– Pebble Round 2 mass production not yet started, causing further delays.
– Shipments now expected to begin in July, with all pre-orders shipped by September.
– Delay caused by a cosmetic defect (small indentation) from CNC machining.
– Fix involves adjusting the die for metal injection molding to avoid the CNC cut.
– Smartwatch priced at $199, features a 1.3-inch e-paper display, two-week battery, but no heart rate monitor.
Production Pushed Back Again
The Pebble Watch 2 is facing further delays. Specifically, the model is yet to enter mass production, even though the company is very close to starting mass production. This is affecting the delivery schedule: shipments of the Pebble Round 2 are now expected to begin in July. The plan is to have all pre-ordered units of the Pebble Round 2 shipped by September. Furthermore, Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky has stated that leather straps will be available in black and brown.
Behind The Scenes of The Holdup
An X post from Migicovsky explains the reason for the delay in considerable detail and with complete transparency. During a visit to China, a cosmetic issue was discovered, caused by the manufacturing process. This was a small indentation near the point where the strap lug connects to the case, which was caused by the CNC machining process. The aim is to correct this defect by adjusting the die for the metal injection molding and to simply avoid the CNC cut.
Current Pre-Order Pricing and Features
The Pebble Round 2 is still available for pre-order at a price of $199. The smartwatch will sport a 1.3-inch display capable of showing 64 colors and processing touch input. Thanks to its relatively energy-efficient e-paper display, it reportedly reaches a battery life of around two weeks. However, the Round 2 doesn’t include a heart rate monitor, a feature now almost standard on smartwatches.
