iFixit

Removing the ribbon cable from the main assembly gives us a closer look at the buttons and Bluetooth antenna on one side, and the backlight LEDs on the reverse.

Since the cable houses all 4 buttons, 3 LEDs, and the Bluetooth 2.1 antenna, replacing an individual component will be impossible (even if you can somehow get inside without compromising the display).

Removing the backlight guide panel from the device grants us access to the motherboard/battery/vibrator assembly.

Much like the ribbon cable, three components make up this assembly, held together by very delicate soldering. If any one of them fails (most significantly the battery), they will all need to be replaced as a single unit.

The ICs of interest on the top side of the motherboard are as follows:

• Micron N25Q032A11ESE40F 32 Mb serial flash
• STMicroelectronics STM32F205RE high-performance ARM Cortex-M3 MCU, with a maximum speed of 120 MHz
• STMicroelectronics LIS3DH 3-axis accelerometer

The back of the motherboard hosts a Panasonic pan1316 RF module, promising the Pebble's advertised Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) functionality, powered by a Texas Instruments CC2564 Bluetooth Controller.

After some dainty desoldering, the module's EMI shield is removed to surprisingly reveal a slightly different Texas Instruments CC2560A, that appears to not include BLE support.

Word on the street was that Pebble had BLE functionality just waiting to be activated with a firmware update, but we can't find evidence of the hardware to back up this hidden potential.

Update: Pebble assures us that the update will be forthcoming, and explained that TI uses the same silicon for both the CC2560 and CC2564 parts—so despite the label on the chip, the update will make this a CC2564 with BLE support.

The Fullriver battery is rated at 3.7 Volts and 130 mAh. According to the GetPebble website, the battery is rechargeable via included USB charger, and lasts for over 7 days on a single charge.

• This seems like a challenge to us, but with the use of e-paper, we believe that even heavy use would allow for such long battery life.

Just to be thorough, we go ahead and pop out a couple of the Pebble's spring-loaded buttons.

In keeping with the über tight waterproofing, the buttons have gaskets to allow for motion without leakage.

If you break one of the buttons, it can be replaced individually from the others; however, you still need to get into the watch in the first place, a feat we have not yet mastered.

Smartwatches might be the next big thing, but—right now—the Pebble is a unique device. We don't have a repairability metric for a watch…yet.

In lieu of a numeric score, we'd like to list a few of our repairability and durability findings:

• Low power consumption decreases the frequency of charges, increasing the battery life.
• Watch band is a standard size and easily replaceable.
• Inaccessible battery limits life of the device to 6-10 years (by our estimates).
• It is impossible to open the device without destroying it or at least compromising its waterproofing, making internal repairs infeasible.

We got in touch with Pebble's design team and voiced some concerns about end-of-life recycling. We were happy to learn that they currently have a plan in the works for a responsible recycling program for dead Pebbles.