Pebble’s revival has generated a lot of excitement, particularly among smartwatch fans looking for a retro-minimalist wearable that masters the basics without digital overload. The company, now trading as RePebble, is bringing back another popular favorite from a decade ago – the Pebble Time Round. Say hello to Pebble Round 2.
Ooh, that’s a looker
The latest in the Pebble range features a round dial with an astonishingly thin profile of just 8.1mm, while the case is made of stainless steel. It will be available in matte black, brushed silver and polished rose gold colors with a choice between 14mm and 20mm band options.
On the front there is a 1.3 inch color e-paper display (260 x 260 pixels at 283 DPI). It’s a touch-sensitive display, but you can skip touch interactions entirely and navigate the entire interface using the four physical buttons.
What’s more, it’s an always-on panel, so you won’t be burdened with annoying boot-ups or button presses. Speaking of user interface, the Pebble Round 2 works seamlessly with Android and iPhone pairing, thanks to open source software that already offers over 15,000 apps and watch faces to choose from.
This is not your typical smartwatch that comes with an advanced biosensor hub. On the contrary, it’s more of a companion device for your phone that can do step and sleep tracking at best. The watch is actually designed for convenience and to that end it supports voice-based messaging and even interaction with AI assistants.
A cool reward for fans
The Pebble Round 2 is said to last two weeks on a single charge, and the company is also aiming for water resistance to a maximum depth of up to 30 meters. It’s clear that it can’t compete with competitors like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in terms of durability, but that’s not the goal of this watch.
The company says it is currently in the design verification test (DVT) phase for Round 2, but has already started taking pre-orders for the Pebble Round 2 for $199 each. The shipping estimate, however, is scheduled for May.
If you’ve already pre-ordered a Pebble Time 2 but love the Pebble Round 2, you can change your order and get the new model. The lineup will also be unveiled at CES 2025, so stay tuned for a deeper hands-on dive as well.
