Pebble Time 2 vs Pebble 2 Duo: Full comparison with the old models

Pebble is back with two new watches, Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2. They keep the classic Pebble feel with always-on e-paper displays and thousands of apps but bring major upgrades. Pebble 2 Duo now lasts up to 30 days, adds a speaker, barometer and compass. Pebble Time 2 goes further with a bigger colour display, touchscreen, dual microphones, heart rate tracking, and a stainless steel frame.

The company was one of the pioneers of the smartwatch era, launching its first watch in 2012 after a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign. The combination of an always-on e-paper display, week-long battery life, physical buttons, and a simple interface quickly built a loyal community. Over time, the catalog grew.

But the story took a turn in 2016 when Pebble ran into financial trouble and was eventually acquired by Fitbit. Production stopped, the Pebble Time 2 that had been announced on Kickstarter was cancelled, and the company’s servers were eventually shut down. For most tech brands, that would have been the end of the story.

Instead, the community stepped in. Through projects like Rebble, fans kept PebbleOS alive, restored services, and maintained app compatibility. That groundwork paved the way for Pebble’s surprise return.

Now, nearly a decade later, two new models are arriving under the revived Pebble name. Let’s see how they stack up vs devices they are replacing.

Pebble Time 2 vs Pebble Time 2 (2016)

The new Pebble Time 2 builds on the unreleased 2016 design but improves almost everything inside. Both models feature a 1.5-inch 64-colour e-paper display, keeping Pebble’s signature always-on readability, but the 2025 version switches to a modern SiFli SF32LB52J chip. This should give smoother performance, better efficiency, and allow the battery to stretch up to an estimated 30 days compared to around 10 on the original design.

Interaction has also been reworked. The 2025 Pebble Time 2 adds a touchscreen alongside the familiar four-button layout, making it easier to open apps and use complications directly from watchfaces. The buttons themselves have been reinforced with a new mechanism designed to handle more stress, making them more durable than those on the unreleased 2016 model.

There are other big changes too. The new watch includes dual microphones instead of one, along with a built-in speaker and a compass sensor. The frame now uses stainless steel with stainless buttons and a flat glass lens, which helps reduce glare compared to the curved lens from the original Pebble Time family.

One thing worth noting is the shift in water protection. The original 2016 design was rated to 30 meters, but the 2025 Pebble Time 2 now targets an IPX8 rating, tested around 1 meter (final rating yet to be determined). The change comes from the addition of the speaker, which makes sealing the watch more challenging. It can still handle splashes, showers, and swimming, but it is not designed for deeper dives like the older spec allowed.

In short, the new Pebble Time 2 keeps the look and display of the original design but upgrades the hardware, adds more features, strengthens the build quality and delivers a much longer battery life.

Pebble 2 Duo vs Pebble 2

Pebble 2 Duo is a refreshed version of the original Pebble 2, keeping the same 1.26-inch black and white e-paper display and lightweight polycarbonate build but improving many other key features. Battery life jumps from just 7 days on the original to an impressive 30 days thanks to a newer Nordic nRF52840 chip and optimised PebbleOS software.

The sensor package has also been upgraded. Pebble 2 Duo includes a barometer, compass, and six-axis IMU in addition to step and sleep tracking. It adds a speaker for notifications, a redesigned vibration motor that feels stronger and quieter. The buttons are more durable too, tested to last up to 30 percent longer than the ones on the original Pebble 2.

Water resistance has changed as well. Pebble 2 Duo targets a rating tested to pressures equivalent to 20 meters, making it durable for daily use. But like Time 2 – not as good as its predecessor.

How the two new models differ

That classic Pebble experience is still here, but the two new watches go in very different directions. Both run PebbleOS, work with more than 10,000 existing watchfaces and apps, use standard 22mm quick-release straps and aim for up to 30 days of battery life.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Pebble 2 Duo keeps things simple. It sticks with the classic e-paper monochrome display, uses button-only controls, and focuses on essentials like step and sleep tracking. It feels like the old Pebble 2 but with smarter hardware, longer battery life and a few modern extras like a speaker, compass and barometer. Starting at $149, it begins shipping in September.

Pebble Time 2, on the other hand, is designed to be more premium. You get a bigger 64-colour display, touchscreen navigation, dual microphones, a built-in speaker, heart rate tracking, and a stainless steel frame that gives it a higher-end feel. At $225, it costs more, but it also packs in far more tech. It’s set to ship in December, and with limited stock, pre-orders are already filling up fast.

Tech specs comparison

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