass.
My demo at the Pebble booth began with a barebones watch face. It was nothing special at first. That changed when I began clicking the three buttons on the right side of the watch face.
All of a sudden, I saw animations spring into place. A cheery sun face greeted me with the weather and a mail icon zipped about when a message was sent.
The color screen makes it easier to recognize what you're seeing on the small watch face, which is great for quick glances. Moreover, it should be easier for readability in direct sunlight.
Pebble Time supports up to 64 colors and pushes 30 frames per second. It doesn't have a bright and color-rich AMOLED or P-OLED used by Samsung and LG, but there's a healthy color palette ready for app and game developers alike.
Battery life
Sticking with e-paper, Pebble Time achieves another stunning battery life victory: seven days on one charge. Yes, you can use a color smartwatch for a full week without taking it off.
That really contrasts with almost every other color smartwatch out today. At best, Android Wear watches last a day and a half, but more often than not it's drained by the end of a day.
There are no official specs on the Apple Watch battery capacity, but Apple CEO Tim Cook did suggest that it'll require "daily charging." That's a deal-breaking for a whole bunch of people.
While I'll have to wear the Pebble Time for an extended period of time before I can confirm its battery performance, it's e-paper display seems to be a good trade-off for the convenience of 7:1 battery life.
Early verdict
Pebble Time is the true sequel to the original Pebble, and its color e-paper display is the most obvious hardware perk. It's easier to see what's on the screen in an instant.
It looks and feels better than the first Pebble, though it's not going to fool anyone into thinking you're wearing a real watch like the jewelry-level Pebble Steel.
That's okay if you want an inexpensive smartwatch that's about half the price of an Apple Watch. Pebble Time will be $199 (about £129, AU$256) at retail, but it's still available for $179 (about £116, AU$229) on Kickstarter
The true test for Pebble Time is going to come with daily use. It works with iOS and Android and has fun animations broken up into past, present and future menus. That could end up being its biggest selling point if it's laid out just right. Time will tell.
from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1Dxcwru
No comments:
Post a Comment