Meta’s Smartwatch Launch Planned for This Year
▼ Summary
– Meta plans to launch a new health and AI-focused smartwatch, code-named Malibu 2, later this year.
– The company also intends to release an updated version of its Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses.
– Meta has reportedly delayed its mixed reality glasses, code-named Phoenix, until 2027 to streamline its AR/MR roadmap.
– This follows Meta’s 2022 cancellation of a previous smartwatch due to technical and cost issues.
– The new products will intensify competition with rivals like Apple, Google, and Samsung in the wearables market.
Meta is reportedly preparing to introduce a new smartwatch equipped with health tracking and artificial intelligence capabilities later this year. This launch is expected to coincide with an updated iteration of its Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. According to sources, this wearable device will arrive well before a major mixed reality headset, internally known as Phoenix, which has been pushed back to 2027 as the company refocuses its augmented and mixed reality development plans.
This move marks a significant comeback for Meta’s smartwatch ambitions. The company previously abandoned a similar project in 2022, citing technical hurdles and broader cost-reduction initiatives. The new device, code-named Malibu 2, would position Meta to directly challenge Apple in the wearables market, especially as Apple is also rumored to be developing AI-powered smart glasses for a potential 2025 release. Furthermore, Meta would be entering a space already dominated by established players like Samsung, Google, Garmin, and Fitbit, making the competition for consumer attention particularly fierce.
The development of Malibu 2 follows the successful launch of Meta’s Ray-Ban Display smart glasses last fall. The company reported that demand was so strong it had to temporarily halt the international rollout due to inventory constraints. An interesting technical synergy exists between these products: the current Ray-Ban glasses utilize a separate neural wristband for gesture control. Industry observers suggest a future Meta smartwatch could seamlessly integrate this functionality, potentially replacing the need for an additional accessory and creating a more cohesive ecosystem of connected devices.
(Source: The Verge)
