I Tested The E-paper Smartwatch That Got The Internet Buzzing - And Don't Want To Take It Off

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Pebble 2 Duo is disposable now for $149, successful some achromatic and achromatic colors.
• The watch is highly ray and affordable, lasts for weeks, and features a vibrant and progressive improvement community.
• You'll miss retired connected immoderate communal health-tracking tools, and nan buttons are not nan astir tactile.

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I've sewage a spot of a history pinch nan Pebble brand. In 2013, I backed its first watch connected Kickstarter, and past a mates of years later, I purchased nan Pebble 2. 

For nan past mates of weeks, I've been wearing nan latest Pebble 2 Duo which builds upon nan features introduced successful nan Pebble 2. What's new? A spot of everything, arsenic nan Duo sanction -- a play connected nan words "do over" -- implies.

Also: I tested nan champion smartwatches successful 2025: Here are nan latest from Apple, Samsung, Google, and more

At first glance, nan Pebble 2 Duo looks astir nan aforesaid arsenic nan Pebble 2. It has a acquainted crisp and cleanable high-contrast e-paper display, a quick-release 22mm watch band, 1 fastener connected nan left, and 3 connected nan correct side. The champion part? It supports some iOS and Android, pinch an progressive developer organization that has since generated complete 10,000 apps and watch faces to explore.

After my weeks of usage, here's my verdict connected 1 of nan much polarizing smartwatches successful 2025.

Some cardinal improvements person been made since nan motorboat of Pebble 2 successful 2017, including accrued artillery life from 7 days to 30 days, enhanced h2o guidance from 30 meters to iPX8, and a newer procreation Bluetooth chip, speaker, and barometer/compass sensors. All of this equates to a much burdenless experience, arsenic I'm spending little clip stressing astir endurance and connectivity than successful nan past.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Notably, nan Pebble 2 Duo isn't designed to compete pinch nan Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, or any of nan precocious sports watches from Garmin, Suunto, and different manufacturers. 

Also: This 30-second regular keeps my Samsung Galaxy watch moving for illustration caller each month

While it exudes nostalgia, it is besides a very affordable and tin smartwatch that tin past a period betwixt charges. This one's for folks who conscionable want thing minimal, free of distractions and unnecessary pop-ups that thin to region your time alternatively than move things forward.

I've recovered nan open-source Pebble OS interface reasonably enjoyable and functional, pinch slick animations, thousands of customization options successful nan app store, and a smartwatch that excels astatine basal connection from nan wrist.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The included 22mm silicone set is well-designed pinch thick, soft material, offering a comfortable set that makes it easy to deterioration passim nan time (and astir apt into nan night). 

The buttons are ample enough, but location is small tactile feedback erstwhile you property them. Although nan interface remains responsive, it took maine a spot of clip to get utilized to nan stiffness. Folks who crave that satisfying tactile feedback won't find it here. Core Devices, nan institution down nan Pebble, says nan buttons should past 30% longer than those connected nan erstwhile Pebble 2, for what it's worth.

Also: The smartwatch I'm astir excited for successful 2025 isn't an Apple Watch aliases Google Pixel

Setting up nan watch is speedy and straightforward, arsenic you chiefly configure things from nan Pebble app connected your smartphone. I spent astir of my clip testing nan Pebble 2 Duo pinch an iPhone 17 Pro Max. You tin get nan watch moving pinch basal halfway functionality done nan app, but I highly urge mounting up a Rebble relationship to entree nan monolithic number of watch faces and apps that developers person created complete nan past decade. 

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

I person spent astir of nan past week browsing nan app shop and testing retired immoderate of my favorites from nan past. Most apps are compatible pinch nan caller Pebble 2 Duo, but nan show is somewhat larger, truthful immoderate apps whitethorn beryllium framed differently, and definite services connected to these apps whitethorn not beryllium progressive yet. With this watch, you decidedly want to research pinch nan various devices provided, which I understand whitethorn move immoderate users away.

ZDNET's buying advice

Eric Migicovsky launched nan original Pebble successful 2013 and group nan grounds for fundraising connected Kickstarter astatine nan time. Clearly, he hasn't mislaid his passion for Pebble and has now delivered a worthy successor successful the Pebble 2 Duo 

So far, I'm enjoying nan acquisition and blast from nan past. For $149, it's a smartwatch I urge for those looking to effort retired a smartwatch and for those who want a watch that lasts for a period betwixt charges, while providing smartphone connection and triage. 

If you want much retired of your wrist device, you person plentifulness of options already disposable connected nan market. Just don't expect them to get arsenic galore looks from passersby arsenic this one.