Following the return of the Pebble brand, Core Devices has revealed the final look of the Pebble Time 2: a 1.5-inch 64-color e-paper touchscreen, steel body and buttons, smaller bezels, flat glass, RGB lighting, a second microphone, a compass, and a screw-down back cover. Pre-orders are open for $225, with shipping scheduled for late 2025.
When a former Kickstarter legend rises from the ashes, it's easy to get caught up in nostalgia. The Pebble Time 2 isn't just a postcard from 2016. It's a finely calibrated return to simplicity: an e-paper display instead of OLED, buttons instead of countless gestures, a battery life in days and weeks instead of hours. Now that Pebble is Pebble again, we're also getting the final design of the watch that's meant to carry that DNA forward.
What's new with Pebble Time 2
The final list of new features is surprisingly specific: 316L stainless steel front and back (even the buttons are steel with a characteristic “knurling” pattern), multi-color RGB backlighting of the display, a second microphone (goal: better noise cancellation), a built-in compass, and a screw-down back cover. This is in addition to the already confirmed features – a 1.5-inch 64-color e-paper touchscreen, standard 22-mm straps, a heart rate monitor, and a targeted 30-day battery life.
Fewer edges, flatter glass, less glare
The look is closer to the minimalist original, but with a noticeably sleeker profile and noticeably thinner edges. The flat glass reduces reflections when viewed from an angle, and the RGB lighting allows for a more “warm” or “cool” background, not just the classic bluish one.
Specifications and ergonomics
The display remains one of the key decisions: an e-paper with 64 colors and a resolution of 200 × 228 pixels, which consumes extremely low power and is easily readable outdoors. The case is metal, the strap is standard 22 mm wide, and the target autonomy is around 30 days - that is, what has always distinguished Pebble from its "smart" competitors. According to Core Devices, the Time 2 is aiming for IPX8 water resistance (target rating), and as for the weight, The Verge states about 48 g with the strap (32.5 g with the case).
Price, pre-orders and availability
Pebble Time 2 is up for pre-order for $225, with shipments scheduled to begin in December 2025. The color scheme will be four-part, but is not yet finalized; customers will confirm the color before shipping. If you ordered a Pebble 2 Duo and would prefer the Time 2, the team is announcing an easy switch via a survey that will be sent out in about a month.
Why does this even matter?
Pebble once defined the “smart enough” watch: quick notifications, a reliable calendar, remote music, sports basics, and a battery that doesn’t require a nightly charge. Helping to restore credibility is the fact that Google opened up the PebbleOS source code in January 2025. That means more room for the community, easier fixes, and the chance for Zendesk to “keep things simple.”
Open source PebbleOS and ecosystem
PebbleOS is now on GitHub – minus some of the licensed parts, but enough for developers and enthusiasts to get to work. The result is predictable: familiar watchfaces, thousands of existing apps, and potentially new integrations, such as with assistant features and messaging services. For users, this means greater long-term sustainability and less reliance on the capricious support of major platforms.
What is still unclear?
Waterproofing is still “TBD” (the store does list an IPX8 target); the final color scheme is not yet finalized; and while the logistics plan is for December, hardware schedules are often optimistic. Still, development is clearly progressing—Migicovsky shows a working, albeit early engineering prototype in the post—and that gives the project real weight.
Competition and positioning
Pebble Time 2 It doesn't try to beat the Apple Watch or Pixel Watch in raw capabilities. It's aimed at users who value simplicity, responsive buttons, an always-readable display, and battery life in the "weekend + three weeks" range. In an era where wearables are often just wrist-mounted displays, the Time 2 is more of a digital diary with a little bit of retro pragmatism. It's a niche — but a niche big enough to once have a cult following.
Conclusion: Pebble Time 2
Pebble Time 2 It's not the biggest, thinnest, or most "smart" watch. But it's perhaps the most in tune with what we expect from a watch: to be there when we need it, and not to scream for a charger in the meantime. With a steel case, smaller bezels, RGB lighting, and a month of battery life, it feels like a mature evolution of an idea that once broke new ground. If the team can deliver on the hardware and software stability it promises, Pebble could make a very respectable comeback.
