Pebble has announced the Pebble Time smart watch, saying that it is preparing to take on the likes of the Apple Watch, which is set to be released in just a few short months.
But can the Time really take on the likes of Apple? How do the specs of the two devices compare?
Design
While Apple is often considered the king of design, many suggest that the Apple Watch is one of Apple's less impressive designs compared to the likes of the new LG Watch Urbane. It is likely, however, that impressions may change once users get a chance to hold the device and play with it themselves.
The new Pebble certainly has an interesting design and is very simple. The bezels are a little thicker than the previous Pebble, and the device overall has a casual feel, in part due to the wristbands that don't look as "premium." Both the Apple Watch and the Pebble are rectangular in design, and both allow for the user to change the bands. The Apple Watch is a little more premium in its design, however the Pebble is subtler.
Display
One of the biggest changes on Pebble's Time is the display, which is now color, and remains always on. It is still an E-ink display, which should help save power. In fact, the device can still last seven days on a single charge, even with the color display.
The Apple Watch includes a 1.5-inch Retina display with a pixel density of 290 ppi. There's no question here that the Apple Watch has a better looking display, but the compromise that it has on battery life is large, with the device only likely to last a day on a charge.
Fitness Features
Smart watches often have an emphasis on fitness and neither of these devices is an exception, with Apple even going as far as to release a version of the Apple Watch specifically made for sport. While it keeps the same specs as the other devices it includes a rubber band for maximum comfort during a workout.
The Apple Watch also includes an accelerometer, compass, GPS, a pedometer and perhaps most notable, a heart rate monitor.
The heart rate monitor is something that is lacking in the Pebble Time. While the device does include an accelerometer, gyrometer and magnometer, that's about as far as it goes. The Apple Watch is better for those wanting to do intense sport and track as many aspects of their workout as possible. However, the Pebble will suffice for things like counting steps and such.
Other
It is, of course, important to note that the Pebble is compatible with Android 4.0 and above as well as iOS 8 and above. The Apple Watch, however, is only compatible with iOS 8 and above. This is to be expected from an Apple product. Pricing is also an important thing to consider, with the Pebble set to cost $199 and the Apple Watch starting with a higher price tag of $349.
Conclusions
There's no denying that the Apple Watch is an all-around better device. But the device does have its Achilles heel in its battery life, plus the fact that it is almost double the price of the Pebble. For those looking for a device to tell the time and manage notifications, then the Pebble is a great pick. For those looking to fully take advantage of the smart watch experience, the Apple Watch might be the better option.
