![Pebble Steel](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/84334b43198e4ddd1ee43e28d43d240e88e661c4/hub/2014/01/27/c411a538-8bb6-11e3-a24e-d4ae52e62bcc/Pebble_Steel_3583385713.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Pebble Steel is one of the best-looking, best-performing smartwatches around, and it’s about to get a little less expensive — in a sense.
Pebble just announced that the Pebble Steel , in both color variants, will be coming to Best Buy this Sunday, June 15. It’ll also be receiving a bit of a price drop: $229, versus the original price of $249. But, that also means you’ll just get the leather wristband. The $249 version of Pebble Steel sold elsewhere will have both leather and metal bands.
The original Pebble Watch remains at $149.
As Google I/O approaches, and with it the summer availability of Android Wear watches, reducing the price of the Pebble Steel might be seen as an inevitable defensive move for a watch that debuted in January. It’s also a welcome price drop. But, it’s really just dropping an extra previously included accessory. Be forewarned: going leather band only makes the Steel less shower-friendly.
The wearable landscape is about to get a lot more competitive, very quickly. But for now, the Pebble Steel is still the best smartwatch to wear, and this is an interesting little price move.
Editors’ note, June 12, 2014: Updated to clarify that the Best Buy version only includes a leather wristband)