TL;DR
A single wearable stood out for its simplicity at CES 2026: the Pebble Index 01 smart ring. After testing it on the show floor, the author bought the $75 ring for its tactile button and straightforward, offline LLM-powered note handling.
What happened
Walking CES 2026 left the author overwhelmed by the sheer number of devices on display, from phones to thousands of wearables and accessories. The writer had been tracking Pebble’s revival under Eric Migicovsky’s Core Devices since 2025 and had resisted pre-ordering the early smartwatch revivals, preferring to see shipping units before committing. On the show floor, the product that changed his mind wasn’t a smartwatch but the Index 01, a $75 smart ring centered on a single, chunky button. Pressing and holding the button records a note; an offline LLM in the Pebble app interprets the recording and can take actions like setting a reminder, creating a note, or starting a timer. The ring’s battery supports roughly 12–15 hours of recording capacity, which Pebble equates to about two years of typical use. The author also tested the Time 2 and Round 2 watches and left CES buying only the Index 01.
Why it matters
- Design that prioritizes one clear function can cut through feature-bloat in modern wearables.
- An offline language model built into the app shows an alternative to always-on cloud AI in consumer devices.
- Affordable pricing for focused devices could broaden appeal compared with pricier smartwatches.
- Tactile controls — a big physical button — may change interaction habits for on-body devices.
Key facts
- The author purchased a single device at CES 2026: the Pebble Index 01 smart ring.
- Index 01 retails for $75 and centers on a single physical button that records audio when pressed and held.
- Pebble’s app analyzes recordings with an offline LLM and can perform actions such as setting reminders, taking notes, or starting timers.
- Index 01 battery supports about 12–15 hours of recording capacity, which Pebble describes as roughly two years of regular use.
- Pebble’s revival is led by founder Eric Migicovsky under the company name Core Devices, relaunched in 2025.
- Core Devices previously released reinventions of Pebble watches, referenced as Core 2 and Duo 2, and the author also tried Time 2 and Pebble Round 2 at CES.
- Pebble Round 2 was available for pre-order at $199, cited against the Pixel Watch 4 price of $350 for context.
- Android Police named the Index 01 among its Best of CES 2026 winners.
What to watch next
- Shipping dates and wider availability for the Pebble Round 2 and Index 01 — not confirmed in the source.
- Long-term battery and durability performance for the Index 01 under day-to-day use — not confirmed in the source.
- Any software updates or expanded local AI capabilities for Pebble’s app over time — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Smart ring: A small wearable device worn on a finger that provides limited sensing, controls, or connectivity features, often focused on notifications, payments, or simple interactions.
- Offline LLM: A language model that runs locally on a device or within a paired app rather than relying on cloud servers, used to interpret or transcribe user input without constant internet access.
- Pre-order: An order placed in advance of a product’s official release or wide availability, sometimes with risks like delays or changes.
- Tactile button: A physical control designed to provide satisfying feedback when pressed, often used to make simple interactions clear and deliberate.
- Wearable: An electronic device designed to be worn on the body, such as watches, rings, or bands, that provides health tracking, notifications, or other functions.
Reader FAQ
What did the author buy at CES 2026?
The author bought the Pebble Index 01 smart ring for $75.
What does the Index 01 do?
It records audio when its button is pressed and held; an offline LLM in the Pebble app interprets the recording and can set reminders, take notes, or start timers.
Why did the author avoid pre-ordering earlier Pebble watches?
He cited the pitfalls of pre-ordering and concerns that nostalgia alone might not deliver modern smartwatch usefulness.
Will the author get other Pebble devices?
The author said he is eagerly awaiting his pre-orders of the Round 2 and the Index 01, indicating plans to acquire more Pebble hardware.
Are many CES AI gadgets promising?
The author expressed skepticism about numerous AI-powered gadgets at CES that seemed unlikely to be useful in daily life.
I saw hundreds of gadgets at CES 2026, but I made only one purchase Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police | Pebble By Jon Gilbert Published 9 minutes ago Jon has…
Sources
- I saw hundreds of gadgets at CES 2026, but I made only one purchase
- Best of CES 2026 and a chat with Pebble's founder
- CES 2026: The weirdest gadgets we saw at Consumer …
- CES 2026 Recap: Every Tech and Gadget Announcement
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