The revival of Pebble has officially arrived, but for many tech-watchers the timing might be off. Pebble’s new models—the Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2—bring back the brand’s signature e-paper displays, multi-week battery life and simple, badge-style watchface charm. Yet, despite the nostalgic appeal, the wearable landscape in 2025 has moved on—and Pebble’s reboot may not cut it for most users.
Pebble’s renewed lineup leans hard into its legacy: the 1.26-inch monochrome e-paper display on the regular model, color e-paper on the Time variant, button controls, open-source OS compatibility and up to 30 days of battery life. These specs echo the original Pebble watches of a decade ago, with a modern twist like improved Bluetooth connectivity, a speaker, a stronger motor and a compass barometer. But what it lacks is the breadth of features mainstream smartwatches now offer: full-colour OLED screens, app ecosystems, advanced health-tracking sensors, GPS, mobile payments and seamless platform integrations.
That’s where the dissonance lies. For a user who already owns a device like the Apple Watch or a premium Wear OS/Galaxy Watch, the convenience and depth of those watches outweigh the minimalism Pebble is selling. They might see the new Pebble as charming—and a fun hobbyist pick—but not as a daily driver. Worse, when you price the new Pebble devices at $149 (for the base model) or $225 (for the colour version), they land in a category where value-conscious buyers expect modern sensors and ecosystem features. And that pressure leaves Pebble in a tricky place: not the most advanced, nor the most feature-rich, nor the lowest cost.
For enthusiasts, tinkerers and fans of the original brand, Pebble’s comeback is exciting. The company explicitly says this is a niche product “not for everyone,” aimed at those who want simplicity, open customization and the battery-life trade-off over full-on smartwatch complexity. But for the everyday user, the wearable space has matured to the point where the appeal of nostalgia may not outweigh practicality. In short: Pebble has returned, and it looks good—but it won’t replace mainstream smartwatches for most people.
