Meta reportedly plans to release a smartwatch this year
Source: Engadget
Meta’s smartwatch plans
Meta is reportedly gearing up to enter another segment of the wearables market. According to The Information, the company is planning to release its first smartwatch sometime this year. Internally, the initiative is called “Malibu 2,” and it will feature Meta AI and health‑tracking capabilities.
Background
- The Information reported in 2021 that Meta was working on a smartwatch powered by an open‑source version of Android.
- Over the following year, details emerged about possible features, including a detachable camera and a model with up to three cameras.
- In 2022, the project was believed to have been put on hold while Meta focused on other wearable devices.
Reality Labs spending cuts
The pause on the smartwatch project was part of a broader reduction in spending within Meta’s Reality Labs division. In January, Meta laid off more than 1,000 Reality Labs employees due to the division’s financial losses. During an earnings call following the layoffs, Mark Zuckerberg said the company would concentrate most of its investment “towards glasses and wearables going forward.”
Current wearable lineup
Meta’s existing wearable products consist of:
- Virtual reality headsets
- Smartglasses, including the Meta Ray‑Bans, which have been well received in the U.S.
The company is also developing four augmented‑reality and mixed‑reality glasses, though their release is expected to take some time. The unveiling of the next mixed‑reality headset, codenamed “Phoenix,” has been pushed back to early 2027.
This article originally appeared on Engadget.
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