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Remember Pebble? The OG smartwatch that walked so Apple Watch could run? Well, dust off your 2013 tech nostalgia because the little smartwatch that could is making a comeback.
Eric Migicovsky, Pebble’s original mastermind, is bringing back the beloved e-paper watches through his new company, Core Devices.
And unlike most tech resurrections, which end up being soulless cash grabs (*cough* Nokia *cough*), this one actually seems to understand what made Pebble special in the first place.
The New Kids on the Block
The first one is the Core 2 Duo (and no, it’s not powered by that ancient Intel processor you’re thinking of).
Priced at a reasonable $149 and dropping in July, it’s basically a Pebble 2 that’s been hitting the gym.
The best part? They’re literally using leftover Pebble frames they found gathering dust somewhere. Talk about sustainability!
The more premium Core Time 2 will be available in December for $225.
It features a touchscreen that won’t make you want to throw it against a wall. They took everything we loved about the original Pebble Time 2 and gave it a 2025 glow-up.
What’s Actually New Here?
Both watches are rocking some serious upgrades under the hood:
- 30+ days of battery life
- Built-in speakers for chatting with AI assistants
- Improved step and sleep tracking
- The newly open-sourced Pebble OS
The Catch(es)
Because nothing in life is perfect, there are some hurdles.
iPhone users might find themselves in a complicated relationship with these watches – notifications are about as reliable as your ex’s texts. Android users, however, get the red-carpet treatment with full functionality.
There’s also the whole tariff situation, which might make prices bounce around. Migicovsky’s being straight up about it: if costs go up, so will prices. No corporate doublespeak here, folks.
Why This Actually Matters
Pebble’s return to basics feels like a breath of fresh air. Migicovsky isn’t trying to compete with Apple or Samsung here.
As he puts it, “I’m not building a company to sell millions of these. The goal is to make something I really want.” And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of energy we need in tech right now.
For those looking to get their hands on these new-old beauties, the Core 2 Duo will be limited to about 10,000 units. So, if you want to party like it’s 2013 (but with better battery life), you might want to start planning now.
The return of Pebble isn’t just nostalgia – it’s a reminder that sometimes the best innovation is knowing what not to change.
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