Soon after reintroducing the Pebble smart watch and debuting an affordable AI smart ring, Pebble is preparing yet another new gadget: the Pebble Round 2. As implied by its title, this new device is yet another rendition of the Pebble smartwatch, but featuring a rounded display that grants it a more refined appearance. Nevertheless, similar to other Pebble products, this latest watch remains budget-friendly at $199.

Pebble manages to keep its smartwatch prices low by restricting their functionalities. Regarding the new Pebble Round 2, it provides basic health and fitness tracking, such as step counting and sleep analysis, but lacks a heart rate sensor or additional features that would position it as a fitness or sports watch alternative.

The compromise results in extended battery duration — the Pebble Round 2 is expected to last between 10 to 14 days before requiring a charge.

Like the recently released Pebble Time 2, the Pebble Round 2 represents the company’s revival of an earlier smartwatch. Back in 2015, Pebble introduced its inaugural rounded watch, the Pebble Time Round, which at the time was regarded as the slimmest smartwatch in the industry.

The updated version retains that sleek profile, measuring just 8.1mm in thickness, compared to the original’s 7.5mm.

“[The Pebble Time Round] was undoubtedly one of my preferred Pebble models, but it had its flaws,” stated Pebble’s founder Eric Migicovsky during a conversation with TechCrunch. “There were several aspects we could enhance, primarily the oversized bezel surrounding the device.”

To create the original rounded watch face, the team employed an octagonal piece of glass with smoothed edges, which were obscured by a sizable bezel. However, the outcome was a gadget lacking a sufficiently large display. Technology has advanced since then, naturally; the new device’s larger screen permits a better view of text. The revised design also appears more aesthetically pleasing.

The touchscreen has now evolved into a 1.3″ color e-paper display (260 x 260 pixels at 283 DPI — or double the pixel density of the original Pebble Time Round). Additionally, the screen is equipped with a backlight, making it visible in low-light conditions. Internally, the Round 2 operates on the open-source Pebble OS.

The watch features dual microphones, enabling voice input and message replies. (Currently, this functionality is limited to Android due to Apple’s limitations. However, iOS support will be implemented in the EU soon.)

The side buttons facilitate actions like silencing calls, controlling music, navigating, returning, and scrolling.

Migicovsky highlights one of the benefits of buttons: they permit use of the watch without needing to look down. “For instance, if someone calls while you’re in a meeting, and you prefer not to answer, you won’t even want to check your watch. You can always remember that the bottom button rejects the call. Or if you’re listening to music with AirPods and don’t want to fuss with them or peer at your phone, you know the center button pauses the music.”

The watch is equipped with a stainless steel chassis, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer, along with a silicone watch strap and a Pebble charging dongle. Leather bands will also be available for purchase separately.

Three color variations of the watch are available, each supporting different band sizes. The matte black model comes with a 20mm quick-release band; the silver variant supports either a 14mm or 20mm band; and the polished rose gold model is limited to a 14mm band.

The Pebble Round 2 can access thousands of applications and watch faces from the Pebble Appstore, though developers must update their applications to accommodate the rounded display using the provided SDK. Among the available applications are AI assistants that support Claude and other well-known assistants.

Pebble is also developing AI functionalities for its devices. The company has recently introduced an AI smart ring capable of recording audio and transcribing discussions. When questioned, Migicovsky indicated that similar capabilities will be available on Pebble watches in the future.

The new Pebble Round 2 will launch for pre-order on January 2 via Pebble’s website, with shipping anticipated in May. Customers who have pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2 will have the option to transition to the Pebble Round 2 if they wish.