Core 2 Duo hands-on gives us a nostalgic taste of Pebble’s return

May 2, 2025 Marko Maslakovic Smartwatch 3 min read

The Core 2 Duo smartwatch is starting to look real. Eric Migicovsky, the original Pebble founder, has just shared a demo video showing the device in action, complete with a square color e-paper display and PebbleOS up and running.

The Pebble rebirth is taking shape

Eric is back in the garage. Not metaphorically, literally. He’s turned it into a makeshift video studio and launched a podcast. On his wrist during the debut episode was a taped-up but functional prototype of the Core 2 Duo watch. To remind, this is the device that will see the light of day in the coming months.

As shown in the video (link below), the timepiece brings back Pebble’s signature look and feel – but with some tweaks. It runs PebbleOS, which was open sourced by Google back in January. The software is still a work in progress. Real-time clock support hasn’t been switched on yet, and several components like the haptics, light sensor, and accelerometer are still getting driver support. But it boots, it pairs via Bluetooth, and it’s running classic watch-faces from Pebble’s early days.

USB-C dongle, speaker, and small upgrades

One charming detail is the charging solution. Instead of a full cable, Core 2 Duo will ship with a USB-C to Pebble adapter on a keychain. It’s compact and practical. That original Nomad design is being reused, and with the expected long battery life, most users won’t need to reach for it very often anyway.

On the back, you get a waterproof speaker, a reused charge connector. This paired to what looks like a fairly standard silicone strap with a strap keeper.

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Eric confirmed the goal is to begin shipping in July. Manufacturing is happening in Shenzhen, China, and tariff issues are being carefully navigated. US customers may see a slight cost bump due to the 27.5% tariff, but Core Devices is attempting to bulk import at factory pricing to reduce the per-unit increase. With all the tariff changes we’ve seen in recent weeks, it’s difficult to predict how the situation will look in a few months time.

PebbleOS is getting a few modern tricks

Despite the minimalist approach, PebbleOS isn’t standing still. Eric teased native support for complications—those tiny widgets that Apple Watch users rely on for calendar and weather data. He also hinted at deeper integration with Beeper, the cross-platform chat app he previously helped create. This would let users scroll back through past messages directly on the watch.

AI features could also make an appearance. An existing app called Bobby already brings Gemini integration to Pebble devices. You can speak to it, ask questions, and get voice replies—something that fits well with the new speaker hardware. There’s talk of building these capabilities deeper into the OS.

Migicovsky says the goal isn’t to cram in features. He wants a watch that’s fun, works reliably, and doesn’t overload users with complexity. That includes things like making the notification time font a little bigger or adjusting the brightness at night. Small tweaks that make a difference without overhauling the Pebble DNA.