Pebble is back with a pair of new smartwatches—the $150 Core 2 Duo and $225 Core Time 2. Unfortunately, iPhone owners who buy these smartwatches will miss out on a lot of important functionality.
The new PebbleOS watches are explicitly designed for both Android and iOS, just as they were a decade ago. However, as founderEric Migicovsky explainsin a blog post, “there is no way for us to support all the functionality that Apple Watch has access to.” Arbitrary restrictions in iOS severely limit PebbleOS' functionality when paired to an iPhone, so Migicovsky wants to temper expectations as the pre-orders roll in.
Here are some things that are impossible for third-party smartwatch brands to implement on iOS, per Migicovsky:
Additionally, Migicovsky notes that it’s extremely difficult to implement cross-app communication on iOS. And iMessage workarounds that Pebble did in the old days no longer work, as smartwatch makers can no longer make deals with carriers behind Apple’s back. (As a quick side note, Migicovsky is also the founder ofBeeper, an app that briefly brought iMessage to Android.)
“Apple claims their restrictions on competitors are only about security, privacy, crafting a better experience etc etc. At least that’s what they tell you as they tuck you into bed. I personally don’t agree - they’re clearly using their market power to lock consumers into their walled ecosystem … The problem is that 40% of everyone who signed up onrePebble.comstill uses an iPhone. So we’re going to make a damn iOS app.” - Eric Migicovsky
Obviously, the Apple Watch is far more powerful and capable than any PebbleOS device. Improved software support on iOS would not change this fact. But I don’t wear a watch every day, and most of the Apple Watch’s features are useless to me. I also hate the idea of using a smartwatch with a paltry 18-hour battery life—yeah, that’s bog-standard for a modern smartwatch, but I think it’s annoying. A simpler, cheaper smartwatch that shows notifications, counts steps, and only needs to be charged once a month sounds perfect for me—the new Core PebbleOS watchescouldandshouldfulfill my needs.
But Apple wants me to buy an Apple Watch. It places arbitrary restrictions on third-party smartwatches to drive me toward the first-party option. Unfortunately for Apple, I’m just going to continue living life with a bare wrist. No Apple Watch, no Pebble, nothing.
On an unrelated note, Apple has been accused of anti-competitive behavior by theU.S. Department of Justice, theEuropean Commission,Mexico and Brazil,South Korea,Japan, and several other nations. These antitrust suits primarily focus on the App Store, which allegedly discourages competition and harms customers by restricting third-party app availability, functionality, or profitability. Thankfully, the company does not exhibit such behavior in any other aspect of its business! Everything else is peachy keen!
If you’re an Android user, go ahead and gloat. You can pre-order a PebbleOSCore 2 DuoorCore Time 2today. iPhone owners who are willing to deal with Apple’s nonsense should also buy in. I should take this opportunity to note that PebbleOS is a fun platform for tinkerers, so even if you miss out on some functionality, these Pebble successors may be a very fun or fulfilling purchase.
Core Time 2 (PebbleOS)
Equipped with a 1.5-inch color e-paper touchscreen, a heart rate monitor, a sleep and step tracker, plus a monthlong battery life, the Core Time 2 carries the legacy of Pebble smartwatches and appeals to those who want something affordable.
