Nerds Simply Need To Have Enjoyable

At CES 2026, we had an opportunity to speak to Eric Migicovsky, the CEO of the unique Pebble, who now runs Core Units. Migicovsky is chargeable for the return of Pebble smartwatches, as properly a model new AI good ring known as Index 01. Earlier this yr, we mentioned this upcoming ring along with the Pebble Spherical 2 and Pebble Time 2 smartwatches. He described the brand new Pebbles as “actually good at telling the time,” as they are not trying to usurp the likes of the Apple Watch, Garmin Venu, or Pixel Watch.

Over the previous month, we have been testing the Pebble Time 2 to see whether or not or not they’ll recapture the magic of the unique Pebble from the mid-2010s. We additionally wished to determine if this wearable makes the suitable compromises between good options and analog capabilities.

After attending to know Migicovsky a bit higher and sharing with him the frustrations that got here together with having an Apple Watch on my wrist continuously buzzing, dinging, and alerting me, I could not have been extra excited than when IFA 2026 arrived and I made a decision to depart my Apple Watch at residence and commerce it out for the Pebble Time 2 as my every day watch in Berlin. No conventional analog watch, no Apple Watch Extremely 2: it might be me and Pebble Time 2 for your entire week — and no charger, as a result of I refused to take Pebble’s proprietary charger. It went properly, and likewise taught me a couple of classes.

With a 1.5″ 64-color e-paper always-on show, the Pebble Time 2 watch includes a rectangular design that makes it look retro. It may be managed by tapping on the touchscreen, but it surely additionally has 4 bodily buttons that will let you return in a menu, scroll by way of the notification middle and settings, and verify your knowledge. On the again, the watch options some primary well being sensors to trace your sleep and coronary heart charge.

Obtainable in black or silver, what makes the Pebble Time 2 shine isn’t its colourful silicone bands however the 1000’s of watch faces you may add to it. In actual fact, one of many highlights of the revived Pebble watches is the neighborhood creating artistic watch faces. I instantly fell in love with an possibility that might solely sort of inform me the time, exhibiting “It is About 11” as a substitute of 10:58, as an example. I assumed it was cute and intelligent, and it additionally served as a enjoyable dialog starter.

As a result of Apple solely provides customers entry to a restricted variety of watch faces, I began sporting analog watches, comparable to Mr Jones Watches’ A superbly ineffective afternoon. The hour hand has been changed by somebody chilling in a pool. In the meantime, a duck floats across the perimeter because the minute hand. This sense of play is equally current on the Pebble Time 2.

Whereas the Pebble Time 2 is technically a smartwatch, it is not almost as stuffed with options as any Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. That mentioned, it’s certainly good, able to exhibiting notifications out of your cellphone, counting your steps, measuring your coronary heart charge, and recording each time you go on a stroll. You possibly can verify your calendar, set a timer, management your music, and use the Timeline characteristic to see how your day is shaping up. Whereas the watch has loads of instruments at its disposable, the e-paper show helps remind you that you just should not be glued to your watch, regardless of how interesting your watch face is or how full your calendar could be.

Core Units can be very clear about what Pebble Time 2 isn’t: it is not a health wearable and it does not attempt to do every thing, as it could possibly’t work with digital wallets or AI assistants. In an identical vein, once I wore the watch whereas sleeping, it might solely give me primary coronary heart charge readings, that means I wasn’t getting all the info I would come to count on from sporting an Apple Watch to sleep. As such, there was no compelling purpose to sleep with the watch on.

Certainly one of my favourite options of the Pebble Time 2 was Quiet Time, which could possibly be activated by long-pressing the one button on the left aspect of the watch. In any case, each time my iPhone was too shut, I might get the notification there and a second afterward the Pebble Time 2, which made me anxious prematurely. I additionally cherished the little mouse animation which confirmed that my smartwatch wouldn’t buzz each 5 seconds with a brand new message.

Core Units guarantees round 21 days of battery life earlier than charging the gadget turns into mandatory. If in case you have a much less dynamic watch face otherwise you activate the Battery Saver mode, the smartwatch can final over a month with out charging. For somebody used to an Apple Watch, that is an unthinkable period of time. I used to be already utilizing the Pebble Time 2 earlier than IFA, put it on a charger simply to be protected, and after utilizing it every single day for every week in Berlin, the battery was nonetheless over 70% once I acquired residence.

The one draw back, as is the case with most smartwatches, is that it depends on a proprietary charger. The Pebble Time 2 comes with a tiny adapter that connects to a USB-C port. I had a little bit of a tough time getting it to cost all the way in which to 100% as a result of it might finally disconnect because of the approach it was sitting on the desk or transferring barely by itself.

For the reason that magnets aren’t very sturdy, charging the watch wasn’t almost as simple as I anticipated it to be. Past that, because the adapter is tiny and also you not often want to make use of it, it looks like somebody (me) may simply lose it round the home (I discovered it after it went lacking for a day).

Not like an Apple Watch overview, which focuses closely on all of the options and expertise, the Pebble Time 2 has a unique aim in thoughts. This watch is not going to win anybody over with superior sensors, a flashy design, or entry to numerous apps. As a matter of reality — and Migicovsky emphasizes this — the Pebble watches are made for individuals who already know the model, know what to anticipate from its merchandise, and do not essentially need a tiny pc on their wrists always.

Nevertheless, should you weren’t round for the Pebble frenzy of the early 2010s, how have you learnt if the brand new Pebble is best for you? Nicely, it is best to know that this smartwatch comes with a number of shortcomings, particularly should you’re an iPhone person. The Pebble Time 2 is already (deliberately) restricted in comparison with most of its competitors, and since Apple does not provide the perfect integration between the iPhone and third-party watches, the expertise turns into much more restricted.

The Pebble Time 2 sits in a bizarre place the place it is the right smartwatch for individuals who need a retro digital watch with a contemporary twist, which is connecting to your cellphone and providing some well being sensors. In the long run, the Pebble Time 2 is not going to be for everyone, as I noticed it is not for me. I would reasonably go full analog or simply have an Apple Watch on, personally.

Now obtainable for $225 on rePebble.com, the Pebble Time 2 is an ode to the great outdated days of Pebble. Whereas Eric is making an attempt to replace his iconic model for this decade, Pebble nonetheless looks like an unique membership, stuffed with passionate individuals who have been eagerly ready for brand spanking new fashions. In the event you’re a member of that membership, or should you simply wish to escape the incessant notifications and knowledge gathering of extra superior wearables, there’s loads to love concerning the new Pebble.

For me — somebody who’s making an attempt to rely much less on an Apple Watch after work hours or health club periods — I discovered a more healthy steadiness by merely not utilizing a watch or choosing an analog watch as a substitute. The Pebble Time 2 sat in a clumsy house in between. It did not fairly enable me to completely disconnect, and it additionally did not provide all of the capabilities I need from a smartwatch.

Whereas I am not the target market, Pebble clients know what to anticipate, and so they’re those this revival is for within the first place. Nevertheless, if you need a real smartwatch, the reply isn’t the Pebble Time 2. However not everybody wants a fully-featured smartwatch.