Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsSkip the Steel, save $100, and go with the regular Pebble instead.
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2014
I recently purchased a Pebble Steel to check out the differences between the regular Pebble and the Steel version. I can't remember the last time I've been this disappointed. The Steel brings nothing new to the ball game: the design is basically the same (despite advertisements to the contrary), plus Pebble has pulled the second watch band (ironically, the steel version) out of the box, only including the leather band in the box while charging an additional $19.99 for the metal band. The leather band of the Steel has the tendency to regularly pinch the skin on my wrist and will likely mold if I try wearing it while working out, unlike the waterproof rubber version of the original Pebble. The metal watchface with the Gorilla Glass wasn't impressive. In fact, the metal watchface of the Steel seems bigger than the regular Pebble, more ungainly, and, if possible, even less attractive than its half-off little brother.
In my opinion, the regular Pebble at $99.99 is a feature-packed bargain that will almost certainly change your life - the Pebble Steel is an overpriced disappointment that demonstrates overengineering and "higher-quality components" aren't always good things to have. If you're interested in the Pebble, go with the regular version and skip the Steel completely. Feel free to check out my review of the regular $99.99 Pebble for a comparison between the regular Pebble and its overpriced and overengineered big brother.
Check out my full review of the regular Pebble where I rave about how it's the greatest advancement to technology since the introduction of the new iPhone in 2007, but, whatever you do, don't buy the Steel. It's simply not worth it.
*ADDENDUM 11-26-2014*
I'm excited this review generated so much controversy and debate, but I wanted to elaborate on a few items I feel like I didn't cover as clearly as I did in my full review of the Pebble (viewable on Amazon over at the regular Pebble):
1. THE DESIGN OF THE STEEL: I truly wasn't impressed. From the description, and even the pictures, I was expecting the Pebble Steel to be more professional and "adult" for lack of a better word. Instead, the watch face is simply larger with a more polygonal shape. So, what you get is an even bigger watch face expect the usable screen is the same size. Bigger is definitely not better when it comes to a watch that wasn't particularly small to begin with.
2. THE LACK OF THE STEEL BAND: Removing the steel band was just a bad (and idiotic) move on Pebble's part. The watch is called the Pebble STEEL. If you're going to remove one of the two bands, remove the leather one so at least when you call it the Pebble Steel, it's actually steel. Just my two cents.
3. THE LACK OF ANY NEW FEATURES: The Pebble Steel is DOUBLE the price (MSRP) of the regular Pebble. Double! And it brings nothing but a mildly better design. The processor isn't faster. There isn't a built-in GPS. There's no heart-rate monitor or memory for music and podcasts. How can adding Gorilla Glass and making the watch face bigger actually DOUBLE the price of the product?
4. IT IS *LESS* COMPATIBLE WITH WATCH BANDS THAN THE REGULAR PEBBLE! The regular Pebble can take any 22mm band. ANY BAND. You don't like the rubber band the regular band comes with? No problem - run to your local store and buy ANY band you want - leather, steel, whatever! The Pebble Steel only supports the two bands that Pebble makes. What the heck is up with that?
ANYWAY - there's my two cents and why I feel the Pebble Steel is only worth 1 star. Pebble broke the mold with the original Pebble and then broke it badly with the Pebble Steel.
