Good things really do come to those who wait, and Pebble fans have been waiting years. The beloved e-paper smartwatch brand, which predated and out-charmed the Apple Watch for many, is about to make a proper comeback. Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky has finalized the design for the new Pebble Time 2.
This marks the return of retro-friendly minimalism and custom watch faces that made the original a cult hit.
Earlier this year Migicovsky regained the intellectual property behind Pebble, followed by a deal to reclaim the name itself. That allowed Core Devices to rebrand its upcoming Core Time 2 as the Pebble Time 2.
The final design, revealed today, features a stainless steel 316 front and back, knurled stainless steel buttons inspired by the Pebble Time Steel, slimmer bezels, and flatter glass for improved viewing angles.
Other hardware changes include an RGB multicolor LED backlight, a second microphone, a compass sensor, and a screw-mounted back cover. The watch weighs about 48 grams with the strap and 32.5 grams without.
Pebble Time 2 builds on previously announced specifications such as a 1.5-inch 64-color e-paper touchscreen, up to 30 days of battery life, heart rate monitoring, quick-release 22 mm straps, a speaker, a linear actuator vibration motor, and waterproofing.
Pre-order customers from the Pebble 2 Duo will be able to opt in to the Time 2 via an upcoming survey. Pre-orders are still open for anyone hoping to take a new Pebble home in 2025.
The Pebble Time 2 will not match the Apple Watch on health tracking depth or app selection, but that’s kind of the point. For anyone feeling Apple Watch fatigue or simply craving something different on the wrist, Pebble’s mix of weeks-long battery life, fun personalization, and cross-platform compatibility will surely be a lot of fun.
For me, I fondly remember my original Pebble purchase from Best Buy. While the Apple Watch has offers the most feature-rich smartwatch experience for iPhone users, the Pebble Time 2 really appears to the part of me that just loves tinkering with gadgets. I can’t wait try it out when it’s ready.
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