Meta Reportedly Planning to Launch First Smartwatch Later This Year
TL;DR
- Meta reviving smartwatch project internally called “Malibu 2”
- Expected to launch in 2026 with Meta AI and health tracking features
- Project was paused in 2022 to focus on other wearables
- Part of Meta’s broader wearables strategy alongside Ray-Ban smart glasses
Meta Set to Enter Smartwatch Market
Meta is reportedly gearing up to launch its first smartwatch later this year, marking another expansion into the wearables market. According to The Information, the company has revived its smartwatch initiative internally dubbed “Malibu 2,” which will come equipped with Meta AI and health tracking capabilities.
A Long Road to Market
Meta’s journey to a smartwatch has been lengthy. Back in 2021, the company was working on a smartwatch powered by an open-source version of Android. Over the following year, more details emerged about potential features, including a detachable camera and even a model with up to three cameras.
However, in 2022, Meta put the project on hold as part of broader spending cuts in the Reality Labs division. The company laid off more than 1,000 employees from Reality Labs, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating that the division would focus more on glasses and wearables going forward.
Building a Wearables Ecosystem
Currently, Meta’s wearable products include virtual reality headsets and smartglasses, with the Meta Ray-Bans proving particularly popular in the US market. The company reportedly has four augmented reality and mixed-reality glasses in development, though the next mixed reality headset (codenamed “Phoenix”) has been pushed back to early 2027.
Conclusion
Meta’s return to the smartwatch market represents another step in building its integrated wearables ecosystem. With AI integration and health tracking, the company aims to compete with Apple Watch and other players in the growing smartwatch market.
Source: Engadget
