Pebble, known for its innovative wearable technology, is expanding its product lineup with the introduction of the Pebble Round 2 smartwatch. This launch follows closely on the heels of the revived Pebble smartwatch and a new low-cost AI smart ring, signaling Pebble's renewed push into the wearables market.

Priced at an accessible $199, the Pebble Round 2 is a modern reimagining of the company's original rounded smartwatch. It aims to offer an upscale aesthetic with its circular display, while maintaining the brand's commitment to affordability and extended battery life.

Affordable Features and Impressive Battery Life

To keep the price point low, the Pebble Round 2 focuses on essential functionalities. It provides basic health and activity tracking, monitoring metrics like steps and sleep patterns. However, it intentionally omits advanced features such as a heart rate monitor, which are common in more expensive fitness or sports watches.

This streamlined approach offers a significant advantage: exceptional battery life. Users can expect the Pebble Round 2 to last between 10 to 14 days on a single charge, a notable duration compared to many competitors that require daily recharging.

A Slim Reboot with Design Enhancements

The Pebble Round 2 is a direct successor to the Pebble Time 2 and a reboot of the 2015 Pebble Time Round. The original model was lauded as the industry's thinnest smartwatch at the time. The new version largely retains this slim profile, measuring just 8.1mm thick, a slight increase from the original's 7.5mm.

Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky acknowledged the original's imperfections in an interview with TechCrunch, stating, "It had a few things we could improve, most notably being the gigantic bezel around the edge." The first rounded watch face utilized an octagonal glass piece with hidden rounded edges, resulting in a smaller usable screen area.

Thanks to advancements in display technology, the Pebble Round 2 boasts a larger screen with a significantly reduced bezel. This not only enhances the device's visual appeal but also allows for more text to be displayed, improving the user experience.

Display, OS, and Input Capabilities

The smartwatch features a 1.3-inch color e-paper display with a resolution of 260 x 260 pixels and 283 DPI—effectively doubling the pixel count of the original Pebble Time Round. A built-in backlight ensures visibility even in low-light conditions. Powering the device is the open-source Pebble OS, known for its efficiency.

For interaction, the Pebble Round 2 includes dual microphones, enabling speech input and convenient message replies. Currently, this feature is exclusive to Android users due to Apple's restrictions, though iOS support is anticipated in the EU soon. Physical side buttons offer intuitive control for various functions, such as silencing incoming calls, playing or pausing music, and navigating the interface.

"Say, for example, someone’s calling, and you’re in a meeting, and you just don’t want to answer the call," Migicovsky explained, highlighting the benefit of tactile controls. "You don’t even want to look at your watch. You always know that the bottom button cancels the call."

Design and Customization

Crafted with a stainless steel frame, the Pebble Round 2 integrates an accelerometer and magnetometer. Each watch comes with a silicone band and a Pebble charge dongle, while leather bands will be available for separate purchase.

The watch is offered in three distinct color options, each supporting different band sizes:

  • Matte Black: Features a 20mm quick-release band.
  • Silver: Supports either a 14mm or 20mm band.
  • Polished Rose Gold: Exclusively supports the 14mm band.

Apps and Future AI Integration

The Pebble Round 2 is compatible with thousands of apps and watch faces available on the Pebble Appstore. Developers will need to update their applications to support the new rounded screen using the provided SDK. The platform already supports AI assistants, including those for Claude and other popular assistants.

Pebble is also actively developing more advanced AI features for its devices. The company recently launched an AI smart ring capable of recording and transcribing audio. Migicovsky confirmed that similar AI functionalities found in the smart ring will eventually make their way to Pebble smartwatches.

Availability

The new Pebble Round 2 will be available for pre-order starting January 2 directly from Pebble's official website. Shipping is expected to commence in May. Customers who previously ordered the Pebble Time 2 will also have the option to switch their order to the Pebble Round 2 if they prefer.