Pebble Steel (401BLR, 401SLR)

377 reviews

Dec, 2024

Positive
usability (134)
design (87)
size (81)
performance (62)
battery (60)

Negative
touch screen (5)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 377 reviews of Pebble Steel (401BLR, 401SLR). The average rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average rating of 4.1/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. Reviewers are impressed by the performance and software. The design and size are also appreciated, but comments about the image quality and price are different. Some have doubts about the touch screen.

usability, size, design, software, performance

touch screen

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Pebble Steel (401BLR, 401SLR) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 86/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 377 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(45% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (31% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (8% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (7% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (10% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

usability
Show positive (89%)Show negative (11%)(Show all)

size
Show positive (82%)Show negative (18%)(Show all)

design
Show positive (91%)Show negative (9%)(Show all)

software
Show positive (65%)Show negative (35%)(Show all)

performance
Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 185 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 46 of 185 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (188)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Pebble Steel (401BLR, 401SLR)

alaTest has collected and analyzed 36 user reviews of Pebble Steel (401BLR, 401SLR) from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.1/5 for other products in the same category on Amazon.co.uk. People really like the battery and design. The portability and price also get good opinions. There are mixed comments on the reliability and image quality.

usability, price, portability, design, battery

78% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Dec, 2024

Expert review by : Eugene Kim (pcmag.com)

Pebble Steel Smartwatch

The Pebble Steel is as mature as smartwatches come; it couples sophisticated design with a burgeoning Pebble app store, and cements its place atop the competition.

Elegant, high-end design. Easy to use. Customizable watch faces. Growing app store and feature set.

Expensive.

Conclusions The Pebble Steel is notable for what it is and what it is not. It's a complete redesign that tastefully marries high-tech with high-end looks. It's not a me-too product that tries to pack in needless features just for the sake of features....

Dec, 2016

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by (cnet.com)

Pebble Steel ( brushed stainless with leather band)

Released back in January, the stainless steel-clad Pebble Steel is a cosmetic upgrade to the original crowdsourced 2013 smartwatch, the Pebble . Its features are now relatively ancient: it has a non-touch, black and white display. It doesn't track...

A classic, sharp-looking design; works with iPhones and Android phones; screen readable in bright daylight; swim- and shower-friendly; built-in pedometer for persistent fitness tracking; wide variety of quirky apps.

Older technology compared to competition; onboard storage limited to eight apps at a time; still requires charging twice a week; lacks heart-rate monitor or more advanced fitness features.

The competition is advancing fast, but the geeky-cool, functional, and affordable Pebble Steel's conservative approach still works.

Nov, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Scott Stein (cnet.com)

Pebble Steel review: The first great smartwatch is still one of the best

What makes the Pebble Steel better than other smartwatches? An easy-to-read screen, new fitness apps, and an affordable price. Read our updated review.

Older technology compared to competition; onboard storage limited to eight apps at a time; still requires charging twice a week; lacks heart-rate monitor or more advanced fitness features.

The competition is advancing fast, but the geeky-cool, functional, and affordable Pebble Steel's conservative approach still works.

Nov, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Nilay Patel (theverge.com)

Pebble Steel review: business class

It's hard to imagine, but the best smartwatch you can buy isn't from Apple, or Google, or Microsoft, or Samsung. It's from tiny Pebble, a hardware startup that so captured the hearts and minds...

Looks like a regular watch ; Notifications and apps work well ; Simple to use

Apps could be better integrated ; All-or-nothing notifications on iOS

Jan, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Christina Bonnington (wired.com)

Review: Pebble Steel

The second-generation Pebble Steel performs the same basic tricks as the original, but with a new look and broader, more useful functions.

Slick new look says “I’m a technology professional” rather than “I’m an early adopter dork.” More apps means greater utility, which means you might actually consider wearing a smartwatch. Waterproof to 5 ATM, same as the original

0 price tag is a bit much for a glorified smartphone remote. We wish it had touchscreen display instead of buttons

Jan, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Chris Davies (slashgear.com)

Pebble Steel Review

Pebble might not agree that 2014 is set to be the year of wearables: the smartwatch startup closed out last year with one of the most compelling devices in its category, taking the original Pebble from Kickstarter hit to shipping product and finally...

No ecosystem is an island. Even the companies generally accused of being the most closed have demonstrated that, these days, if you want your platform to succeed you need to embrace outsiders: developers, enthusiasts, third-party accessory...

Jan, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Brian K. (phonearena.com)

Pebble Steel Review

By most metrics Pebble has been a bonafide indie success, the poster child for successful crowdfunding campaigns and the darling of the quickly emerging smartwatch market. While Pebble has been generally well received it is not without criticism, the...

Premium materials make it appropriate for dressier occasions ; Gorilla Glass and 5ATM waterproofing make it tough enough for everyday use

Price may be too high ; Non-standard watch band

We’ve been using Pebble as our daily watch since we first reviewed it nearly a year ago, but there were times when we’d have to slip our Seiko back on because Pebble just didn’t fit the occasion. While the Seiko is a very nice watch, we immediately...

Feb, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : matthew miller (zdnet.com)

Pebble Steel: Shopping for a decent watch? Might as well be smart

Hands-on review: The new Pebble Steel -- attractive, functional and well-supported -- is clearly the best smartwatch now available. But competition's on the way.

It seems that more and more people are using watches today, both for the function and for fashion. Many of these higher end watches run $300, $500, or more. Thus, if you are looking for a high quality and fashionable watch, the Pebble Steel is actually...

Feb, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Will Shanklin (gizmag.com)

Review: Pebble Steel smartwatch (updated)

When companies release follow-ups to their existing devices, they usually bring some upgrades to the table. Bigger screen here, faster processor there and maybe some fun new features. Pebble's latest watch, though, is all new on the outside, but...

, a familiar idea that's wrapped in a stylish new package.

Jun, 2014

Read the full review

Expert review by : Joshua Vergara (androidauthority.com)

Pebble Steel Review

The Pebble Steel attempts to introduce a more conventional look to a very functional smartwatch. Does it succeed? We find out in this Pebble Steel review!

Mar, 2014

Read the full review