I replaced my Pixel Watch and productivity stack with a ring that never needs charging

At CES 2026, I got my hands on Pebble's new hardware range for the first time. While I was excited about the stylish Pebble Round 2, it was the Index 01 that caught my eye.

The Index 01 is a tough product to define. It's not proactive enough to be called a smart ring, and it doesn't have health tracking features.

Still, it's changed my life more than any other wearable. I've never owned a piece of tech like it.

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By  Jon Gilbert

The Index 01 actions voice notes better than any other wearable

Simple is best

Using the Index 01 is simple. I press the button with my thumb, speak into the ring, and release the button. The voice recording is sent to my phone, where the Pebble app and its on-device large language model (LLM) take action.

What action it takes depends on my command. The LLM can choose to create a note, add to reminders, create a calendar event, set alarms, and send texts.

The Index 01 button also has additional functionality. By clicking the button up to three times, I can play, pause, and skip music. If I double-click and hold the button, Index 01 performs a web search.

If this doesn't sound exciting, I get it. Since the earliest days of voice assistants, note-taking has been fundamental to the experience. My Google Home speakers ended up being used solely as shopping lists for a long time.

So what makes the Index 01 special? What has made it replace Google Keep, Bundled Notes, Google Tasks, and my .txt note-taking experience? What about it has made sure my Pixel Watch will be gathering cobwebs for the foreseeable future?

The Index 01 is perfectly designed

Everything works naturally

The button on the Index 01 is placed so that your thumb naturally rests next to it when your hand is relaxed. Not on it, but next to it, so a small movement is all it takes to trigger the microphone.

Press, speak, release. That's it. It's a natural action you can do even when holding items. Over the weekend, I was packing my bag when I noticed my friend's new office chair.

On the hunt for one myself, I called out to him to ask what it was. He responded, and I used my Index 01 to remind myself to research the chair later. All with my hands full.

The Index 01 is chunkier than most rings, and my initial concern was that it would be too uncomfortable to wear regularly. But a week later, I forget I'm wearing it most of the time.

Why the Index 01 beats voice assistants

It's more convenient, permanent, and secure

With a Pixel Watch, I can say, "Hey, Google, remind me to do the thing," and it will cheerfully obey.

In theory, it's quicker and easier than the Index 01's button. However, the Index 01 has numerous advantages.

First, it's quicker. Ever since Gemini replaced Google Assistant, there's an agonizing wait while I stare at the screen. With Index 01, it takes about three seconds to act.

It's also seamless. I've started pressing the button during conversations to take reminders. For example, I can say "Oh, yeah, I'll take out the trash after dinner" in conversation, but press the button while talking.

The LLM is smart enough to parse out the unnecessary language. Recording that example message above results in Index adding "Take out the trash after dinner" to my reminders.

Instructions preceded by the required action (for example, "Set a reminder..." or "Add to my to-do list...") work best, but the app can generally work with vague instructions.

Second, the hardware is a permanent assistant. One of the more controversial aspects of the Index 01 is that its battery cannot be replaced or recharged. Pebble claims it can last up to two years with regular use (10-20 voice notes per day), but a definitive lifespan puts some people off.

That means the Index 01 never needs to be recharged. It's water-resistant to 1 meter, and I've worn it while washing my hands and showering without impacting its performance.

I don't need to charge the ring, so I rarely take it off.

Third, it's private. The connection between the ring and phone is encrypted, and it can process recordings locally.

The ring and app work offline and do not require a cloud service. There are no privacy agreements because it's not a concern in the first place.

The Index 01 is so convenient that it replaced most of my productivity apps

The Index 01 saves notes to the Pebble app, but it can also link to Google Tasks, Notion, Tasker, or Obsidian. However, Index is so well designed that I don't need any of them.

I still use Google Keep for collaboration, and Bundled Notes is perfect for saving my recipes. But Index 01 has replaced every to-do list and note-taking app on my phone.