Pebble smartwatch gets new stainless steel finish

The Pebble is one of the few smartwatches that hasn't disappointed, but its rather chintzy design may have turned off fashion-minded gadget-lovers. Fortunately for them, Pebble is releasing a new version of its device with a refined look and all-steel construction.

Announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Monday, the Pebble Steel is available for preorder now and costs $249 — $100 more than the original Pebble (still for sale). You can choose between brushed metal or a black matte finish.

Purchasers of the original need not worry that they've been left behind: The internals and e-paper screen are the same, and all the apps will work just as they did before. The only change is the exterior, going from candy-like plastic to solid steel; it's still waterproof, but the Steel should also prove a bit sturdier to rough use.

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There are also new Pandora and ESPN apps that all Pebble owners can enjoy, and an app store should be going live within a month or two.

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Pre-orders will ship on Jan. 28 but you might want to wait until after CES is finished, since it's almost certain a few more smartwatches will make their debut over the next few days.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.