Slightly over a month after announcing its return, Pebble has officially unveiled two new smartwatches: the Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2. Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky introduced the latest models, promising improved battery life, better durability, and upgraded features while staying true to the brand’s signature e-paper display and user-friendly interface.
Core 2 Duo: A long-lasting upgrade
The Core 2 Duo, an improved version of the Pebble 2, now boasts a significantly longer battery life. With a more power-efficient Bluetooth chip, it offers up to 30 days of battery life—far surpassing its predecessor’s 7-day limit.
In addition to improved battery performance, the Core 2 Duo has a built-in speaker, making it more versatile for notifications and voice interactions. The watch also features more durable buttons, tested to last 30% longer than previous models. For outdoor enthusiasts, new barometer and compass sensors add to its functionality.
Despite these upgrades, the Core 2 Duo retains Pebble’s classic 1.26-inch black-and-white e-paper display, lightweight polycarbonate frame, and built-in step and sleep tracking.
Core Time 2: Pebble’s dream smartwatch
The Core Time 2 is Pebble’s premium model, featuring a 1.5-inch 64-colour e-paper display with touchscreen functionality. Compared to the Pebble Time 2, the new display is 53% larger and has 88% more pixels, providing clearer text and improved detail. The flat glass lens also reduces glare and reflections, making it easier to read in bright conditions.
Designed with a sleek metal case, the Core Time 2 also includes a heart rate monitor for fitness tracking. Like the Core 2 Duo, it delivers an impressive battery life of up to 30 days, ensuring extended use without frequent charging.
Open-source software and availability
Both smartwatches run on PebbleOS, an open-source platform that supports more than 10,000 existing watch faces and apps. Developers can create new custom designs and apps using an updated software development kit (SDK). Pebble will also release a companion mobile app for Android and iOS to enhance user experience.
The Core 2 Duo, which comes in black and white, is available for pre-order at US$149 and will ship in July. The flagship Core Time 2, which is priced at US$225, will be released in December. The final colour options will be announced later this year. Pre-orders can be placed at store.repebble.com.
