Meta smartwatch aims to compete with Garmin, Apple and Samsung via AI features by 2026

Rumors about the first smartwatch from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have been circulating for years. An initial model, equipped with two cameras, was reportedly scrapped as early as 2022. A year later, a leak finally revealed the design of a Meta Watch V2, a quite unusual model featuring a square display with heavily rounded corners, a selfie camera in a notch, and a camera on the back.

The idea was that the smartwatch could be magnetically detached from the wristband in order to use it as a camera. In early 2025, Bloomberg reported that Meta would launch a smartwatch the previous year. While the company didn't quite manage to do so, according to The Information, it is expected to finally materialize in 2026. The focus is now said to be shifting away from cameras and towards health-tracking features and artificial intelligence.

This smartwatch, codenamed "Malibu 2", is expected to hit the market before Meta's next mixed reality headset. Meta has enjoyed particular success in the wearables segment with smart glasses such as the Meta Ray-Ban Wayfarer. However, the smartwatch market is much more competitive, as tech giants such as Apple, Samsung and Google have already established successful smartwatch series, while manufacturers such as Garmin offer more specialized products. Meta is said to be attempting to distinguish itself from these competitors with innovative AI features.