Pebble officially unveils the Time Round, the thinnest and lightest smartwatch in the world
Pebble, the smartwatch manufacturer that rose to glory through a range of extremely successful Kickstarter campaigns, has just announced its first round smartwatch, the aptly named Pebble Time Round.
Pebble says that the Time Round is the thinnest and lightest smartwatch in the world, and at dimensions of 7.5mm and 28g, we'll have to agree. Unfortunately, Pebble's first round smartwatch probably breaks previous records for the worst screen-to-body ratio. Looks are a personal preference, but we're sure that many voices will turn to criticize the large bezel around the 1.25-inch circular display.
In the past few months, many smartwatch makers launched round smartwatches with smartphone-level specs and very crisp displays, and if this is what you're looking for, then just like the company's previous wrist pieces (the Classic, the Time, and the Time Steel), the Pebble Time Round probably isn't for you. However, if you're looking for a smartwatch that's not too bulky and can last for a couple of days on a single charge, then the Time Round is shaping up to be an exceptional choice.
Pebble says that the Time Round is the thinnest and lightest smartwatch in the world, and at dimensions of 7.5mm and 28g, we'll have to agree. Unfortunately, Pebble's first round smartwatch probably breaks previous records for the worst screen-to-body ratio. Looks are a personal preference, but we're sure that many voices will turn to criticize the large bezel around the 1.25-inch circular display.
Like the previous Pebble watches, the Time Round comes with a color e-ink display. While this means that the picture quality isn't as sharp as with traditional OLED smartwatches, the e-ink display is very gentle on the battery and is also sufficient for the basic tasks that you can expect to perform on such a limited screen real estate. On top of that, the Pebble Time Round also comes with quick-charging capabilities, and is said to last throughout the day on a quick 15-minute charge. Pebble fans will note that Time and the Time Steel come with a seven-day battery life, but then again, none of them is as slim as the Pebble Time Round.
Pebble has also changed the UI of its proprietary operating system, adapting the menus and the homegrown apps to the circular form factor. Furthermore, the company also promised to launch an SDK that developers can use to adapt their own apps. One thing to mention here is that, like all of Pebble's previous watches, the Time Round will be compatible to both Android handsets as well as iPhones.
In an attempt to make the Time Round more woman-friendly, Pebble will launch two versions of the watch. Although the size and shape of the watch remains consistent, one versions comes with a standard 22mm strap, while the other comes with a narrower 14mm one. As usual, there are a range of bands you can choose from, and they can be easily exchanged on the go.
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