Why I bought this timeless smartwatch the moment it went on sale – and don't regret it

I have the two Pebble smartwatches I purchased starting in 2013 and also backed the Pebble Time 2 watch that was later canceled when Fitbit purchased Pebble’s software assets. In January, I wrote an article on the TechCrunch report that CEO Eric Migicovsky was planning to bring back Pebble in 2025, but I thought that was likely just wishful thinking — I was wrong.

Preorder available now

It turns out that Mr. Migicovsky was serious, and just six weeks later we have the introduction of two new PebbleOS watches that should hopefully be available in July and December 2025. Interested consumers can preorder the Core 2 Duo for $149 or the Core Time 2 for $225. Since there are five months between the two launches, I ordered one of each for myself.

Also: The best smartwatches you can buy: Expert tested

Core 2 Duo similar to the original

The Core 2 Duo will be available in black and white with a 1.2-inch black/white e-paper display. It has a polycarbonate frame and looks a lot like the original Kickstarter Edition Pebble I bought back in 2013. The Core 2 Duo also sports a barometer and compass, 30-day battery life, IPX8 water resistance, a microphone and speaker, step and sleep tracking, and will have more than 10,000 watchfaces and apps available at launch. The new Core 2 Duo runs PebbleOS, an open-source wearable operating system.

Also: I compared the two best Android smartwatches right now – and it’s almost too close to call

Core Time 2 has a color display

If you want a color display, the Core Time 2 is the model for you, with a 1.5-inch, 64-color e-paper display that is a touchscreen. It has a metal frame and a heart rate monitor, as well as the other standard features in the Core 2 Duo.

These new Pebble smartwatches will work with both iOS and Android via a companion mobile app. There may be some messaging limitations with iOS, as is typical for other smartwatches that are not the Apple Watch.

Also: The best Android smartwatches you can buy: Expert tested

Make sure to follow along on Mr. Migicovsky’s blog to see the progress of the development and get ready to enjoy an affordable and capable smartwatch experience.

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