Pebble’s latest smartwatch will make its retail debut on Father’s Day. The company announced a deal with electronics chain Best Buy to start selling the Pebble Steel smartwatch on June 15. The watch will be available for $229 in two finishes: brushed stainless and black matte. Both watches will also include a black leather strap. Introduced in January during the Consumer Electronics Show, Pebble Steel is a more sophisticated model of the company’s smartwatch, boasting a sleek metal body. Pebble Steel was originally available only on Pebble’s website. Consumer reaction has been strong so far, says Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky, noting 66% of watch buyers are getting the Steel over the original Pebble. “It’s definitely capturing quite a bit of attention,” says Migicovsky.
Pebble Steel, the classier and more expensive model of the Pebble smartwatch that dominated the wearable mind share last year, is launching at Best Buy this weekend. For the first time, potential buyers will get a chance to see Pebble Steel in a retail location and instantly purchase the device rather than waiting on Pebble’s direct-to-consumer online sale channel. Beginning June 15, Best Buy will sell the product online as well as in its own physical locations and Best Buy Mobile stores. The price of the Pebble Steel will drop to $229, below its normal $249 price tag. The Steel will be available in Brushed Stainless or Black Matte color options. Both designs will come with a leather wrist strap and customers will later be able to get a steel band matching either color later. They’ll be separately sold accessories, which will disappoint some. Others may also be troubled by the fact that no other band will fit on their watch because Pebble uses a proprietary design. If you can deal with that and have $229 to spare, Best Buy will be open for Pebble Steel business beginning this Sunday.