Meta Platforms is preparing to enter the competitive smartwatch arena with a new device planned for 2026, marking a major revival of its previously shelved wearable efforts.
According to multiple reports, the company has revived a smartwatch project internally codenamed “Malibu 2,” aiming to blend health and fitness tracking with a deeply integrated Meta AI assistant — a combination designed to set the new wearable apart from rivals.
The smartwatch effort reflects a broader strategic shift for Meta, which is redirecting focus toward AI‑powered consumer hardware after earlier wearable attempts were paused in 2022 amid cost cuts in its loss-bearing Reality Labs division. The revived project targets a 2026 launch, potentially positioning Meta alongside established smartwatch makers like Apple, Samsung and Google.
What We Know So Far
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Reports claim that Meta AI will be built directly into the smartwatch, allowing users to interact with intelligent features on the wrist rather than through a phone. This emphasis on AI assistance could enable proactive insights, contextual notifications and deeper device ecosystem links.
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The anticipated Malibu 2 device is expected to come with a robust suite of health monitoring tools like biometric tracking and sleep and fitness metrics — a must‑have feature in today’s wearables landscape.
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Meta’s smartwatch is likely to sit alongside its successful Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses, potentially acting as a wearable hub in the company’s broader ecosystem of AI‑enhanced devices. Ray‑Ban smart glasses drove strong demand in the U.S., influencing Meta’s renewed interest in wrist wearables.
A Strategic Comeback
This smartwatch launch might mean more than a standalone product range expansion. One witnesses Meta’s effort to reinforce its hardware credibility and pivot from earlier not-so-profitable investments focused heavily on virtual reality and metaverse initiatives toward more mainstream consumer wearables.
Meta has not yet confirmed official specs, pricing or a firm release date, and details like battery life, sensors and software experience remain unannounced. However, the renewed commitment to Malibu 2 in 2026 signals that smartwatches will play a key role in the company’s AI and wearables strategy moving forward.
As the tech giant revives its smartwatch ambitions, the wearable device market could see fresh competition, especially in how AI capabilities are integrated into everyday gadgets — a trend expected to accelerate through 2026 and beyond.
