Image source: Norm

Backers embrace Norm 2s minimalist smartwatch approach

The Norm 2 smartwatch campaign is hitting the mark, pulling in nearly $300,000 with 11 days still left to go. It just goes to show folks are into its mix of old-school watch looks and smarts that only show up when you need them.


People are loving this smart design

After their first Norm watch got the backers okay back in 2022, this new one just smooths out the edges. The watch sticks to its guns on looking low-key. The display stays invisible until you wake it up, so it still feels like you’re wearing a classic watch. The core idea is to give you handy features without all the visual noise other smartwatches throw at you. Raking in almost $300,000 means a lot of people are on board with this “less is more” concept.

Norm 2 watches

Getting this kind of cash pledged isn’t just luck. The Norm crew has made some nice tweaks, like a display that now stretches over the whole watch face, but it still vanishes until you tap it. This gives you more space for checking messages, the weather, your workout stats, and picking tunes, all without making your watch feel like a tiny computer screen. They’ve also tossed in new Rose and Stainless Steel colors, both made from tough 316L stainless steel and sapphire glass. Plus, the strap is now a bio-based leather thing.


It is all about being practical

Instead of getting into a tech specs race or piling on sensors, Norm 2 keeps it simple. There’s a brand-new app just for this model, and it’s better at handling things like filtering your notifications and sorting them out. You still get the usual tracking for activity, heart rate, and sleep, plus they’ve added a new feature for breathing exercises and a bit of mindfulness. You can flick through messages, emails, and missed calls, and it plays nice with Google Fit and Apple Health.

Battery life is pretty flexible too. If you’re using the full display, you’ll get about three days out of it. But if you just want the mechanical hands ticking, the watch can go for a solid three months. It even has an interesting feature where the hands adjust themselves when you hop time zones.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Skipping things like LTE, voice assistants, or paying with your watch? That’s on purpose. It reinforces what Norm 2 is all about. It wants to be a classy watch that gives you a bit of digital help only when you ask for it.


You can still jump in

If this mix of style and quiet smarts sounds like your thing, the Kickstarter campaign is still running. You can grab a Norm 2 starting at $370. They say production is already sorted, and they’re aiming to deliver by October 2025, so it feels like a pretty solid bet. Plus, the company did deliver on the original Norm, which definitely helps build trust.

View on Kickstarter

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Ivan Jovin

Ivan has been a tech journalist for over 12 years now, covering all kinds of technology issues. Based in the US - he is the guy who gets to dive deep into the latest wearable tech news.

Ivan Jovin has 1885 posts and counting. See all posts by Ivan Jovin

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