Pomobee vs Zone Timer: Which Physical Productivity Timer Fits Your Workflow?
Zone Timer and Pomobee are both physical timers built around the same idea: get your phone off your desk and focus. ZONE, the productivity timer by New Things Lab, ran its Kickstarter campaign in June and July 2025 and raised €259,788 from 2,535 backers. Pomobee is pre-launch, with a Kickstarter campaign planned for late 2026.
This isn't a "here's why Pomobee is better" page. Zone Timer is a real product with real customers. What follows is an honest breakdown of the differences so you can decide which one fits your work.
Short version: different products for different needs. Zone Timer is for people who want a minimal, app-free timer with no setup. Pomobee is for people who want a physical timer plus session tracking, Pomodoro cycles, and a dashboard that shows where their time goes.
Choose Zone Timer if...
- →You want a minimal, no-setup timer that just works
- →You actively avoid apps and don't want phone involvement
- →You want a product you can buy today
- →Budget is a priority (US$79 / €69 on newthingslab.com as of 29 September 2026)
- →You like a product that 2,535 Kickstarter backers already chose
Choose Pomobee if...
- →You want physical focus sessions + digital session tracking
- →The Pomodoro technique is part of your workflow
- →You want to see your focus patterns over time
- →6 configurable modes fit your varied work types
- →You're OK waiting on late 2026 for Pomobee
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Zone Timer | Pomobee |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Cube [1] | Hexagonal |
| Display | LED, minutes only [1] | Color LCD |
| Sides / modes | 4 sides, preset to 5, 10, 25, 60 min, each can be reset to your own time [2] | 6 configurable modes |
| Mobile app | No app, by design [2] | ✓Mobile app, syncs over Bluetooth |
| Pomodoro support | 25 min and 5 min presets [2] | Native 25/5 cycles |
| Session history | No app | ✓Cloud-synced |
| Statistics dashboard | No app | ✓Web + mobile (FlowState) |
| Charging | Rechargeable, USB-C cable included [1] | USB-C, rechargeable battery |
| Price | ✓US$79 / €69 on newthingslab.com as of 29 September 2026 [1] | €79 early bird (planned) |
| Current status | ✓Listed as available on newthingslab.com as of 29 September 2026 [1] | Pre-launch (late 2026) |
Numbers in brackets refer to the sources at the end of this page. Pomobee specs describe the pre-production design and may change before shipping.
Where Zone Timer Has the Edge
No app, no friction
Zone Timer works standalone. Flip it and it counts down. No app to install. For people who want zero digital involvement, this is a meaningful advantage.
You can buy it now
Zone Timer is listed as available on newthingslab.com as of 29 September 2026. The maker quotes 6 to 10 business days for delivery. Pomobee is planned to launch in late 2026, which is a real gap if you need something now.
Lower starting price
Zone Timer costs €69 (US$79) on newthingslab.com as of 29 September 2026. Pomobee's planned early bird price is €79. If budget is the deciding factor and you don't need app features, Zone Timer is the more accessible option.
Proven community
2,535 Kickstarter backers means real-world feedback from users. Pomobee is pre-launch, so our community is growing but not yet at that scale.
Where Pomobee Has the Edge
Color LCD display
Pomobee uses a color screen. Zone Timer uses a minutes-only LED display. The difference matters for readability across distances and for richer mode feedback. On Pomobee, each mode can show distinct visual information.
Mobile app with session tracking
Every session Pomobee tracks gets synced to your phone via Bluetooth Low Energy. Over days and weeks, you get a real picture of where your focus time actually goes. Zone Timer has no app, by design.
6 configurable modes
Zone Timer has 4 sides that you can set to your own times. Pomobee's 6 sides are configurable: clock, stopwatch, countdown, countdown with stopwatch, Pomodoro and display orientation modes. If you need Pomodoro on one side and a 90-minute deep work block on another, Pomobee handles that.
Native Pomodoro technique
Pomobee has a dedicated Pomodoro mode that automatically runs 25-minute focus sessions followed by 5-minute breaks, with a longer break every 4 cycles. You flip once and the entire cycle runs.
Cloud-synced statistics
Session history syncs to a web dashboard (FlowState) where you can see your daily and weekly focus patterns. If you care about improving your productivity over time, this data is valuable.
Hexagonal design
Pomobee's hexagonal shape isn't just aesthetic, it's structural. Six distinct sides mean six distinct modes, each with a clear physical orientation. The geometry reinforces the interface.
Which One Fits Your Situation?
Situation
You want phone-free focus with zero setup
→ Zone Timer
If the whole point is to remove digital friction entirely, Zone Timer wins. No pairing, no app, no account. Flip and work.
Situation
You use the Pomodoro technique daily
→ Pomobee
Pomobee has a dedicated Pomodoro mode with automatic 25/5 cycles. Zone Timer has 25 minute and 5 minute presets, so you can run Pomodoro by flipping from one to the other.
Situation
You want to understand your focus patterns over time
→ Pomobee
Session history, cloud sync, and a web dashboard give you data to work with. Zone Timer has no app, by design.
Situation
You want a different kind of timer on each side
→ Pomobee (slight edge)
Pomobee lets you set a mode, not just a time, on each side: Pomodoro, stopwatch, countdown and more. Zone Timer lets you set each of its 4 sides to your own time.
Situation
You need something available to buy right now
→ Zone Timer
Zone Timer is on sale now. Pomobee is planned to launch in late 2026. If your need is immediate, Zone Timer is the practical choice.
Situation
You're tracking productivity for a team
→ Pomobee
Cloud-synced sessions and a web dashboard make it easier to compare focus patterns across team members. Zone Timer has no app, by design.
Trade-offs
Zone Timer
- —No mobile app, by design
- —Minutes-only LED display
Pomobee
- —Pre-launch, not yet available to buy
- —Requires app for full session tracking features
- —Kickstarter launch late 2026, delivery timeline TBD
- —Needs periodic charging (USB-C, LiPo battery)
- —Higher price point than Zone Timer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zone Timer available to buy right now?
Zone Timer is listed as available on newthingslab.com as of 29 September 2026. Pomobee is in pre-launch with a Kickstarter campaign planned for late 2026.
Does either timer require a subscription?
Pomobee's core features are free; a Pro tier with advanced analytics is planned as optional. Basic session tracking will be available at no cost. New Things Lab sells Zone Timer at a single device price, and its store page does not mention a subscription.
Can I use Pomobee without the app?
Yes. Pomobee works as a standalone timer without the app. You can run any mode without pairing. The app adds session history, statistics, and configuration. Zone Timer works without an app, by design.
What does Zone Timer's "4 modes" mean exactly?
Zone Timer has 4 sides. They come preset to 5, 10, 25 and 60 minutes, and you can reset each one to your own time. Pomobee has 6 sides with configurable modes including Pomodoro, stopwatch, countdown, and countdown with stopwatch.
ZONE is a product of New Things Lab B.V. Pomobee is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by New Things Lab. This comparison is based on publicly available information as of 29 September 2026. If you spot an error, email [email protected] and we will correct it.
Sources
- [1] ZONE Productivity Timer product page, newthingslab.com, accessed 29 September 2026. Price US$79 (€69 in the EUR store view), listed as available, cube shape, minutes-only LED display, gentle chime or silent vibration, rechargeable with USB-C cable, 6 to 10 business days delivery.
- [2] ZONE for creators page, newthingslab.com, accessed 29 September 2026. Sides preset to 5, 10, 25 and 60 minutes and reset to your own; starts with no unlock and no app.
- [3] ZONE Productivity Timer Kickstarter campaign, accessed 29 September 2026. €259,788 pledged by 2,535 backers, funding period 3 June to 3 July 2025; FAQ: blocks from 1 to 90 minutes.