With the success of its headsets and smart glasses bolstering spirits, rumors around a Meta smartwatch suggest the company is returning to a previously abandoned wearables project. Talk of Meta launching a smartwatch first came to light in 2021, when Meta was still seen as more of a Facebook company rather than a hardware-driven business, but things eventually died down when the tech giant abandoned the smartwatch project altogether.
Now, if the rumors are to be trusted, Meta appears to be reviving its smartwatch ambitions with a clear direction. DigiTimes Asia recently revealed that the company is partnering with Chinese manufacturer Huaqin to bring this wearable to life. The manufacturer already has multiple successful partnerships with the likes of Samsung and Huawei under its belt, so we won’t be surprised to see this collaboration turn out some interesting results.
Meta Smartwatch Rumors—Nothing Is Set in Stone, but There Are Signs
The Meta smartwatch’s development status remains shrouded in mystery, but we can collectively agree that this would be a good segment for Meta to expand into. While the company’s AI ambitions continue to flounder with the establishment of its Super Intelligence Labs team, Meta has successfully launched a collection of smart glasses in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley. There’s also the Meta Quest headsets to the company’s credit, which have stood tall in the industry as the gadget to beat since it first launched in 2019.
The Meta smartwatch rumors don’t have a lot to say about the device specs, but we can assume that it will include many of the basic smartwatch features such as step counting, health tracking, sleep quality assessments, and some degree of app notification integration. We don’t expect it to market itself as a health device, but some rudimentary inclusions will be essential in order to sell the device to the general public. The size, chipset choice, and other functions of the smartwatch remain unknown.
Meta’s Camera Integration in the Watch Is an Important Point of Discussion
There is some indication that a smartwatch from Meta won’t be basic, considering the leaks about an integrated camera setup. Yes, the Meta camera watch sounds like a unique proposition, but we’ve heard similar rumors in relation the the Apple smartwatch before as well. Where Apple has failed to bring this integration to life, Meta could be successful.
In Meta’s case, some early renders have suggested that it will feature a camera on the front and back of the main case, providing a very unique capture setup for users. We’re almost afraid of this integration as there is an element of discomfort that is introduced every time a device features a discrete camera, but there is no stopping the innovation of risky gadgets once the tech giants have their hearts set on them.
The inclusion of a camera might help the watch function as a nifty companion to the smart glasses, especially with the arrival of advanced Meta Ray-Bans later this year. The camera could also cater to more AI integrations in the device, which we assume is the primary purpose of this unique selling point.
When Will Meta Release Its Smartwatch?
It is far too soon to expect a launch as the Meta Smartwatch is likely in its early stages of development and production. What we can say is that we expect to catch a glimpse of it or hear about its progress during the Meta Connect event scheduled on September 17-18. The Meta conference is typically used to introduce attendees to the projects the tech giant has been working on, and will prove to be a perfect announcement platform for the rumored device.
Meta has already been rumored to be working on another wrist-mounted device with the ability to detect electrical signals generated by muscle-level movement through EMG technology. This means Meta already has a degree of familiarity with some of the tech required to build a smartwatch. With the limited number of rumors and conversations around this device, a launch at the event appears unlikely, but Meta might just surprise us with something new in September.
Is There Space in the Market for a Meta Smartwatch?
Isn’t the smartwatch market already oversaturated with options? Not necessarily. While there are a lot of brands with their own smartwatch alternatives on the market, there are many niche subsets for their use, ranging from health-centered metrics to watches specifically designed for rugged use. Considering the constant demand for new alternatives, Meta could easily find a spot for itself in the smartwatch market, leapfrogging off the success of its existing hardware.
Especially with the integration of a camera, Meta might be able to sell the device solely based on its novelty—for a while at least. We expect Meta will have its own list of use cases for such a feature when the device is finally revealed. The Meta Connect event could be groundbreaking for the Facebook parent, but we’ll have to wait to see just what this watch is capable of.
Do you believe the Meta smartwatch rumors or do you think this is another false alarm? Let us know what you think. Subscribe to Technowize for more insights into the latest and greatest gadgets making their way to the market in 2025.
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