The smartwatch landscape is buzzing once again with the much-anticipated return of a beloved classic. Core Devices, led by original founder Eric Migicovsky, unveils the Pebble Round 2, a sophisticated reboot of the company’s iconic circular smartwatch. Priced affordably at $199, this new iteration promises an elegant design, an impressive two-week battery life, and a focused suite of essential features for the modern wearer. It’s a compelling alternative for those seeking simplicity, style, and longevity on their wrist without compromising on smart functionality.
Reviving a Legend: The Pebble Round 2 Story
After a brief hiatus, the Pebble brand is making a significant comeback, spearheaded by its visionary founder, Eric Migicovsky. This resurgence began with the reintroduction of the original Pebble smartwatch, followed by an innovative AI smart ring. Now, the spotlight shines on the Pebble Round 2, a device specifically engineered to recapture the essence of its 2015 predecessor, the Pebble Time Round, while addressing its limitations with cutting-edge advancements. It’s a testament to Core Devices’ commitment to delivering smartwatches that truly serve everyday needs.
From Vision to Reboot: Eric Migicovsky’s Core Devices
Eric Migicovsky, the original creator of Pebble, has a clear vision for the brand’s future. Through his new venture, Core Devices, he has meticulously worked to retrieve the Pebble trademark and relaunch key products. The Pebble Round 2 embodies this vision, aiming to refine an already popular design. Migicovsky himself acknowledged the original Pebble Time Round “wasn’t perfect,” particularly citing the “gigantic bezel around the edge.” This reboot is a direct response to those insights, leveraging technological leaps to craft a more refined and capable device. It’s a thoughtful evolution, not just a simple re-release.
Design Reimagined: Slim Profile, Bigger Screen
The original Pebble Time Round was celebrated for being the industry’s thinnest smartwatch. The new Pebble Round 2 proudly upholds this legacy, presenting an incredibly slim profile at just 8.1 mm. This sleek design positions it as one of the slimmest smartwatches available today, significantly trimmer than many power-hungry competitors. The focus on thinness isn’t just aesthetic; it contributes directly to wearer comfort, making it easy to forget you’re even wearing a smartwatch.
Sleek Aesthetics and Uncompromised Comfort
Beyond its svelte dimensions, the Pebble Round 2 exudes an upscale aesthetic. It features a durable stainless steel frame, offering a premium feel that belies its affordable price point. The watch comes with a comfortable silicone quick-release band, with optional leather bands available for separate purchase. Customization extends to color choices: matte black (20 mm band), silver (14 mm or 20 mm bands), and polished rose gold (14 mm band). This variety ensures a personalized look for every wrist, blending seamlessly with personal style.
A Display That Shines: E-Paper Evolution
One of the most significant upgrades in the Pebble Round 2 is its display. The watch now boasts a vibrant 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen display, dramatically expanding the usable screen real estate. This advancement directly tackles the original model’s “gigantic bezel” issue. With a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels at 283 DPI, the new screen offers twice the pixel count of its predecessor. Text and complications appear sharper and clearer. The e-paper technology ensures excellent readability even in direct sunlight due to its natural reflectivity. It also includes a backlight for easy viewing in low-light conditions, making it practical day and night.
Smart Features, Focused Experience
The Pebble Round 2 adopts a philosophy of intelligent minimalism. Rather than cramming in every conceivable sensor, Pebble carefully curates features that deliver genuine value. This deliberate approach results in a highly effective smartwatch that excels in its chosen functions. It’s a purposeful device, designed for users who appreciate efficiency and reliability over unnecessary complexity.
Prioritizing Battery Life Over Bells and Whistles
Perhaps the most compelling feature of the Pebble Round 2 is its exceptional battery life. While many smartwatches demand daily charging, the Round 2 can last an impressive 10 to 14 days on a single charge. This multi-week endurance is a direct benefit of its focused feature set and the power efficiency of its e-paper display. By intentionally omitting energy-intensive components like continuous heart rate monitors or onboard GPS, Pebble delivers a device that truly frees users from constant charging anxiety. This trade-off aligns with growing consumer demand for longer battery life and lower costs in wearables, as noted by industry analysts.
Intuitive Control: Buttons, Touch, and Voice
Interaction with the Pebble Round 2 is remarkably intuitive. It combines the best of both worlds: a responsive touchscreen and three tactile physical side buttons. These physical buttons allow for “eyes-off control,” enabling users to perform common tasks without needing to look at their wrist. For instance, silencing an incoming call in a meeting or pausing music while listening with AirPods becomes a seamless, instinctive action. Dual microphones further enhance interaction, supporting speech input for quick message replies and engaging with AI assistants. While currently an Android-only feature, iOS support for EU regions is anticipated soon, further broadening its accessibility.
Essential Health Tracking, Not an Overkill Fitness Device
The Pebble Round 2 offers a “slimline” approach to health and activity tracking. It accurately monitors essential metrics like steps taken, sleep patterns, and general activity trends. However, it’s crucial to understand its intended purpose. This Pebble smartwatch is not designed to replace a dedicated fitness or sports watch like a Garmin. It intentionally omits advanced features such as continuous heart rate monitoring or in-depth training metrics. This strategic choice reinforces its identity as a comfortable, everyday wearable that complements an active lifestyle without overwhelming the user with excessive biometric data. It’s for those who want key insights without a “miniature sports laboratory” on their wrist.
Powering the Experience: Open OS and AI Future
At the heart of the Pebble Round 2 lies the open-source Pebble OS. This operating system has historically fostered a vibrant developer community, leading to a rich ecosystem of apps and watch faces. This commitment to an open platform remains a key differentiator for Pebble in a market increasingly dominated by closed systems.
Pebble OS: A Thriving Ecosystem
The open-source nature of Pebble OS means the Pebble Round 2 can tap into thousands of existing apps and watch faces available on the Pebble Appstore. While developers will need to update their applications using a provided SDK to fully support the new rounded screen, the potential for a vast and diverse app library is immense. This ensures that users can customize their smartwatch experience to a high degree, from functional utilities to expressive watch faces. The availability of third-party AI assistants, such as those supporting Claude, further expands its capabilities, offering smart assistance directly from the wrist.
The Road Ahead: AI Integration
Pebble isn’t resting on its laurels. The company recently launched an innovative AI smart ring capable of recording audio and transcribing conversations. Looking forward, Core Devices plans to integrate similar cutting-edge AI functionalities into its smartwatches. This future-proofing ensures that the Pebble Round 2 will continue to evolve, offering even more intelligent and intuitive experiences as AI technology advances. It signals Pebble’s ambition to remain at the forefront of accessible, smart wearable technology.
Availability and Customization
The excitement surrounding the Pebble Round 2 is palpable, and its availability is designed to be straightforward. This highly anticipated device is positioned to offer a compelling blend of nostalgia and modern functionality.
Pre-order Your Pebble Round 2
The Pebble Round 2 became available for preorder on January 2nd directly from Pebble’s website. Enthusiasts can secure their device, with shipping anticipated to commence in May. For existing customers who previously pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2, Core Devices is offering a flexible option: they can choose to switch their order to the new, thinner Pebble Round 2 if they desire. This demonstrates a thoughtful consideration for their loyal customer base, providing a seamless upgrade path to the latest model.
Personalize Your Wrist: Colors and Bands
Beyond its core functionality, the Pebble Round 2 offers excellent opportunities for personalization. It’s available in three distinct color options: matte black, silver, and polished rose gold. Each color option supports different quick-release band sizes, ensuring a perfect fit and easy interchangeability. The matte black model comes with a 20 mm band, the silver variant offers flexibility with either a 14 mm or 20 mm band, and the elegant polished rose gold supports only the 14 mm band. This versatility allows users to truly make the Pebble smartwatch their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key improvements in the Pebble Round 2 compared to its predecessor, the Pebble Time Round?
The Pebble Round 2 brings significant upgrades over the 2015 Pebble Time Round. It features a larger 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen display, which eliminates the original’s chunky bezel and doubles the pixel count (260×260 at 283 DPI) for sharper visuals. Battery life has seen a massive leap, extending from the original’s two days to an impressive 10-14 days on a single charge. The new model also integrates dual microphones for voice input and message replies, and benefits from an updated, more aesthetically pleasing design while maintaining an ultra-slim 8.1 mm profile.
Where can I pre-order the Pebble Round 2 and what are the shipping details?
The Pebble Round 2 became available for preorder on January 2nd directly from Pebble’s official website. Customers can place their orders there to secure one of these highly anticipated smartwatches. Shipments for pre-orders are currently anticipated to begin in May. Additionally, for those who previously pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2, Core Devices is providing the option to easily switch their existing order to the new, thinner Pebble Round 2.
Is the Pebble Round 2 the right smartwatch for users prioritizing battery life and essential features over advanced fitness tracking?
Absolutely. The Pebble Round 2 is specifically designed for individuals who value multi-week battery life, an elegant and comfortable design, and a focused set of core smartwatch features. It excels at always-on timekeeping, smart notifications, basic activity tracking (steps, sleep), and intuitive control via physical buttons and voice input. However, it intentionally omits advanced fitness features like continuous heart rate monitoring or onboard GPS to achieve its extended battery life and affordable price point. If you’re looking for a stylish, long-lasting daily companion rather than a dedicated sports watch, the Pebble Round 2 is an excellent choice.
The Verdict: Why the Pebble Round 2 Stands Out
The Pebble Round 2 isn’t just a nostalgic reboot; it’s a strategically re-engineered smartwatch for a specific audience. By focusing on exceptional battery life, a comfortable and slim design, an intuitive user experience, and an accessible price point, Core Devices has carved a distinct niche. It offers a refreshing alternative to complex, feature-packed devices that often demand daily charging. For those who appreciate thoughtful design, genuine practicality, and the enduring charm of the Pebble brand, the Pebble Round 2 promises to be an indispensable companion. It truly represents an intelligent character reboot, delivering a purposeful device that doesn’t just tell time, but enhances daily life with elegance and endurance.
