In a world where many believe that past mistakes cannot be rectified, Pebble has boldly defied this notion, breathing new life into its legacy. The unexpected comeback of this smartwatch pioneer in 2025 has taken the tech community by storm, culminating in the launch of the Pebble Round 2—a revival of one of its most iconic models. Eric Migicovsky, the founder of Pebble, is on a mission to right the wrongs of the past and deliver a product that resonates with both old fans and potential new users.
The Pebble Round 2 serves as a successor to the Pebble Time Round, which first hit the market in 2015, only to receive a rather lukewarm reception from critics. Although it showcased an impressively slim design and a stunning round display, these features came at the expense of battery longevity and durability. Additionally, the advanced components contributed to a hefty price tag of $249 at the time—an amount that many considered excessive. The Round 2 aims to tackle these shortcomings head-on, enhancing not only the aspects that were glaringly flawed but also refining some of the less-than-ideal elements that previously went overlooked.
One significant improvement is the elimination of the bulky bezel that surrounded the display in its predecessor. The Round 2 boasts a 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen that extends beautifully to the edges of the case, enhancing the overall aesthetic. Furthermore, the viewing angles have seen considerable enhancement, allowing users to easily glance at the time without awkwardly adjusting their wrist. Another notable upgrade is the improved display bonding to the glass crystal, which minimizes reflectivity and glare—issues that plagued the original model.
Perhaps the most exciting news for fans is the impressive battery life, now exceeding two weeks on a single charge, thereby restoring the legendary Pebble longevity that users have come to expect. Despite its sleek profile at just 8.1mm thick, which is far more elegant compared to bulkier competitors, the Round 2 integrates dual microphones for seamless interaction with AI assistants and voice dictation for messages, not to mention step and sleep tracking capabilities.
Migicovsky stresses that the goal of this iteration goes beyond merely fixing the most obvious flaws. In a reflective piece from 2022, he noted that Pebble's downfall stemmed from its attempt to appeal to a broader audience, straying away from the core group of dedicated users who initially embraced the brand. Rather than overcrowding the device with features such as a built-in optical heart-rate sensor, the focus has shifted back to practicality. The Round 2 also seeks to rekindle a sense of creativity in hardware design, enabling users to customize their watch faces and truly make the device their own.
We hope to get our hands on the Pebble Round 2 soon for a firsthand experience, but for now, it's available for pre-order starting today at a price of $199, with shipping set to commence in May. For those who pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2 but have had a change of heart, there's good news—you can effortlessly switch your order without any hassle.
