Pebble/ZDNET
Follow ZDNET:
Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET’s Comprehensive Overview
Pebble officially introduced its new smartwatch, the Pebble Round 2, on Friday, marking a significant milestone in the company’s evolution as an independent watch brand. This latest model serves as a refined successor to the Pebble Time Round, which first debuted in 2015, offering substantial upgrades in nearly every dimension. After a full decade since the brand’s initial venture into circular smartwatch design, the new Pebble Round 2 seeks to redefine what a minimalist, open-source smartwatch can achieve — balancing style, utility, and longevity.
The Pebble Round 2 distinguishes itself with a combination of slender design and impressive endurance, boasting a 10-day battery life while remaining lightweight and exceptionally thin. Building upon the strengths of the original Pebble Time Round, Pebble devoted considerable effort to resolving prior user complaints — particularly concerning the overly thick bezel and limited battery capacity of its predecessor. The result is a modern smartwatch that preserves the understated elegance of an analog timepiece while seamlessly incorporating enhanced hardware and software features.
Although the Pebble Round 2 is not positioned as a high-performance fitness smartwatch intended for marathon runners or professional athletes, it succeeds in delivering a sleek and functional everyday companion. It specializes in fundamental health-tracking metrics such as step counting and sleep monitoring while emphasizing its primary strengths: reliable timekeeping, effortless communication, and convenient access to AI-powered assistance. In essence, Pebble has designed a product that merges simplicity with sophistication for users who prioritize practicality and aesthetic refinement over exhaustive health or sport analytics.
When discussing the philosophy behind the design, Pebble’s CEO, Eric Migicovsky, emphasizes a principle he believes has guided much of the company’s creative process: “Constraints make things better.” This guiding idea underscores Pebble’s focus on maintaining purposeful limitations rather than succumbing to feature overload. As Migicovsky elaborates, unrestricted creativity can sometimes result in products devoid of distinct personality or purpose — items that attempt to do everything but lose their soul in the process. By contrast, the Pebble Round 2 represents a deliberate act of restraint: a meticulously crafted watch that strives to embody elegance and feel more akin to a traditional wristwatch than a miniature computer. Achieving such refinement required Pebble to engineer the device to exceptional thinness, measuring just 8.1 millimeters compared to the original model’s 7.5 millimeters — a negligible yet meaningful variation that preserves its lightweight profile while enhancing internal functionality.
This redesign did not come without trade-offs. In order to maintain its refined and svelte structure, Pebble intentionally omitted bulkier features, such as an integrated heart rate monitor, which would have compromised the device’s dimensions. Instead, the watch employs an internal measurement unit paired with an accelerometer to accurately monitor daily movement and sleep cycles. Migicovsky acknowledges that the Pebble Round 2 will not cater to every type of smartwatch consumer, yet he views this selectivity as an asset. The product serves a distinct audience — those who appreciate enduring design, thoughtful craftsmanship, and useful digital minimalism.
In terms of display technology, Pebble continues to rely on its signature e-paper screen, a hallmark of the brand’s commitment to energy efficiency and visual clarity. The Pebble Round 2 features a larger 1.3-inch e-paper display, built within a minimized bezel to maximize visibility. During a side-by-side comparison, Migicovsky noted that the expanded display area dramatically improves readability, allowing notifications, messages, and time indicators to appear sharper and more legible under any lighting conditions. Unlike conventional smartwatch screens that emit continuous light — making them difficult to read in bright sunlight and energy-intensive — the e-paper display reflects ambient light, enhancing outdoor readability while dramatically reducing energy consumption.
Aesthetically, the new Pebble Round 2 arrives in a stainless-steel body that exudes both durability and sophistication. Buyers can choose among three distinct finishes — matte black, brushed silver, and polished rose gold — each designed to complement a variety of personal styles ranging from understated professionalism to subtle luxury. The watch comes equipped with a high-quality silicone strap for everyday versatility, though Pebble also offers optional leather bands for those seeking a more classic or formal appearance.
According to Migicovsky, the goal was to craft a watch that could vibrate gently for notifications and calls, present information clearly without intrusive brightness, and exude the timeless quality of an analog watch. He observes that many existing smartwatches, despite their technological prowess, fall short of excelling as timepieces because they force users to raise their wrists or perform certain gestures simply to check the hour. By leveraging e-paper display technology, the Pebble Round 2 resolves this issue with an effortlessly visible, always-on interface that remains energy-efficient and easy on the eyes.
In terms of connectivity and pricing, the Pebble Round 2 supports both Android and iOS platforms, ensuring broad compatibility across major mobile ecosystems. However, at present, the message-reply functionality remains exclusive to Android users. The watch is priced at $199 and is already open for preorder, offering early adopters a chance to secure one of the most distinctive minimalist smartwatches currently on the market.
Ultimately, the Pebble Round 2 exemplifies the brand’s unwavering dedication to preserving user-focused innovation. It is not merely another digital device but rather a thoughtful iteration of what a smartwatch can be — intelligent yet unobtrusive, technologically capable yet aesthetically grounded. With its elegant form, long-lasting battery, and sharp e-paper display, the Pebble Round 2 successfully bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern connected living.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/pebble-round-2-analog-watch-ces/
