The first new Pebble smartwatches are coming later this year, courtesy of Eric Migicovsky, the original creator of Pebble, who now runs a company called Core Devices. Migicovsky is getting ready to ship two new watches, the Core Time 2 and the Core 2 Duo, which will run on the newly open-sourced Pebble operating system and feature designs and functionality that will be familiar to Pebble fans.

The Core 2 Duo, priced at $149, is set to ship in July and boasts the same black-and-white E Ink display as the old Pebble 2. It even comes in the same frame, thanks to Core Devices finding a supplier with leftover Pebble watch parts. The device gets a few upgrades, including a longer battery life of over 30 days, up from the Pebble 2's seven days, and a speaker for chatting with AI assistants. However, overall, the Core 2 Duo is an 8-year-old device made new again, with Migicovsky convinced that Pebble mostly had it right a decade ago.

The Core Time 2, priced at $225, is an update to the old Pebble Time 2 design and is set to ship in December. The big change with the Time 2 is the addition of a touchscreen, which Migicovsky says he wants to use for tappable "complications" on the watchface, allowing users to access full apps with a tap. The device will also feature buttons on the sides, long battery life, and plenty of customization options. It will also benefit from battery life increases, with Migicovsky saying it will last 30 days on a charge, and has a speaker, plus new chips and upgrades for step- and sleep-tracking.

Migicovsky notes that getting PebbleOS gear up and running has been easier than expected, particularly for the Core 2 Duo. However, there are still hurdles to overcome, including connecting a PebbleOS watch to an iPhone, which continues to get more complex and less functional. Android, on the other hand, is easier to connect to and get information from. Migicovsky is careful to note that things might get delayed due to manufacturing and software integration issues, and is also worried about tariffs, saying that his only plan is to pass along extra costs to customers.

Despite the challenges, Migicovsky seems thrilled to be making smartwatches again, saying that his goal is to make something he really wants, rather than building a company to sell millions of devices. The new smartwatches are a return to old-school Pebble form, with a focus on simplicity, customization, and functionality. With the Core Time 2 and Core 2 Duo, Migicovsky is bringing back the spirit of Pebble, and fans of the original smartwatches will likely be excited to get their hands on these new devices.

The launch of the Core Time 2 and Core 2 Duo marks an interesting development in the wearable space, as Migicovsky's commitment to the Pebble operating system and design philosophy shows that there is still a market for simple, functional smartwatches. As the wearable market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these new devices fare, and whether they can carve out a niche for themselves in a crowded market.