The long-awaited revival of the Pebble smartwatch is set to reach customers' wrists next month, as creator Eric Migicovsky confirmed the Core 2 Duo is "near mass production" and on track for July delivery to pre-order customers.
The $149 device represents the first new Pebble-style smartwatch since the original company's demise in 2016, marking a return for the e-paper display technology that once challenged Apple and Samsung's dominance in wearables.
Migicovsky, who founded the original Pebble company, told customers this week that pre-order holders will receive shipping confirmation details later this month, with devices arriving in July or August1. The entrepreneur's new company, Core Devices, is also opening a beta testing program for the companion mobile app that will sync notifications and watch faces to the device.
The Core 2 Duo features a 1.26-inch black and white e-paper display, 30-day battery life, and compatibility with over 10,000 existing Pebble apps and watch faces2. Only 10,000 units are being produced in the initial run, with future production dependent on customer demand3.
A higher-end model, the Core Time 2, remains scheduled for December release at $225, featuring a color e-paper display and heart rate monitor4.
The path to launch has not been without obstacles. During a May demonstration on Migicovsky's "Tick Talk" podcast, the prototype device was held together with tape and could not yet display the time1. The founder warned that new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports could add $10 to $25 to the cost for American buyers1.
Some customers have expressed concerns about the device's reliance on original Pebble 2 components, including buttons prone to failure over time2. Migicovsky has acknowledged these limitations, recommending customers consider upgrading to the Core Time 2 if durability is a priority.
The smartwatch's return became possible after Google open-sourced PebbleOS in January 2025, releasing the operating system that powered the original devices1. Google acquired the rights to Pebble's technology when it purchased Fitbit in 2021, which had previously acquired the defunct startup.
The original Pebble raised over $10 million on Kickstarter in 2012, becoming the platform's most funded project at the time1. The company shut down in 2016 after struggling to compete with Apple Watch and other mainstream wearables.
"I just love gadgets," Migicovsky told CNET earlier this year. "I'm just gonna make gadgets because I want them2."
