Pebble Time 2: Open Source, 21-Day Median Battery

Bright sunlight, two watches on the wrist: In c’t 3003’s test, the Pebble Time 2 was easier to read than an Apple Watch Ultra with 3,000 nits. The reason is not a brighter lamp, but a different display. The open-source smartwatch uses a transflective Memory LCD and achieved a 21-day median battery life in the test.

Technically, this is not E Ink, even though Pebble describes its display technology as E-Paper. Sharp’s Memory LCD stores image content pixel by pixel; power flows mainly when something changes. A static watch face therefore consumes virtually nothing. At the same time, animations run more smoothly than on true E Ink. Because the display reflects ambient light, it becomes easier to read as brightness increases — indoors, the advantage is reversed.

The Time 2 measures 1.5 inches, displays 200 x 228 pixels and uses 64 colors. Compared with current smartwatches, which often feature higher-resolution OLEDs, the image looks deliberately simple. There is a backlight, which can be activated by tapping or moving the hand. According to c’t, however, the gesture control is so sluggish out of the box that shaking the arm may be necessary. GPS for running, contactless payments and serious fitness tracking are missing; for those needs, the manufacturer points users to Garmin.

The second difference is its openness. The store offers more than 10,000 community apps and watch faces. Those who cannot find what they are looking for can create their own software directly in the browser — without installing an SDK or paying for a developer account. The brand’s history also fits that model: According to c’t, Pebble was temporarily bankrupt and disappeared for eight years, yet its watches continued to work.

For buyers in Germany, this specifically means that the Time 2 works with Android and iOS and costs around €230, according to c’t; the breakdown given is $225, $25 shipping and €17 in import duties. Anyone primarily looking for a watch with long battery life, sunlight readability and room for tinkering gets an unusually long-lasting system. Those who want contactless payments, GPS for running or serious fitness-data tracking should look at other smartwatches.