ZDNET Reviewer Swaps Apple Watch for 30-Day Pebble Time 2

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Aug 24

After years on Apple Watch, a ZDNET reviewer moved to the Pebble Time 2, saying its stripped-down setup better supports digital disconnection and only surfaces essential alerts.
Up to 30 days of battery life and a simpler feature set drove the switch: the Pebble lacks call handling on iPhone, built-in GPS and advanced sensors, but still covers texts, calls and basic health tracking.
15,000-plus watch faces and apps add flexibility without undermining that minimalist appeal, and the reviewer said the device feels more like a standard watch with a few extras.
Durability remains a concern: Pebble offers only a 30-day warranty, founder Eric Migicovsky said 330 of 19,000 units in the field were replaced, and the reviewer’s screen cracked within about two weeks.
The experience underscores Pebble’s grassroots revival after the brand faded following Fitbit’s 2016 asset purchase and Google’s 2021 takeover of Fitbit.