A decade after the original Pebble Time Round struggled to find its footing, Pebble is revisiting the concept with a more considered follow-up. The Pebble Round 2, announced by Core Devices, is positioned as a corrective update rather than a nostalgic callback, addressing the design and usability issues that limited the appeal of its predecessor.
Pebble’s re-emergence has been gradual since the platform’s revival in 2024, driven largely by its open-source community and renewed hardware ambitions. The Pebble Round 2 fits squarely into that strategy. It will be shown publicly at CES 2026, with shipping planned for May, and joins a growing lineup that includes the Pebble Time 2 and the Pebble Index 01 smart ring.
The most obvious change is the display. The Pebble Round 2 features a 1.3-inch color e-paper screen that now extends edge to edge, eliminating the oversized bezel that defined — and undermined — the original Round. The use of e-paper remains central to Pebble’s identity, prioritizing readability and efficiency over high refresh rates or saturated colors. While it won’t compete visually with OLED-based smartwatches, it does support the platform’s emphasis on glanceable information and long battery life.
Battery performance was one of the original Round’s biggest weaknesses, and it appears to be the primary issue Pebble aimed to fix. Core Devices is rating the new model for up to seven days per charge, a substantial improvement over the two-day estimate of the Pebble Time Round. Notably, this gain comes without a dramatic increase in size. At 8.1mm thick, the Round 2 is only slightly thicker than its predecessor, preserving the slim profile that initially made the Round appealing.
At $199, the Pebble Round 2 also undercuts the original’s launch price, which sat at $249. That pricing reflects a broader shift in how Pebble is positioning itself in today’s smartwatch market. Rather than competing directly with premium devices from Apple or Samsung on features, Pebble continues to focus on simplicity, cross-platform support, and longevity.
Functionally, the Round 2 offers the basics expected of a modern smartwatch. It tracks steps and sleep, includes an accelerometer and magnetometer, and adds touch input alongside Pebble’s traditional button-based navigation. Pebble has emphasized that touch is optional, reinforcing the idea that the watch is designed to be usable without constant screen interaction. Water resistance is included, though the “30m target” rating leaves some ambiguity about real-world durability.
Like other recent Pebble devices, the Round 2 supports both iOS and Android, an increasingly rare trait in a fragmented smartwatch ecosystem. It also taps into Pebble’s long-standing software library, which Core Devices says now includes roughly 15,000 apps and thousands of watch faces. For longtime Pebble users, that continuity may matter as much as the hardware itself.
The Round 2 will be available with a stainless steel frame in matte black, brushed silver, and polished rose gold. Core Devices says all promotional images reflect working hardware, and hands-on impressions are expected once CES begins.
Whether the Pebble Round 2 can attract users beyond Pebble’s loyal base remains an open question. What is clear is that this version addresses the core complaints that held the original back. Rather than leaning on nostalgia alone, Pebble appears to be refining its formula into something more practical for today’s smartwatch audience.
