If you're an Android phone user, the Pebble is a tempting alternative to Android Wear, and simpler to use. It's got awesome battery life, and handles notifications (and even some voice-transcribed responses) well. iPhone owners would probably be better off getting an Apple Watch. But the Pebble is also a difference in philosophy. It's a less intensive smartwatch. It trades deeper, more complex tech for long battery life and an always-on screen. I love those features, but miss some of the advanced tricks I've come to use on Apple Watch. And the Pebble Time still doesn't cut it as a fitness tracker for serious fitness...although it's okay for casual use.

The Time Steel is everything we’ve come to expect from Pebble - reliable, a bit geeky, easy to use - and more. It’s the best-looking smartwatch Pebble has produced - some of the finish and strap combinations are honestly quite classy, and it’s also the loveliest to wear. The ten day battery life, which looks to be accurate, is also impressive. The slightly washed out, colour e-paper screen won’t be for everyone and the big picture is that we’d prefer not to compromise on display quality. And the apps, accessories and real world partnerships can’t match Apple and Google. But this is a genuine Apple Watch alternative, make no mistake.

Improved looks and a better battery life put the Pebble Time Steel slightly ahead of the Pebble Time. However, it's too expensive for what's on offer.