Andrew Orr
Pebble is back and is betting that a 30-day battery life can shake up the smartwatch market dominated by Apple Watch.
The company is making a comeback with the Core 2 Duo and the Core Time 2. Led by original Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky, these offerings provide an alternative to the smartwatch market led by the Apple Watch.
At $149, the Core 2 Duo is an upgraded version of the classic Pebble 2, featuring modern enhancements such as a black-and-white e-paper display, 30-day battery life, and a polycarbonate frame.
The extended battery life comes with trade-offs, as e-paper screens refresh more slowly and lack the vibrant colors and high refresh rates of traditional OLED smartwatch displays.
In contrast, Apple's Series 10 offers only 18 hours of battery life but excels with a brighter, more colorful display and extensive health-tracking capabilities, including a new sleep apnea detector. Apple's Series 10 also features deep iPhone integration with Apple Pay, Siri, and fast-charging.
The Apple Watch SE, which starts at $249, is a more direct price competitor to Pebble's models, offering core Apple Watch functionality at a lower cost.
Two new smartwatches from Pebble. Image credit: PebbleThe Core Time 2, priced at $225, features a vibrant 64-color e-paper touchscreen display, metal construction, and advanced interactions similar to Apple's complications. It claims 30 days of battery life but lacks an always-on display and advanced sensors like ECG or blood oxygen monitoring.
Both Pebble watches contrast Apple's polished integration and proprietary software. Pebble's open-source PebbleOS appeals to tech enthusiasts seeking customization, with support for sideloading apps and community modifications.
Pebble devices can't match Apple's seamless ecosystem integration, especially regarding iOS functionalities like Apple Pay and Fitness+ tracking. But for users valuing extensive battery life, retro-style e-paper displays, and open-source flexibility, Pebble's latest offerings offer an interesting alternative to the Apple Watch.
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William Gallagher
Marko Zivkovic
Amber Neely
Christine McKee
12 Comments
Hampered by Apple anticompetitive stuff so it will suck using this with iOS. https://ericmigi.com/blog/apple-restricts-pebble-from-being-awesome-with-iphones
It will probably integrate fantastically with Android, so pick your poison.
I wish them well. My wife has a Huawei Watch GT4 which is perfect for what she wanted (design and battery life) but she complains about the restrictions Apple imposes with regards to her iPhone. She's hoping the EU will be able to change that.
In the meantime she loves the vibrant screen, fluidity of HarmonyOS and week long battery life plus 'fast' charging.
Just no. I had a Pebble before Apple released their Watches didn't like it at all. While I don't wear watches as a fashion statement, I like them to look nice as well as be functional to whatever degree I desire at the moment. So good luck to Pebble. I don't mind that they can't play in Apple's yard.
I wish Apple would follow Hauwei and Samsung's lead and make a round Watch. I've looked at the latters' offerings and haven't seen one that would make a good casual-dress watch, like a Rolex Datejust. Something that doesn't have to look like a smartwatch when I don't need it too.
Apple has a few watch faces that fit the bill but I'm getting tired of the same old-same old rectangular shape. The Series 10 does soften that a tad. But even Apple needs to do a little more to make the Watches and faces look a little more elegant without being busy or ornate. Pebble need not apply.
His complaints seem mostly about security features, a major selling point for Apple products.
it is no coincidence that he is complaining about iMessage access either.