Apple Watch event causes a spike in pre-orders… for the Pebble Time

By David Nield March 15, 2015

pebble time steel news version 1438252766 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

What were your impressions of the Apple Watch launch event last Monday? Were you left cold or scrabbling for the Buy button? According to TechCrunch, the day after Apple’s big wearable reveal, pre-orders for the Pebble Time and Pebble Time Steel were up 167 percent per hour.

That’s a lot of people who presumably looked at the Apple Watch and then thought they’d rather have a Pebble instead — maybe there were a substantial number of potential smartwatch buyers who wanted to see what cards Apple was holding before pledging to the Pebble cause.

These are certainly two very different devices. The Pebble smartwatches support iOS and Android, while Apple Watch is of course only compatible with iPhones; the e-ink Pebbles only need charging once a week, while with Apple’s wearable you’re going to be plugging it in every night.

“Apple’s event this week caused a nice spike in support for us, as anticipated,” Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky told TechCrunch. “When the biggest company in the world enters your market, that’s the kind of validation you can only dream of. Ultimately the more awareness for smartwatches, and the more choice for consumers, the better for everyone. 2015 is going to be an extraordinarily exciting year.”

The data shows that the amount of money pouring in for the Pebble Time Kickstarter more than doubled the day after the Apple Watch event. With 12 days of fundraising still to go, Pebble has raked in more than $18 million for its latest pair of smartwatches — a new Kickstarter record and way above the original $500,000 target. Shipping is expected to begin in May, just a couple of weeks after the Apple Watch.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributor

Dave is a freelance journalist from Manchester in the north-west of England. He's been writing about technology since the…

Mobile

How to build a fun and varied Apple Watch band collection

A collection of Apple Watch bands.

You could just buy an Apple Watch and only ever use the band that comes with it, but to ignore the amazingly varied world of bands, straps, and bracelets available would mean missing out on the chance to truly make it your own. Building a small collection of bands means your Apple Watch never looks out of place with what you’re wearing or the activity you’re engaged in, and it keeps things fresh and interesting.

If you’re new to the Apple Watch and aren’t sure where to start, I’ve spent a little time building a core collection of bands that I find are suitable for all situations. If you do the same, get ready to change the band on your Apple Watch on a very regular basis. I assure you it's worth it.
A band apart
What’s wrong with the basic Apple Sport Band or Sport Loop that comes with most Apple Watch models? Absolutely nothing, and one of these bands is so good it makes it on to my essentials list. It’s limiting yourself just to this one band that I’m suggesting you avoid. Changing the band on the Apple Watch isn’t time-intensive, there’s no risk of losing bits when you take it apart, you don’t need any special tools, and the end result is a completely different look and feel on your wrist.

Wearables

Apple Watch SE 2: What we want to see from the next budget Apple watch

should buy the apple watch series 6 or se and apps

When Apple first announced the Apple Watch SE alongside the Watch Series 6 in 2020, I was intrigued. After all, it was a cheaper version of the latest smartwatch with the right amount of hits and misses. I bought the Watch SE for myself earlier this year, and while it is an overall champ, there are a few things that Apple can work on and improve with the Watch SE 2, which is expected to be announced in 2022. Here are five things we would like to see from the Apple Watch SE 2.
1. A bigger display
Apple Watch Series 7 (left) and Series 6 (right) Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The big selling point of the original Apple Watch SE was that it looked exactly like the Watch Series 6. Users could get the latest hardware with some limited software features like an always-on display.

Mobile

6 weeks in, I see the value in committing to the Apple Watch Series 7

ECG on the Apple Watch Series 7.

The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch you can buy today (provided you own an iPhone), and six weeks into wearing the Series 7, my opinion about it as a smartwatch hasn’t changed — it’s effortlessly simple to use, metronomically reliable, and completely customizable.

Now that I've worn it for a decent length of time, it has gathered plenty of health and activity data, and Apple Health has started to show the value in committing to wearing the Apple Watch every day. Because I think the Series 7 is excellent and encourage people to buy one, I want to show what you get long-term when you really invest in it. So has it been worth it, and is there any real value in the health data it presents?
Everyday wear
For the Apple Watch to collect its data, you have to wear it, and that’s not going to happen if it’s annoying or uncomfortable. With the right band, the Series 7 practically disappears on your wrist, so even those who don’t enjoy wearing a watch will quickly get used to it. And the variety of bands available means that if one doesn’t feel right, there will almost certainly be another that will.