Pebble promises new devices after passing 1 million sales

Pebble is going big for 2015. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Pebble is going big for 2015. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Less than 18 months after it raised a record-breaking $10.3 million on Kickstarter, Pebble has now sold more than 1 million smartwatches.

It’s hoping to continue that success with new devices and new software in 2015, which promise to deliver a unique experience that you won’t get from the competition.

The Pebble may look a little outdated against rival Android Wear watches and the upcoming Apple Watch, but its e-ink display and long-lasting battery make it a more ideal choice for many. It only need charging once a week, it can be seen in direct sunlight, and it supports both Android and iOS.

Couple those things with reduced prices and frequent software updates that add new features and you have an affordable smartwatch that not only displays your notifications, but also lets you control your music in the shower, check weather forecasts or sports scores, and even reply to messages. It’s no wonder the device is still so popular.

But Pebble is determined not to let its watches stagnate. New models with improved software are planned for 2015, and they’re going to deliver a new experience that competing devices aren’t offering.

“We’ve found a new framework to use as an interaction model on the watch,” Pebble CEO Eric Migicovsky revealed to The Verge. “It doesn’t look like what we have today, and it doesn’t look like what’s on your smartphone.”

Pebble seemed pretty quiet in 2014. It released some significant software updates and added new colors to its lineup, and released the gorgeous Pebble Steel early on, but we didn’t get the new model many were expecting. It has been working hard behind the scenes, however.

Migicovsky said 2014 has been an “investment year.” More than 70 staff have joined the Pebble team, including a number of people from LG’s webOS design team, who have been working on new software. It’s all in preparation for big announcements this year.

2015 won’t be easy for the company with the Apple Watch on the horizon and Android Wear devices getting better and better. But it can build upon the features that have made its original devices so popular and keep prices relatively low, there should still be plenty of love for Pebble watches.