5 smartwatches you should buy instead of the Pebble Time 2

Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.

From its unique e-paper display to its amazing battery life, there’s a lot to like about the Pebble Time 2 . Of course, it’s not for everyone.

The Pebble Time 2 is great if you prefer a minimalistic, lightweight device with great battery life and a retro vibe. Unfortunately, the watch isn’t the strongest when it comes to fitness features and sleep tracking. Likewise, the watch platform has limited app integration with other ecosystems compared to Garmin and others.

If you’re looking for more from your smartwatch, here are just five Pebble Time 2 alternatives that might be a better fit.

While it might share Pebble’s button-heavy navigation instincts, the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED is very different from the Pebble Time 2 in many ways. Unlike Pebble, it has deep health metrics, built-in GPS, and a vibrant display. It’s also a more ruggedized watch, which means it’s much larger, thicker, and heavier.

The Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED is a better option if you’re looking for solid app integration and modern features like tap-to-pay. The watch feels much faster and more powerful than the Pebble, as that was never really the former watch’s goal anyhow.

Of course, all these extra features, like the stunning AMOLED display, come at quite the cost, literally. Starting at $449, the Instinct 3 is roughly double the price of the Pebble Time 2. That’s not the only downside here, either. If you use the always-on display, you’ll only get about seven to nine days of battery life, or even as little as 32 hours in GPS-only mode.

The good news is that with many of its sensors and other features turned off, the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED can last up to 18 days on a single charge. That’s not as impressive as the Pebble’s month-long battery claim, but this is also a much more feature-packed watch, even when you turn off some of its bells and whistles to preserve battery life.