Pebble Watch once made an outsized ripple compared to its name when the early smartwatch launched in 2013. It had a massive Kickstarter campaign, an eagerly-anticipated and long-delayed launch, and ultimately a devoted fan base that gobbled up the plastic and E Ink-screened original and then the tri-colored-screen a year later. I was one of Pebble Steel's owners and fans, receiving the stainless-steel wearable just after my 50th birthday.
Pebble was not the only smartwatch maker back then, but it was easily the one with the largest mindshare. and hands-ons were almost invariably positive, which was somewhat shocking considering how little the first Pebble did. Instead of a collection of apps, it had custom watch faces, and the screen was black and white.
Yet, it still felt like a traditional watch upgrade with access to phone-based email, notifications, and phone calls. It sipped power – lasting a full week on a single charge – and was virtually waterproof. What it lacked in fashion was made up for in its $149 price and adorable looks.
The style matched its cute name. My Pebble Steel, which cost $249, was something else. Instead of plastic, I got a steel body, a Gorilla glass screen cover, and a tri-color screen.
Apps like Glance and Evernote were starting to arrive. I recall wearing the Pebble Steel almost every day. It was the first smartwatch to lure me away from my extensive analog watch collection.
Pebble eventually released a full-color Pebble Time, but it arrived j.
