While the competition has moved towards rounded displays that more closely resemble traditional watches, Pebble has stuck with its own square design while updating its range. This week, that changed as the company announced it has “come full circle” to set the new standard for what smartwatches can be.
Pebble CEO and co-founder Eric Migicovsky said: “With Pebble Time Round in the mix, there’s great Pebble options for everyone. It’s never been easier to have a smartwatch that fits your style, blends into your life, and delivers tiny moments of awesome every day.”
The Pebble Time Round claims the title of thinnest and lightest smartwatch in the world at just 7.5mm and 28 grams respectively. As with other Pebble devices, the display is a colour e-paper panel brightened by an LED backlight.
The screen is always-on to make it easy to see information with a single glance but, unlike the LCD panels of rivals, does not substantially impact battery life. The e-paper display means this stands in the region of days; 24 hours’ power can be obtained from just 15 minutes of charging.
Several different styles and configurations can be specified. Bands will be available in 20mm or 14mm sizes in a variety of different variants. The watch itself will be finished in black, silver or Rose Gold, although the latter option is only available with 14mm bands.
Pebble watches shun touchscreens in favour of physical button controls. The Timeline concept allows the user to easily scroll through content from the past, present and future in one interface, making the most of the small display by bringing notifications, ongoing actions and calendar reminders into one place. Pebble’s software is famed for its ease of use and light-hearted style, utilising fun animations and scroll effects to engage the user in content.
Pebble Time Round will be able to run the thousands of apps that are already available in Pebble’s Store. As with other Pebble devices, the smartwatch will be compatible with iOS and Android phones. Watch face customisations are also supported as an additional personalisation element.
There are some differences between Pebble Time Round, Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel. The Round variant is not fully waterproof and is only splash resistant. It also has a smaller battery due to its ultra-slim construction, offering around two days of life instead of ten.
The new watch can be pre-ordered today in the U.S. and Canada for delivery from November. Pebble Time Round starts at $249 and will be available in the UK from later this year and Europe from early 2016.
