Hey, everyone! After going on hiatus for quite a while, we Pebble Pariahs have rediscovered our appreciation and love for these geeky little gadgets. So, to celebrate our return, John shares his thoughts on using a Pebble Steel in 2022.
When my last Pebble Steel finally broke due to the seller’s failed repair attempt, I was extremely disappointed. It was by far my favorite Pebble ever made and for good reason. It offered an awesome and super premium design for less money used than even the standard Pebble Time. However, a year has passed, and some very significant changes have taken place.
For the whole hardware and software overview, I recommend reading last year’s post. To summarize, though, the Pebble Steel still offers an epic experience with Rebble Web Services. Everything works great, so long as you have the Pebble app sideloaded, something difficult but doable on iOS devices these days. On the hardware side of things, this watch is much better than its predecessor and the standard Time. It’s durable, very sleek, and not too large or uncomfortable on the wrist. Overall, it may only technically be an original Pebble with a nicer design, but it feels years ahead of that device in terms of hardware.
Using the Steel in 2022, all of the things that made owning it a year ago so great are still here. However, finding one at a good price is another matter. My new one cost twice as much as my old one at $40, (Actually a pretty good deal) and while it came with more goodies than the last one, these watches are generally much more scarce on sites like eBay. This also applies to the original Pebble, our primary recommendation for those looking for a more a casual watch last year.
That being said, we still think that the Steel is an excellent option for those looking for a premium Pebble. Battery life on these is a gamble nowadays, but it’s still definitely a great and reliable watch if you can avoid that issue. However, if you want something slightly more modern and less fancy, we really recommend the Pebble Time. They can be found for extremely low prices these days, and if you are more concerned about function than aesthetics, it’s undoubtedly a major upgrade from the Steel.
Thus, if you’re looking for a sleek, solid, stylish, and relatively reliable Pebble, we definitely still recommend the Steel. If you’re willing to sacrifice those looks and durability for a cheaper and more feature-rich Pebble, the Time might just be a better option. Both get the job done, so it’s up to what you prioritize. Just be prepared to sideload the Pebble app, and good luck!