Pebble Time 2 Nears Production: Waterproofing Success and Delivery Timeline Revealed

Pebble, the company known for its pioneering smartwatch efforts, has provided an update on the production status of its new hardware products, primarily the Pebble Time 2 (PT2) smartwatch and the Index 01 smart ring. After a period of intense development and testing, the company is on the cusp of shipping these eagerly anticipated devices.

The primary focus of the past month has been on ensuring the waterproofing of the Pebble Time 2. Following earlier challenges, the team successfully resolved all identified issues, allowing the PT2 to achieve a waterproof rating of 30m or 3ATM. This means users can confidently wear the watch while swimming and in wet conditions, although Pebble advises against using it in hot tubs, saunas, or exposing it to high-pressure water.

Currently, the Pebble Time 2 is in the Production Verification Test (PVT) phase, the final stage before mass production. Hundreds of PT2 units have been manufactured in test builds to identify and rectify any remaining issues. Mass production is slated to begin on March 9th, with the first units expected to reach customers in early April. Pebble anticipates completing the delivery of all pre-ordered PT2s by the beginning of June. Customers who pre-ordered with an initial delivery date of December can expect their watches in April, while those with an April delivery date should receive theirs in June.

Before shipment, customers will receive an email to confirm their address, select optional accessories like extra chargers and straps, and pay any applicable tariffs, VAT, or taxes. For US orders, a tariff of $10 per watch will be applied.

The Index 01 smart ring is also progressing through the PVT phase. Waterproof testing has been successful, with the ring achieving an IPX8 rating, allowing for submersion up to 1 meter. While users can wash their hands, shower, or wash dishes while wearing the ring, swimming is not recommended. Mass production for the Index 01 is targeted for March, though a firm start date is yet to be announced.

Pebble is also developing an Index 01 ring sizer kit, available for $10, to help customers determine their precise Pebble-specific ring size. Due to differences in sizing compared to other rings like Oura, Pebble recommends using their sizer kit. The company is also gauging interest in offering size 14 and 15 rings, which would require a significant investment in additional tooling.

Finally, the Pebble team is actively working on PebbleOS and the Pebble mobile app, addressing bugs and adding new features. Updates to the SDK and developer tools are also in the pipeline, promising a continued commitment to the Pebble developer community.