Meta is set to release its first smartwatch later this year, reviving a previously paused project under the internal codename “Malibu 2.” The device will feature Meta AI integration and health tracking capabilities.
The company originally began developing a smartwatch in 2021, running on an open-source version of Android. Initial concepts included a detachable camera, with reports suggesting Meta was working on a model featuring up to three cameras. However, the initiative was put on hold in 2022 to prioritize other devices.
The decision to pause the smartwatch project occurred alongside significant spending cuts within the Reality Labs division. In January, Meta laid off more than 1,000 employees from Reality Labs due to substantial financial losses. Following the layoffs, CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that the company would focus the majority of its Reality Labs investment “towards glasses and wearables going forward.”
Meta’s current wearable lineup consists of virtual reality headsets and smartglasses, including the widely popular Meta Ray-Bans in the US. The company is also reportedly developing four distinct augmented reality and mixed-reality glasses models. Meanwhile, the unveiling of its next mixed reality headset, codenamed “Phoenix,” has been delayed to early 2027.
