A traditional gadget model is making a comeback. Pebble smartwatch founder Eric Migicovsky has introduced the launch of a brand new model, referred to as Core Units, which is able to launch the Core Time 2 and Core Duo 2 later this yr. For those who’re a Pebble fan, that is what you’ve been ready for – each of those machine are Pebble watches in every little thing however identify.

Pebble preceded the trendy smartwatch, providing a brand new imaginative and prescient for the way forward for the common-or-garden watch. Over time, Pebble fell out of favor with newer and extra succesful gadgets just like the Apple Watch, and the model was ultimately offered to Fitbit – which itself was ultimately offered to Google.

However earlier this yr, Google introduced that it could open-source the Pebble working system, primarily which means that anybody might use it, totally free, for his or her merchandise. That features Eric Migicovsky and Core Units, which can not personal the Pebble identify, however seemingly has the rights to launch watches that appear like Pebble successors, and full rights to make use of the software program that shipped with them.

So what in regards to the gadgets themselves? Each of them proceed Pebble’s design legacy, which nowadays implies that they appear sort of retro. That doubtlessly makes them excellent for launching now particularly, given how in vogue retro tech is.

Core 2 Duo

The primary of the brand new watches is the Core 2 Duo, which is about to ship in July and can value $149. In response to Migicovsky, it’s primarily a Pebble 2 watch, however made by his new firm. It has the identical black and white e-ink show and roughly the identical design as the unique Pebble 2 watch.

There are some upgrades to the precise tech contained in the machine, although. It’ll have a powerful 30-day battery life, thanks largely to extra power-efficient Bluetooth chips. It additionally has a speaker constructed into it, not like the unique machine.

Core Time 2

The second watch, referred to as the Core Time 2, is a refreshed Pebble Time 2. It’ll ship in December and can be a bit dearer than the Core 2 Duo, priced at $225. The large improve to this machine is a contact show, which is able to make it simpler to entry sure data, although Migicovsky famous in a report from The Verge that he doesn’t essentially intend to make the machine a complete multi-touch floor like some smartwatches. It additionally has issues like a coronary heart charge monitor, step monitoring, and sleep monitoring.

It’s seemingly that these two watches are merely a place to begin for Core Units, and whereas they play on nostalgia, it stays to be seen precisely the place the corporate will go for any future merchandise. I wouldn’t be stunned to see issues like extra health monitoring sensors added down the street, although I actually count on the corporate to stay true to its design philosophy.

Each of the brand new Core Units watches can be found for pre-order right here.

Christian de Looper is a client tech reporter based mostly in sunny Santa Cruz, California. Christian has reported on tech for over 10 years, with bylines in most of the largest tech publications, together with Digital Traits, Forbes, CNN Underscored, Tom’s Information, and PCMag. Christian has an obsession with how tech firms stability nice design with nice performance, and lives at dwelling together with his spouse, daughter, and cat.