Pebble Round 2 Smartwatch: The $199 Return of a Slim Classic

Minimalism is back on the wrist. Shortly after debuting an AI smart ring, Pebble is ready to shake up the market again with the Pebble Round 2 smartwatch, blending nostalgia with modern AI capabilities.

The Pebble Round 2 Design Evolution

As the name suggests, this is a refined reboot of the original rounded favorite. The most striking improvement is the screen. By moving away from the massive bezels of the 2015 model, the new device features a larger 1.3-inch color e-paper display with 283 DPI. It offers double the pixels of its predecessor, making text and watch faces look sharper than ever.

Despite the upgrades, Pebble stays true to its affordable roots. Priced at $199, the watch maintains a slim profile of just 8.1mm. It's an upscale look that doesn't break the bank, designed for those who want a watch that feels like a watch, not a bulky computer.

Functionality and the 14-Day Battery Trade-off

Pebble's strategy involves a deliberate trade-off. To keep the cost down and the device thin, they've omitted the heart rate monitor. Instead, it focuses on core health metrics like steps and sleep tracking. The result? A staggering battery life of 10 to 14 days on a single charge.

• Open-source Pebble OS with support for thousands of apps.
• Dual microphones for voice replies (Android now, iOS coming to EU).
• Integration with AI assistants like Claude

Founder Eric Migicovsky told TechCrunch that the physical buttons remain a key advantage. They allow users to silence calls or control music without even looking at the screen—a level of tactile utility that touchscreens can't match.