It's not for everyone, and that's okay. Daniel Cooper for Engadget rates the Pebble Time 2 8.9/10, praising its great battery life, snappy performance, and open-source software while noting the app UI could be better and it lacks first-party features. The reviewer argues that while Apple, Samsung, and Google have created general-purpose computing platforms on wrists, the Pebble Time 2 represents a return to the companion device philosophy — a second screen for your phone that handles notifications, music control, weather, and basic single-task apps.

Pebble's history epitomizes the early 2010s tech zeitgeist. The original e-paper smartwatch became Kickstarter's first blockbuster, raising over $10 million with nearly 90,000 pre-orders. The Pebble Time followed with $20 million and 80,000 more orders. However, the company collapsed less than a year later, sold to Fitbit for three percent of its peak valuation. Last year, Google returned the trademark to founder Eric Migicovsky, who now aims to make a smartwatch that empowers users, with 20,000 orders already placed.

The Time 2 uses a design from a never-released second-gen Pebble, featuring a CNC-milled PVD-coated body, stainless steel knurled buttons, and a 1.5-inch 220x228 64-color always-on e-paper touchscreen optically bonded to Gorilla Glass. The Si Fli system-on-chip enables low-power performance.