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: Pebble
The 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.
