Pebble’s iOS app is back, and the public beta just dropped on TestFlight. It works with the old classics like the Time, Time Steel and Time Round. Might be worth grabbing a spot while it’s still open. If you see a “This beta is full” message, it might be worth trying again.
The original Pebble app disappeared from the App Store years ago. This new version is a full replacement, built to get those watches working with iPhones again.
Pebble iOS app makes a return
The app comes from Core Devices, the same team behind the upcoming Pebble 2 Duo. They’re the new company handling everything Pebble-related and have reacquired the Pebble name. This is their replacement app for getting Pebble watches working again. Some users say it even works with the original Pebble and Pebble Steel, as long as those are running firmware 3.0 or later.
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The core functionality is already in place. Notifications work instantly, even when the app isn’t open. You can mute specific apps or dismiss alerts from the watch. Calendar events show up (though you can’t take any actions), and there’s working support for music control, phone calls, and PebbleKit JS apps. Time sync is reliable, and the app connects to the Rebble Appstore and locker if you sign in. There’s even a developer connection built into the Watch screen.
Some features are missing for now
This is still beta (or perhaps even alpha), so there are gaps. The app sometimes crashes on iOS 15 and 16 when launching certain watchfaces or apps with embedded JavaScript. PebbleKit JS apps also seem to have intermittent issues even on newer versions of iOS.
Health tracking isn’t supported, and there’s no weather data in the default Pebble Weather app. You can’t use the Send Text app, load alternative language packs, or reorder apps in your locker. Calendar invites and actions don’t show up. Voice reply processing isn’t working yet, and custom canned responses haven’t been implemented. Timeline pins from the server are also absent.
The app’s UI is very basic, though functional. Expect that to evolve. It’s clearly a foundation build, not a final product.
You can view the full change-long on this link.
The bigger picture
For Core Devices, this is a stepping stone toward relaunching a broader Pebble ecosystem. The Pebble 2 Duo is scheduled to start shipping soon, and the app is designed to work across both the new watch and the legacy line. This dual support makes it a key part of the company’s roadmap.
There’s still a long way to go, but the beta shows promise. Old watches are usable again. Notifications come through. And the basic Pebble experience is back on iOS, without needing workarounds.
There’s a real sense of momentum here. What started as a niche resurrection project is becoming a platform with active development, hardware production and software support.
Expect more updates soon as the team gets closer to a full release.
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