Subtle shifts in Meta’s hardware strategy suggest the company is preparing to broaden its presence in consumer devices, with a new product category now coming into focus.
Meta is reportedly planning to launch its first smartwatch later this year, marking a fresh attempt to enter the wearables market. The device is expected to focus on health tracking features and may include a built-in Meta AI assistant. If launched, the smartwatch would expand Meta’s consumer hardware portfolio beyond smart glasses and mixed-reality headsets, while aligning with the growing emphasis on AI-powered fitness and lifestyle devices.
According to a report by a publication, Meta’s smartwatch project, internally code-named Malibu 2, could be unveiled alongside an updated version of its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. The report said the smartwatch may become part of Meta’s broader wearable ecosystem and could potentially replace the neural wristband currently used for gesture controls with the glasses.
The development would revive Meta’s earlier efforts in the smartwatch space. The company had previously worked on a wrist-based wearable, with some prototypes featuring multiple cameras. That project was dropped in 2022 due to technical challenges and wider cost-cutting measures within its Reality Labs division. Meta has not officially confirmed the latest plans.
Meta has also said that strong demand and limited supply led it to pause the global rollout of its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. The report added that shipments of the glasses rose to nearly 6,000,000 units last year, based on industry estimates.
In parallel, the publication claimed that Meta is reassessing its broader augmented reality and mixed-reality roadmap. While several AR and MR devices remain under development, the mixed-reality glasses project known internally as Phoenix has reportedly been delayed to 2027 as the company looks to better space out major product launches.
If introduced, Meta’s smartwatch would enter a highly competitive market dominated by players such as Apple, Samsung, Google, Garmin, and Fitbit. The move would also underline the wider shift toward AI-enabled consumer hardware, particularly in the health and fitness segment.
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