Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch

by Espruino

Bangle.js 2 is an open, hackable smartwatch.

With a sunlight readable always-on screen, 4 week battery life, complete flexibility, and complete control of your data, Bangle.js 2 is a refreshing break from expensive smart watches.

You can install new apps from the web or develop your own using JavaScript. All you need is a Web Browser (Chrome, Edge or Opera) and you can upload apps or write code to run on your watch wirelessly! Bangle.js is waterproof and comes with Bluetooth Low Energy, GPS, a heart rate monitor, accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure sensor and more.

Bangle.js 2.0 specs:

  • IP67 Waterproof (max 1 meter for 30 minutes)
  • Nordic 64MHz nRF52840 ARM Cortex-M4 processor with Bluetooth LE
  • 256kB RAM, 1MB on-chip flash, 8MB external flash
  • 1.3 inch 176x176 always-on 3 bit colour LCD display (LPM013M126) with backlight
  • Full touchscreen (6H hardness glass)
  • GPS/Glonass receiver
  • Heart rate monitor
  • 3 Axis Accelerometer
  • 3 Axis Magnetometer
  • Air Pressure/Temperature sensor
  • Vibration motor
  • 200mAh battery, 4 week standby time
  • 36mm x 43mm x 12mm watch body, with standard 20mm watch straps
  • Full SWD debug port on rear of watch

Apps

Because Bangle.js is entirely open, you can upload the apps already developed, create your own, or upload apps created by the online community.

The app store (at banglejs.com/apps) is entirely free and open. We’ll never share your data with third parties or make your use of our apps dependent on third party cloud services. So far there are over 100 great apps including games, navigation and fitness aids, watch faces, spirit levels, QR code displays and more - and new apps get added weekly!

More Information:

Improvements over Bangle.js 1:

  • Smaller, lighter watch body
  • Always-on screen with full touchscreen
  • 4x more RAM, 2x more Flash
  • Better Bluetooth signal strength
  • Air pressure sensor
  • SWD debug port

Please Note: Bangle.js is an affordable Smartwatch with entirely open software, designed to be trivial to write your own apps for. While the watch is solid and well built, it can not compete with an Apple Watch costing 5x as much, and is not intended to. If you have any reservations we'd advise you to read some impartial reviews like this one first.

11 customer reviews

a year ago
This is my second Bangles.js2, the first one had a hardware problem after more than two years (the strip connector broke off). Otherwise, a great watch: runs for weeks on a charge and smart enough for my needs. And easy to program. And an open eco-system of applications and widgets. And constant support and updates.
by Anonymous about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io
a year ago
I am of the pebble generation and really miss that watch's heyday. Despite being an open source device... with gadgetbridge this comes as a great and mostly positive experience. First few days of use have been really pleasant. The ease of connection and upload of new apps is brilliant. Touch display and a beautiful screen. Only real drawback so far is button size for apps but rarely very much an issue. Great service from pimoroni and with an issue with the postie possibly wanting one too they were exceptional in resolving with very rapud customer service.
by Frank about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io
2 years ago
Love this thing. If you're looking at it you probably know what to expect - a marginally less polished smartwatch, but with ridiculous potential. You can write your own apps for it!
by Anonymous about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
A very good product, though not without its flaws. I love that the display is always on. The band is quite nice. The touchscreen is not very accurate or sensitive, but still functional. Applications are reasonably mature, and javascript is accessible enough as a programming language to fill in the gaps. Documentation is available, but leaves much to be desired for a device that exists specifically to give people a programming project. The connection to my phone has been mostly stable, though not nearly as good as other watches. Its a little bit pricey for what it is, PineTime is certainly a better deal, more polished, and has much more active development, but only the bangle.js is open and has a simple system to customize the watch. Great device.
by Anonymous about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
It's great! The screen is large enough to do almost anything and its touch accuracy is high enough to even allow an on-screen keyboard. The magnetometer (compass) works like a charm, and takes me less than half a minute to calibrate. The only problem is the GPS, which even though it's pretty accurate, takes a while to get an initial fix (>15'). The app store and online ide are also very convenient since there is no setup needed. Also useful is the GadgetBridge app for Android (and also an equivalent one for IOS), which allows you to view your notifications from the smartwatch, and also allows the smartwatch to perform arbitrary HTTP requests through GadgetBridge!!! Finally, the battery life is pretty good and can last for over 10 days (maybe more) without charging, but GPS and magnetometer drain it pretty quickly... All in all, I think it's definitely worth the money.
by NIKOLAOS about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
I honestly don’t know why anyone spends £300 on an Apple Watch! This is lighter, has an always-on display, is a quarter the price and has at least 5 times the battery life. By itself that ought to make it a no-brainer, but it’s programmable! The wireless syncing and web-based IDE is probably the lowest friction development workflow of any microcontroller I have used. And the javascript interpreter is fast, full-featured and very well documented.
by Luis about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io
3 years ago
Pebble 3.0 in all but name; The Bangle.js 2 is a fantastic smart watch at a fantastic price. The software is in its infancy, but improves with every iteration and is fully open + easy to hack on! The hardware has all the modern sensors you'd expect in a light weight shell that feels great to use, with a screen that's Always-On!
by Jess about Bangle.js 2 Smart Watch via REVIEWS.io