Pebble’s third smartwatch model, the $199.99 Pebble Time, is now being offered for preorders through BestBuy.com and will ship by July 20.
The Time will be the company’s most expensive and feature-filled smartwatch to date, incorporating a new full-color e-paper display, voice control capabilities, seven-day battery life, fitness tracking and a timeline feature that lets users toggle through their past, present and upcoming events in their lives on the watch face, according to a June 22 post on the Pebble Developer Blog. Timeline features include information about missed calls, app alerts, personal calendars, breaking news, sports scores and weather information, with more to be added in the future.
The Pebble Time, which works with compatible iOS and Android smartphones, was offered first to Kickstarter backers but will now be available to the general public. U.S. buyers can preorder the watch through Best Buy, while international buyers can preorder one directly through Pebble.com.
The smartwatch also incorporates a bezel made from Marine Grade stainless steel, a durable glass lens and a silicone watch band. The Time comes in black, white or red, and features a built-in microphone for voice notes and message replies without having to use a smartphone.
The device’s timeline interface can be operated using easy-to-recognize tactile buttons on the watch face that users can identify by feel, according to the company.
The Pebble Time has a curved design to fit comfortably against a wearer’s wrist and measures 1.6 inches long, 1.5 inches wide and 0.4 inches thick. The smartwatch is compatible with Apple’s iPhone 4S and above running iOS 8, and with all Android devices running Android 4.0 and above.
The smartwatch is also built with protection against water damage and can be worn in the shower, in swimming pools or during outdoor activities in inclement weather. It is designed with water resistance to 98.4 feet, or about 30 meters, according to Pebble.
The Time uses a magnetic USB cable for charging its 150mAh battery, which offers users battery life of up to seven days per charge.
Activity tracking is also provided by the Pebble Time when it is used in conjunction with an activity-tracking app from Jawbone, Fitocracy, Runkeeper or Misfit so that users can track and record their walking, steps, bicycling and sleep hours to monitor their health and fitness goals.
Streaming music apps from Pandora, iHeartRadio and others can also be used with the Pebble Time so that wearers can control their music from their wrists through their accompanying smartphones.
Pebble owners can also choose from more than 8,000 compatible smartphone apps in the Pebble app store to customize their devices. Apps are available from brands including Jawbone, Misfit, ESPN, Swarm and Swim.com. Independent apps are also available.
Pebble introduced its first smartwatch, called the Pebble, in 2013. One year later, it introduced the Pebble Steel. The Pebble, which has a polycarbonate case and a black and white display, sells for $89, while the Steel, which has a stainless steel case and a black and white display, sells for $149.
