By One of the biggest questions the folks behind the Pebble, the Android-compatible smart-watch, had to face when promoting their Kickstarter was how the watch could hold up to a bit of a rough time. Pebble assured everyone that the protective glass it uses would be scratch resistant, and while “resistant” doesn’t necessarily mean “indestructible,” some users feel the glass is way too fickle for their claims.
A couple of different reports have sprung up on the Kickstarter’s comments page, with users expressing distaste over easily scratched smart watches. One photo of the watch showed horrifying scuff marks, while another had a light, yet still bothersome scratch. According to one user, Pebble responded to the claims by suggesting users use Displex to fix the scratch.
We’re working to retrieve proof of said response, but we’d wholly understand it if a user got upset at that particular suggestion. For starters, Displex doesn’t always work, and I’m pretty sure that particular product only helps for a hairline/feather scratch — the watches in the images above and below seem to be well beyond that point.
That said, we can’t flat-out take the users’ word for it, either. There’s no telling what sort of conditions the watches have been through. All we can do is reach out to Pebble for comment and see if we can’t get a clearer idea of just how “scratch resistant” these $150 pieces of tech are supposed to be.
In the meantime, members of the community suggest buying a screen protector and custom cutting it for use on the watch. I suppose this also wouldn’t be a bad time for someone to cash in with a Pebble Smartwatch screen protector project on Kickstarter. Has your watch suffered the same fate?
[via Kickstarter, Thanks Frank!]
Top one looks like the wearer has taken a tumble and landed watch-face down on the pavement.
Watches kinda sit in a bad spot for scratches. I’d be kind of surprised if they were able to make it scratch resistant enough to not collect any during normal wear.
My MotoActv has survived very well in the last year, One scratch if you look really hard at it. Worn daily and for a few half-Marathons and a Full.
I almost bought one of those, you like it?
top one looks like it has taken a big hit, not normal wear and tear
I will definitely make sure to get a protector before my shipment comes in. I wouldn’t want that problem, but I don’t think you can blame the watch, I mean don’t smash your wrist into things.
Yeah but this is your wrist, it will naturally brush past things including your own clothes. I would hope it isn’t scraping along hand rails etc but hopefully a watch face would stand up to general day to day scuffing.
I’ve been wearing my Pebble since I received it last week. I haven’t been particularly careful with it but not super negligent either. No scratches for me. Since the screen is plastic, if it does scratch, I’ll just use this vial of plastic polisher I have for watch faces.
Is it plastic? The article above mentions that it’s glass?
You know, I don’t know. I just assumed it’s plastic. My mistake.
Mine has some very light scuffs on the left side of the display. I was a little sad to see them show up – but I have no idea where they came from. Will see how it does after more than 5 days with it though…
I’m a backer and I have seen this coming as one of the potential biggest issues facing this device since day one. Most other watches are glass or have a recessed screen. Putting a plastic screen front centre on a device like this was always going to make it vulnerable
How much would it cost to put sapphire screens on these like most watches that cost over $100? And could sapphire work with a touchscreen?
It’s not a touchscreen.
Bestskinsever now sells Pebble Watch screen protectors. OUT OF NOWHERE! lol
Skinomi have a screen and a full body protector as well. Cheaper if you buy from Amazon.
No need to “custom cut” a Pebble screen protector..they actually have Pebble protectors on Amazon for like $3.99…cut to fit already. Check’em out!
link please?
heres one: http://www.amazon.com/Skinomi-TechSkin-Smartwatch-Protector-Protective/dp/B00B11AVCY/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1360271533&sr=8-11&keywords=pebble+watch
and one for the screen alone: http://www.amazon.com/Skinomi-TechSkin-Smartwatch-Protector-Lifetime/dp/B00B11AWUU/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1360271578&sr=8-21&keywords=pebble+watch
I already asked the Pebbles Team to make the vector file available so we can laser-cut some film, they answered “Why not, Transmitting message” and then…