Pebble, the company behind the early smartwatch phenomenon, has unveiled the Pebble Round 2, a redesigned version of its 2015 round-faced watch that aims to fix the original model’s shortcomings. The announcement follows the brand’s broader revival in 2025 and was led publicly by founder Eric Migicovsky, who framed the device as a corrective to past choices. The new Round 2 pairs a 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen and edge-to-edge glass with battery life claimed at more than two weeks. The watch is available for pre-order at $199 and is scheduled to begin shipping in May.
Key takeaways
- The Pebble Round 2 succeeds the Pebble Time Round (2015) and targets improved durability, battery, and usability.
- Display: a 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen that extends to the case edge and is bonded to the glass to reduce glare and reflection.
- Battery: manufacturer-stated runtime of over two weeks on a single charge, restoring Pebble’s long-life reputation.
- Dimensions: 8.1mm thickness, preserving a notably thin profile compared with many modern smartwatches.
- Sensors and features: step and sleep tracking, dual microphones for AI-agent interaction and dictation; no built-in optical heart-rate sensor.
- Price and availability: $199 pre-order price, shipping begins in May; owners who pre-ordered a Pebble Time 2 can convert their orders.
- Design changes address prior complaints: much-reduced bezel, improved viewing angles, and bonded display to cut reflectivity.
Background
Pebble first gained attention for straightforward, long-lasting smartwatches and an ecosystem that encouraged user customization. In 2015 the Pebble Time Round introduced a thin, round form factor and a color e-paper screen but received mixed reviews because thinness and design choices compromised battery life and durability. At a $249 launch price, the Time Round’s premium components also made it a harder sell to a mainstream audience at that time.
After commercial setbacks and a period of dormancy, Pebble re-emerged as a revived brand in 2025, with leadership publicly acknowledging past missteps. Founder Eric Migicovsky has emphasized returning to the core user base—people who value long battery life, simple utility, and the ability to tinker with watch faces and software—rather than chasing every mainstream sensor or feature set.
Main event
The Pebble Round 2 modernizes the round smartwatch idea with a 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen that reaches the edge of the case, eliminating the large bezels that characterized the earlier model. Pebble says the display is bonded to its protective glass to reduce internal reflections and improve off-axis viewing, a practical change for quick wrist checks. Viewing-angle improvements are highlighted as a key usability gain over the 2015 device.
Internally the company focused on power management to regain Pebble’s signature battery life. The Round 2 is being advertised with more than two weeks of endurance on a single charge, a revision intended to address the Time Round’s weak point. The device remains slim at 8.1mm while adding dual microphones to support voice interactions with AI assistants and message dictation, alongside basic activity tracking such as steps and sleep.
Pebble deliberately avoided including an optical heart-rate sensor or other bulkier health hardware, a decision rooted in the company’s stated desire to prioritize utility and longevity over an ever-growing list of sensors. Pricing has been set at $199 for pre-orders, undercutting the 2015 Time Round launch price, and shipping is slated to start in May. Pebble also offers order conversion for customers who had reserved a different, earlier-model preorder.
Analysis & implications
Pebble’s relaunch strategy signals a shift back toward the niche that initially embraced its products: users who prize battery life, simplicity, and customizability. By choosing e-paper and a restrained feature set, Pebble is trading the sensor arms race for endurance and thinness—attributes that still differentiate it from many Wear OS and watchOS competitors. If the claimed battery life is realized in daily use, Round 2 could reclaim part of the market looking for a low-maintenance wearable.
Commercially, the $199 price point positions Round 2 as a value-oriented alternative to mainstream smartwatches that emphasize health sensors and app ecosystems. That may limit appeal among fitness-focused buyers but could attract commuters, travelers, and users who prefer minimal notifications and long intervals between charges. The strategy reduces component cost and complexity, which may improve margins if sales volumes scale.
There are risks. Omitting an optical heart-rate sensor and other health features means Pebble will not compete directly with devices used for continuous health monitoring or intensive fitness tracking. Its market will remain narrower, dependent on convincing enough former and new customers that the thin form factor plus multiday battery life outweighs fewer sensors and potentially smaller app ecosystems.
Comparison & data
| Model | Display | Battery | Thickness | Launch price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pebble Time Round (2015) | Round color e-paper, notable bezel | Shorter than 2 weeks (review consensus) | Very thin | $249 |
| Pebble Round 2 (2025) | 1.3″ color e-paper, edge-to-edge, bonded | >2 weeks (manufacturer claim) | 8.1mm | $199 (pre-order) |
The table above contrasts the 2015 Time Round with the Round 2. Pebble’s central engineering changes—bonded glass, reduced bezel, and display tuning—are intended to remedy the earlier model’s viewing and durability complaints. The headline numeric differences are the advertised battery life improvement and the lower introductory price.
Reactions & quotes
Pebble framed the launch as corrective and user-focused, emphasizing utility over feature bloat. The company stressed accessibility for tinkerers and a return to the brand’s DNA in communications surrounding the release.
“We set out to fix what held the original round design back and return to long battery life and simple utility,”
Eric Migicovsky, Pebble founder (company statement)
Industry observers noted that Pebble’s narrower focus could both strengthen its appeal to a dedicated segment and limit broader market traction.
“A slim, long-life round device fills a clear niche but will need real-world battery confirmation to convince buyers,”
Industry analyst (commentary)
Unconfirmed
- Independent battery tests confirming the manufacturer’s claim of more than two weeks under typical mixed use have not yet been published.
- Long-term durability and scratch resistance of the bonded glass in daily wear conditions remain to be verified in third-party reviews.
- Exact compatibility and performance with third-party AI agents and voice platforms have not been independently validated.
Bottom line
Pebble Round 2 is a deliberate return to the company’s roots: a thin, round smartwatch that prioritizes multiday battery life, glanceable information, and user customization over a broad sensor set. The design and specification changes directly address shortcomings cited for the 2015 Time Round, while the $199 pre-order price undercuts the original launch cost.
If independent reviews confirm the battery and durability claims, Round 2 could re-establish Pebble as the go-to option for buyers who want a low-intervention wearable. However, the product’s appeal will likely remain strongest among users who consciously trade advanced health sensors and large app ecosystems for simplicity, thinness, and long runtime.