Apple watch vs. Pebble watch

I have been using a Pebble smart watch for over 6 months now, and it has become my watch of choice. I will explain why and then give you my thoughts on the new apple watch.

First and foremost, the Pebble watch isn’t an attractive piece of jewelry like a Rolex. It looks like a black sports watch, with a rubber/plastic band, but it is attractive enough to use in court or in a client meeting.

The Pebble links to my iPhone via Bluetooth and it vibrates when my phone rings. This allows me to not only turn off the annoying ring tone, but I never miss a call. When it vibrates, I look at the watch face screen and if it is someone I want to talk to, I pull out my phone and talk to them. If not, I just push a button on the side of the watch that sends them to voicemail. The screen is a type of monochrome, and it is not as easy to read, as I would like, especially since I wear glasses to read. The newest Pebble does have color and addresses this issue.

I also have the Pebble programmed to alert me to text messages with a vibration. I simply glance at the message and either “X” it out (delete), or pull out my phone and respond. I could have it programmed to show me emails, but I get too many and they are too long to read on the tiny screen, so I leave that function on my phone.

Another everyday function is that I can program it to act as a silent alarm clock. I have it programmed to wake me up at different times during the week, to alert me that it is time to get in bed, and well as other alarms to leave for the airport or do this or do that.

I have a Starbucks app that allows me to just show my watch face to the scanner in order to pay, and I have Tripit (my travel app) on the Pebble to alert me about flight changes that the airlines may send me. This is real important because a gate change alert that isn’t seen for 10 minutes can cost you big time.

Another favorite app for my Pebble is to use it as a range finder. I own a $350 range finder that is now a paperweight in my golf bag. I simply choose the course I am playing and the GPS gives me accurate distances within 10 feet. This is incredibly handy because not only do I no longer have to pull the range finder out for my friends, and myself but also I don’t have to worry about losing it or breaking it.

I have been using an UP24 Jawbone activity/sleep monitor for over a year and I have found it to be incredible in helping me improve my sleep, the sleep quality, as well as make me aware of how much I do/don’t walk during a busy day.  I love the data! I was hoping that the activity monitor apps available on the Pebble would replace my UP24, after all – who wants to be wearing multiple black plastic bands on both wrists? Unfortunately, the activity/sleep monitors on the Pebble just are no where near as accurate as the Jawbone UP24.

The beauty of the Pebble is that it keeps a charge for 7 days and recharges in less than 20 minutes, and that is the greatest weakness of the Apple watch.

While the Apple watch is not available as of this moment, I have read enough to know that they will execute better than Pebble in most areas – better screen, better integrated apps, more attractive band and case options, etc. But it will only hold a charge for 18 hours at best. If you are running apps in the background all day, you can probably figure it will last maybe 12-15 hours – at best. Conflicting sources on the Apple community site say the Apple watch can do a fast charge in about 2 hours (to 80% capacity), full charge in about 4 hours, others say if you charge from 30%, you have to wait about 2 hours and 37 minutes for a full charge. Either way, if you plan on sleeping with the Apple watch on in order to take advantage of the sleep/activity monitor when are you going to charge it? At your desk in your office? This is a major problem in my opinion.

I am going to probably get the Apple Watch 6 months after it is out and probably wear my UP24 also.  I will probably charge my Apple watch next to my Iphone and Ipad on my bedside table and keep the UP24on my wrist at night – it also has the silent vibration alarm feature.