
First Core 2 Duo smartwatch demo is here, with updates on shipping and software
The watch is still being tested, but PebbleOS is running with watch faces and Bluetooth.
US buyers could face a small price hike due to tariffs, but July shipping is still the goal.
Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky posted a new video from his garage last week. The video showed off an early version of the Core 2 Duo smartwatch and discussed the project's current status. It gave us our best look at the upcoming smartwatch yet, and Migicovsky also answered fan questions about the future.
In the first episode of a new podcast called Tick Talk with Eric Migicovsky, he gave a quick demo of the device, which is still in the testing phase. The unit he showed on camera isn't even sealed up — it's held together with tape and can't actually tell the time yet — but it's already running PebbleOS. Despite being a work-in-progress, features like Bluetooth and watch face support are in place, with some pretty cool examples demonstrated. The strap and charging dongle that will ship with the watch were also shown.
According to Migicovsky, the plan is still to start shipping Core 2 Duos in July, but he warned that new US tariffs on China could cause some headaches for buyers in the States. He said Core Devices will try to minimize the extra costs — currently estimated to be between $10 and $25 per watch — by bulk importing the units. Customers outside the US shouldn't be affected, as those orders will ship straight from China.
Migicovsky answered several questions from fans, including ones about new features. He's thinking about adding complications, which are little widgets like weather or calendar data that show on the main watch face. He's also keen on better integration with Beeper so you can see chat history, and deeper support for voice-based AI agents like Bobby, which is a Gemini-based platform he has on his Pebble watch. He goes on to mention small tweaks he'd like to see, such as making the backlight less harsh at night and increasing the font size for the clock on the notification screen.
While the focus right now is getting Core 2 Duo out the door, Migicovsky hinted at broader plans. Core Devices is working on making PebbleOS easier to port to different hardware. Once the groundwork is laid, creating new hardware running PebbleOS should be easier, whether from Core Devices or others.
As always, the Pebble spirit seems to be very much alive. 'I love having a device in my life that just makes me feel happy,' he said, showing off a watch face on his current Pebble with an octopus holding an ice cream cone.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at
Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


TechCrunch
26 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Pebble's smartwatch is back: Pebble Time 2 specs revealed
Eric Migicovsky, the original creator of the Pebble smartwatch, on Wednesday showed off the new designs for the upcoming watch, now known as the Pebble Time 2. Although the company originally branded its new watches as the Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2 when it first announced its plans to return to the market in March, Migicovsky says the company has since been able to regain the Pebble trademark. That means the new watches will instead be called the Pebble 2 Duo and the Pebble Time 2. Migicovsky's company, Core Devices, had also shown off early ideas for the watches back in March, but today it's revealing the final design for the Pebble Time 2. Image Credits:Core Devices The industrial design of the watch has changed, and a handful of new features have been added, notes Migicovsky in a blog post. The Time 2 will debut in four colors, still yet to be determined; Pebble buyers will have input later on, the company says. Plus, the company is adding a multicolor RGB LED backlight, a second microphone (to aid with a potential environmental noise cancellation feature), a compass sensor, and a screw-mounted back cover. The watch will be stainless steel on the front and back, and feature stainless steel buttons like the older Pebble Time Steel. Other previously announced specs will remain the same, including Pebble's plans for a 1.5-inch 64 color e-paper display, a touch screen, a quick-release 22mm watch strap, a flat hardened glass lens, 30-day estimated battery life, heart rate monitor, step and sleep tracking, speaker, linear actuator motor (for vibration), and a waterproof rating of some sort, which is yet to be determined. The Pebble Time 2 is available for pre-order for $225 and will pair with a smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing it to display notifications, control the music on your phone, and connect with the internet. The company also noted that people who pre-order the Core 2 Duo can upgrade to the Pebble Time 2 while reserving their place in line. To do so, customers shouldn't cancel the original order, but instead wait for an email survey link that will be emailed in the next month or so, offering the option for them to catch their order.


Gizmodo
an hour ago
- Gizmodo
This Is the New Pebble Smartwatch, and Yes, It's Now Called Pebble Again
After more than a decade, the Pebble smartwatch is back, and it already looks enticing for those of us who can't be bothered with today's health data-obsessed, sensor-filled, and all-too-weighty wearables. The company behind the revitalized watch shared its final designs for what's coming, and it may be the simple smartwatch we've been missing since 2016. Last month, original Pebble designer Eric Migicovsky reported that his new company, Core Devices, was able to recover the Pebble trademark, meaning we no longer have to pretend the previous 'Core 2 Duo' and 'Core Time 2' weren't an update to the older e-paper wearables. It's a good thing the name's back. Pebble is a brand name that fits the revitalized wearable's identity so perfectly. It's small and smooth, and anybody with fidgety hands can fiddle with it. On Wednesday, Migicovsky dropped pictures, renders, and specs for the upcoming smartwatches. First on the list is the Pebble Time 2. The smartwatch has a small, 1.5-inch color e-paper touch display with a bottom heart rate monitor, step counter, and sleep tracker. The update showed off the new smartwatch face frame and buttons—now both made from stainless steel akin to the 2014 Pebble Steel. The back is screwed on in case you ever need to access the internals (though it may also require some glue to hold it together). The head of Core Devices also said the new smartwatch will have a compass and a second microphone that could allow for better noise cancellation for any kind of assistant feature. 'Nobody really uses the compass,' Migicovsky said in a video accompanying his most recent blog post. '90-something percent of people haven't used the compass on a Pebble, so I wasn't feeling inclined to put another chip on it. But we found a relatively inexpensive chip… no guarantees how good it's going to be.' The Pebble Time 2 will potentially sport four colorways. Two of the color options are a silver or blackened shade of metal, but there may also be a blue and red polycarbonate option. The final colors haven't been finalized, but Migicovsky said the company will email all customers with a preorder to finalize their selection. Similarly, anybody who wants to swap their preorder from a $150 Pebble 2 Duo to a $225 Pebble Time 2 can just wait for a survey that will let them choose the more expensive option. The cheaper, polycarbonate option is akin to a Pebble 2, with a 1.2-inch black and white non-touch e-paper display with a barometer and compass, though it also lacks a heart rate monitor. Migicovsky has been regularly blogging his efforts in China to get the first Pebble units manufactured through his X account. The new images imply we're getting closer to an actual launch. Core Devices still needs to finalize colors and polish, and the smartwatch shown in the video is still a 'very early' rendition of the hardware. The smartwatch is running age-old PebbleOS with a few modern amenities, but there are still glitches to work out. The company still has to go through the process of engineering testing through design and production, so there's no official word on a release date. Either way, it may be a more exciting wearable than the upcoming Apple Watch Series 11, which is likely to debut in little under a month's time.


Android Authority
3 hours ago
- Android Authority
Pebble reveals Time 2's refreshed metal design, shares specifics about the display
Core Devices TL;DR Pebble has revealed the design of its upcoming Time 2 smartwatch. Like the older Pebble Time Steel, the Time 2 also comes with a stainless steel body and metal buttons. It features a 1.5-inch colored e-paper display and is expected to start shipping in January 2026. The beloved barebones Pebble smart fitness trackers are set for a comeback in 2025 after more than eight years of being discontinued. Back in January this year, Pebble's founder and ex-CEO Eric Migicovsky announced his plans to revive the lineup, and followed it up with revealing prototypes for two watches — Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2 — later in March. These watches offer up to 30 days of battery backup and run an open source version of Pebble OS. Now, Migicovsky shared a couple of updates regarding these watches on the third episode of his podcast, Tick Talk, which is specifically about updates on the Pebble OS watches. First, the parent company, Core Devices, has been able to re-acquire the Pebble trademark and will now be able to sell with that name. This was already announced on a blog in July and was reiterated in the video today. So, the previously announced watches will sell as 'Pebble 2 Duo' and 'Pebble Time 2.' While 'Core' is likely to remain part of the company's identity, we aren't sure if these watches — and the newer ones launched in the series — will be branded as Core Pebble or just Pebble. The second and more important update is regarding the design of the Pebble Time 2 (previously Core Time 2). Migicovsky revealed the near-final design of Pebble Time 2 and shared other details about the display and other components. Don't want to miss the best from Android Authority? Set us as a preferred source in Google Search to support us and make sure you never miss our latest exclusive reports, expert analysis, and much more. Inspired by the original Pebble Time Steel, the reincarnated version comes with an all-metal chassis made of stainless steel. Contrary to the design teased back in March, the Time 2 does not feature a rectangular dial but instead has subtle curves along the left and right side edges. There are four buttons along the periphery — three on one side and one on the other, just like the plastic Pebble 2 Duo, but they also come with a checker plate pattern engraved on the buttons for a more tactile sensation. The Pebble Time 2 comes in two color options, including silver and black, both with the same brushed metal finish on the part of the dial that's visible from the top. A third color was also promised back in March, but Migicovsky has now said there will be two more colors. While refraining from sharing any concrete details, he hinted that there could be a red or a blue insert between the upper and the lower metal plates. The watch uses a standard 22mm lug so you can choose from a variety of generic watch bands, alongside those available with the older Pebble watches. Core Devices The display on the new Time 2 has previously been confirmed to be a nearly-square 1.5-inch e-paper display with support for 64 colors. While the colors are expected to appear muted, the team has been able to use multi-colored LED as the backlight source for the display, which could be used to tweak the color temperature of the display or enable a warm tone for the night. The top glass is set to be flat, which, as per Migicovsky, should help reduce reflections from light sources. The display is also supposed to support touch, but the team appears to have yet to figure that out. Meanwhile, we have already seen what the charger for the two Pebble watches could look like. Additionally, Migicovsky has spoken about adding a compass to the Pebble Time 2. It has previously been confirmed to offer a six-axis gyroscope as the Pebble 2 Duo (erstwhile Core 2 Duo), but the latter also gets a barometer that the Time 2 seemingly lacks. Since it's still a work-in-progress and not expected to arrive before December, we might hear about some changes over the coming months. If you wish to grab one, you can pre-order a Pebble Time 2 at the brand's online store, though beware that current orders won't start shipping before January 2026. Finally, while the alpha-stage backers have started to receive their Pebble 2 Duo units, Migicovsky said last month that the devices have yet to go into mass production, and the brand is now looking to start shipping from the end of August, accounting for testing for a better IP rating. However, we could still encounter some delays in the actual shipping schedule. Follow