Pebble brought its smartwatch lineup back last year and new models are already coming fast. The $199 Pebble Round 2, coming in May, is actually a long-overdue sequel to the original Round Pebble watch I loved from a decade ago. With a round watch face, swappable bands and a touchscreen, 2016 me would have been freaking out about this. It’s available to pre-order now on Pebble’s website.

In 2026, it’s still an intriguing proposition. Pebble’s comeback as an indie gadget company caught my eye this time around not just because it has retro appeal now, but because these watches deliver some extreme battery life. The Round 2 doesn’t have the month-long battery of the other Pebbles, but a promised two weeks on a charge still far outstrips Apple and Google’s watches. The round display’s an always-on color e-paper, higher-res than the older Round watch (1.3 inches, 260 x 260 pixels). The steel watch is 8mm thick, and has a look to it that still catches my eye compared to Pixel watches.

Classic Pebble apps should work on the Round 2 but it’s the promise of AI hook-ins that could open up some new ideas. The Round 2 has two microphones for voice replies to messages and, like the other Pebbles, it could connect with AI agents — not something that’s part of the watch natively but it could be hacked to make it happen. It also works with Pebble’s one-button smart ring, the Index 01, that’s also coming soon.

I’ll be seeing all the Pebble watches and the ring at CES soon, so I’ll have more impressions then.