Meta has in its hands its first major foray into the smartwatch marketMark Zuckerberg's company, which in recent years has been gaining ground as a hardware manufacturer, has revived a project it canceled in 2022 and is preparing to launch its own smartwatch with a strong focus on health and artificial intelligence.
The device, known internally as Malibu 2It is shaping up to be another piece within the company's ecosystem of connected products, in which the following already stand out: Ray-Ban Meta sunglassesWith this move, the company seeks to position itself in the same league as Apple, Samsung, Google, or Garmin, in a segment where the margin for differentiation increasingly depends on the integration of services and AI.
Malibu 2: Meta's first smartwatch
According to various reports published in specialized media such as The Information, Meta plans to launch its smartwatch sometime in 2026After shelving a previous project two years ago due to technical issues and cost-cutting measures in its Reality Labs division, the company has reportedly advanced the smartwatch's development to a stage close to commercial launch.
The watch is internally identified by the code name Malibu 2This name refers to an earlier project that never saw the light of day. That original design even included versions with multiple integrated cameras, but the company ultimately discarded it as part of a strategic reorganization during the height of the metaverse discourse.
This time, Meta's plans involve a product focused on health and fitness tracking functions, in line with what they offer other smartwatches on the marketAlthough its technical specifications have not yet been detailed, it is assumed that it will incorporate sensors to monitor biometric parameters common in this type of device.
Beyond the hardware, one of the key elements will be the integration of the Meta AI assistant directly into the wristThe company has been pushing this technology on its platforms and devices for some time, and the smartwatch would be another way to offer contextual answers, personalized recommendations, and voice controls without relying so much on the mobile phone.
The most likely launch window points to 2026 lateThis coincides with Meta's usual hardware launch schedule, which typically revolves around its annual Connect conference. While there's no official confirmation, all signs point to the watch being unveiled alongside other new additions to its AI-powered device lineup.
A replacement for the Ray-Ban Display neural bracelet
The push for smartwatches cannot be understood in isolation, but rather within a broader context. Meta's strategy to consolidate an ecosystem of interconnected devicesOne of the most interesting points is the possible role of the watch within the user experience of the Ray-Ban Display glasses, their model with augmented reality capabilities.
Currently, these glasses use a neural bracelet to interpret gestures and control certain functionsAn accessory that acts as an alternative interface to touch or voice. Available information suggests that the future watch could assume this role, becoming the hub for gesture controls and reducing the need for additional accessories.
This integration would allow a a more unified experience between glasses and watchThis is especially relevant for users who want to navigate the Meta ecosystem without relying so heavily on their phones. A single device on the wrist could manage not only notifications and health tracking, but also advanced interaction with the glasses.
In parallel, a Ray-Ban Display update During this same period, Meta has had to adjust the international expansion timeline for this product due to strong demand in the United States, to the point of pausing its rollout in new markets due to inventory problems, a situation the company will have to correct if it wants the watch to be successful in Europe and Spain as well.
Meanwhile, the mixed reality glasses project known as Phoenix It would have been postponed until 2027, leaving the smartwatch and glasses with screens as the big short-term bets in the field of consumer hardware for Meta. This is in a context where manufacturers like Apple are already working on their own smart glasses.
AI and health: the focus of Meta's new wearable
Combining health monitoring and artificial intelligence It has become one of the biggest selling points in the wearables market, and Meta wants to reach that point with its own product. The watch would be designed to record physical activity, sleep, and other wellness-related parameters, using algorithms to provide more easily interpreted metrics.
The integration of Meta AI into the watch would point to a more contextual use: Quick answers on your wrist, suggestions based on activity data and an interaction that doesn't require taking your phone out of your pocket. This approach fits with the general trend in the sector, which is moving towards increasingly personalized and proactive assistants.
The movement occurs in a context in which the global market for AI-powered wearable devices focused on health and fitness It now exceeds hundreds of billions of dollars, driven by consumers seeking tools to continuously monitor their fitness. Watches, bracelets, rings, and other formats compete to become the "center" of the connected body; recent examples include developments such as the Huawei underwater smartwatch.
For Meta, entering this league means diversify their revenue streams beyond advertising and reinforce a strategy that already includes smart glasses and virtual reality devices. The company is coming from a period in which cutbacks affected projects such as the now-discontinued Portal display range, and the smartwatch relaunch is a sign that it sees real potential in this segment.
In Europe and Spain, where interest in connected health devices is significant and regulations regarding personal data are stringent, the company will have to Pay special attention to privacy and the handling of biometric information if it wants to gain the trust of users and regulators. The debate on privacy in wearables is precisely one of the main challenges of the sector, as recent cases on the processing of biometric data in connected devices point out (privacy challenge in wearables).
Direct competition with Apple, Samsung, Google and Garmin
Meta's entry into the smartwatch market means to fully enter one of the most saturated segments of consumer hardware. Apple dominates with its Apple WatchMeanwhile, Samsung, Google (with its Pixel Watch offering) and Garmin compete with well-established proposals, each with its own ecosystem of services.
Zuckerberg's company is relying on the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp user baseIn addition to the recent success of the Ray-Ban Meta, a seamless integration of notifications, messaging, and social features could be a differentiating factor against brands that focus more on pure fitness or productivity.
In the medium term, Apple is also expected to strengthen its presence in the field of AI devices beyond the watch, working on Smart glasses and other connected accessories which would arrive around 2027. This paints a picture in which both companies will compete not only on the wrist, but also on the face, with glasses and other wearables.
For European users, this rivalry could translate into More options and greater pressure on prices and featuresProvided Meta commits to a broad regional rollout and doesn't initially limit the launch to the United States, as has happened with some of its recent devices, this pressure could benefit consumers seeking alternatives, even among other options. cheap and affordable smartwatches.
The key will be whether the Malibu 2 offers truly differentiating features or if it simply becomes another watch in the global catalog. Its integration with glasses, the application of AI to everyday life, and its software update policy will be crucial in assessing its performance against established alternatives.
A hardware strategy that is being reorganized
The road to this new smartwatch has been anything but linear. Meta began exploring the smartwatch market about five years ago, with concepts that even included models with up to three cameras to capture photos and videos directly from the wrist, something that generated internal and external doubts about privacy and real usefulness.
In 2022, amidst a wave of cutbacks and under pressure to adjust costs at Reality Labs, the company decided to cancel the projectThat decision coincided with the priority given to the metaverse and with the arrival of mass layoffs, which put a large part of the hardware initiatives that were not directly connected to virtual reality on standby.
Over time, and following the relative success of their smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley, The company has been regaining interest in consumer wearablesThe positive reception of these glasses, coupled with the general rise of generative AI, has created a more favorable context for revisiting ideas that seemed to have been discarded.
The result is this new attempt with Malibu 2, which comes accompanied by a review of the augmented and mixed reality roadmapProducts like the Phoenix mixed reality glasses are being delayed, while priority is given to devices that can reach the market sooner and fit better into the daily life of the average user.
In this scenario, the smartwatch becomes a central piece to connect the different layers of the Meta ecosystemSocial networks, messaging, AI, smart glasses and, in the future, more advanced mixed reality experiences, with a special focus on mature technology markets such as the European one.
Everything points to Meta's smartwatch project, now codenamed Malibu 2, being born with the intention of occupy a prominent place on the users' wristsLeveraging the combination of health, AI, and connectivity with its platforms, if it ultimately meets its deadlines and reaches the market during 2026, the smartwatch sector in Spain and Europe will find itself with a new player ready to compete both in terms of usage time and associated data and services.
