Pebble is now offering its first round fashion smartwatch after releasing a string of four popular rectangular smartwatch models.
The new Pebble Time Round, which is now available for preorder and will ship in early November, was announced by the company on Sept. 23 in a post on the Pebble Blog. The watch starts at $249.
The new timepiece is lighter and thinner than other Pebble and competing smartwatches, according to the company, and includes an always-on, e-paper display that alerts users to notifications, messages, incoming calls and more on their wrists. The smartwatch also provides music controls for users, as well as other capabilities.
The Pebble Time Round is 0.30 inches thick and weighs 0.99 ounces, making it one of the thinnest and lightest smartwatches sold today, according to Pebble. The watch can be purchased with either a 14mm or 20 mm wide band and comes in silver or black finishes, along with a wide range of leather band colors and styles. A special-edition rose gold finish is available only with a 14mm band. Metal band options are slated for later this year.
The Pebble Time Round features a battery life of up to two days, 15-minute quick charging that provides one day’s use, splash resistance, an always-on color display, a built-in microphone for replying to messages, a marine grade stainless steel chassis and bezel, and tactile buttons for easier control of its functions. The watch face is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass for scratch resistance.
The upcoming smartwatch can be preordered at Pebble.com or through Best Buy, Target and Amazon. The device will be available starting in early November.
The Pebble Time Round announcement comes only about six weeks after Pebble unveiled its Pebble Time Steel model in early August. The Pebble Time Steel smartwatch features a stainless steel body that’s available in three different colors, starting at $249.99.
The Pebble Time Steel is a variant of the company’s Pebble Time smartwatch that was unveiled in June, which includes a stainless steel bezel and a non-metal body. The Pebble Time Steel is available with a 22mm-wide Italian leather watchband for $249.99 or with a stainless steel band for $299.98. Buyers can choose from a gunmetal black steel body with a black leather band, a gold metal body with a red-brown leather band or a brushed silver metal body with a gray leather band. Buyers of the steel watchband versions can choose from matte black, silver and gold matching watch bodies with matching metal bands. The metal bands will also be offered separately later this year for $49.99 each.
Pebble is offering recent Pebble Time Steel buyers a special $50 discount and try-out deal on the upcoming Pebble Time Round if they preorder one of the new timepieces before Nov. 8. Steel buyers will be able to try the new Round watch alongside their Steel timepiece and will be able to return one of the devices if desired within 30 days. If they keep both, the price of the Pebble Time Round will be discounted by $50. Buyers will have to pay the cost of return shipping if they return a watch.
The Pebble Time Round is the company’s fifth smartwatch model.
The Pebble devices work with compatible iOS and Android smartphones, although not all iOS notification features will work. They work with Apple’s iPhone 4S and above running iOS 8, and with all Android devices running Android 4.0 and above.
The company’s smartwatches are also built with protection against water damage and can be worn in the shower, in swimming pools or during outdoor activities in inclement weather. They have water resistance to 98.4 feet, or about 30 meters, according to Pebble.
Pebble owners can 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.