Meta Revives Smartwatch Project with Camera, Potential September Launch

Meta smartwatch with a camera may be announced in September - 9to5Mac

Apple at one time considered adding a camera to the Apple Watch, but it looks like Meta may get there first. A new report suggests the company may unveil the upcoming wearable at its September event. A Meta smartwatch with a camera was spotted in development back in 2021, but was said to have been put on pause the following year. However, a new supply-chain report says the project was revived and is now close to launch ... Apple has long been considering the idea of adding a camera to the Apple Watch, as evidenced by a patent application dating back to 2019. Apple's proposed solution is to integrate the camera into part of the band, rather than the Watch itself. You'd be able to pull out a section of the band, which would be flexible so you can angle it as desired. The lens itself would rotate on the end of the band for complete flexibility. The company saw this as potentially letting us leave our iPhones behind at least some of the time. A smartwatch with the capability of capturing images or videos may enable a user to forego carrying a smartphone when doing some activities, especially activities or environments where it would be difficult to take a smartphone (e.g., hiking, running, swimming, surfing, snowboarding, and any number of other situations). Of course, we added our usual disclaimer: Apple patents all kinds of things that never make it into production. But while Apple may or may not add a camera to its Watch, a Digitimes report suggests Meta is going full steam ahead on its product. Meta Platforms Inc. is reportedly reviving its smartwatch project, potentially with a camera lens, timed with its Meta Connect conference on September 17-18 in the US. The smartwatch is expected to complement Meta's upcoming AI glasses. China's Huaqin is said to be the primary manufacturer. The inclusion of a camera would give the watch AI capabilities, as well as differentiating it from existing smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, and Garmin. The report seems uncertain whether the watch will appear at Meta's September event. The intro suggests it's being timed for an announcement there, while later in the piece it says "it's unclear if the smartwatch will debut at the upcoming Meta Connect event." Integration within the Apple ecosystem makes it a very tough challenge for any company to sell smartwatches to iPhone owners. To have any chance at all, they'd need to offer a compelling feature the Apple Watch doesn't. A camera could potentially be such a feature, though appeal is likely to be limited to the same market Apple identified in its patent: those who want to sometimes be able to leave their iPhone at home while still being able to take photos and video. Either way, it'll be good to see some competition here - perhaps this will be the development that persuades Apple to press ahead with the camera watchband idea.

Meta might be making another smartwatch, and it still has a camera

While its name might point to a mostly-abandoned push into the metaverse, Meta's found itself in the midst of a wearable revolution, thanks to both its smart glasses partnership with Ray-Ban and, of course, the Quest lineup of VR headsets. Now, several years after initially cancelling its first-ever smartwatch, Meta might be looking to give wrist-based gadgets another go. According to a report from DigiTimes, Meta has a revival in store for the smartwatch project it canned back in 2022 (via @Jukalosreve). Unlike most other smartwatches from brands like Samsung and Google, Meta's wearable is allegedly designed to compliment both its smart glasses and its Quest headsets, focusing primarily on examining the world around you through built-in cameras rather than focusing on health tracking and incoming notifications. In fact, whatever Meta has in the works here sounds pretty similar to what the company was cooking up back in 2021. At the time, reports suggested Meta -- or Facebook, as it was still known -- planned to launch a pair of smartwatches in the summer of 2022, utilizing a pair of cameras to differentiate itself from the rest of the market. Leaks suggested a 12MP main sensor located on the bottom of the device, thus requiring the user take the watch off, while the 5MP "front-facing" camera was meant for wrist-based video calls. Remember, this was in the era of Facebook's long-forgotten Portal smart display, when the brand was all-in on video conferencing. While you might expect Meta to have reconsidered its initial idea for a smartwatch in the years since, it sounds like this revived project isn't all too dissimilar to its predecessor. DigiTimes suggests this wearable, which restarted development in early 2024, is a play at "enhancing the metaverse experience" -- whatever that means -- thanks to at least one built-in camera. Presumably, the company's current focus on AI and its large language models will also play a role here, especially considering the company planned to launch "half a dozen" AI wearables this year. Regardless of what Meta's finalized smartwatches actually look like, we might not have to wait that long to find out. Meta Connect, the company's annual developer conference, is set to kick off on September 17th, and according to this report, this year's event could include a look at this revived project.

Meta's smartwatch with camera is reportedly being revived -- and it could launch this September to work alongside new smart glasses

Remember the Meta Watch that never was? Well, it may be making a comeback, as Meta is reportedly back to developing a smartwatch, and it may launch just in time to compete with the Apple Watch 11. As per a DigiTimes report, Meta is "reviving" its smartwatch plans and developing a new wearable with a potential built-in camera lens, and it's geared to work alongside its upcoming smart glasses -- which could be the rumored "Meta Celeste" glasses. Yet again, Meta is looking to include a camera on its rumored smartwatch. A few years ago, it was rumored that its Facebook smartwatch would come with two cameras, but the plans were reportedly scrapped. Now, it appears Meta has reversed course. It's unclear what this camera would be for, but considering that its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses come with AI features that utilize the camera, the smartwatch could offer similar AI tools -- if it also comes equipped with a camera. If Meta is planning to deliver a smartwatch after all, it would stand out from the best smartwatches with its potential camera and link to its rumored smart glasses. Meanwhile, Apple reportedly had plans for an Apple Watch with a camera, utilizing Visual Intelligence, but this was said to be canceled. Whether this feature will give Meta an edge is unclear. Meta appears to have a lot new productrs in the hopper, including its rumored smart glasses, Meta Quest 4 and the recent release of the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses. If a smartwatch is on the way, it shows that Meta is ramping up its selection even more. According to the report, the Meta smartwatch may arrive in time for the upcoming Meta Connect event taking place on September 17. However, as spotted by Wccftech, Digitimes also states that it is "unclear" if the smartwatch will launch during the Meta Connect event. There's no telling what Meta will have up its sleeve, but if the smartwatch is set to be paired with an upcoming pair of smart specs, then it could at least be teased at Meta Connect. Only time will tell if Meta really is giving its smartwatch plans another try. And speaking of AI on a watch, check out Apple Watch's new AI fitness coach.

Meta smartwatch launch might finally be happening this September - Phandroid

The Meta smartwatch launch might finally be back on track. After putting the project on hold in 2022, Meta is reportedly reviving its wearable ambitions. According to DigiTimes, the company has partnered with Chinese manufacturer Huaqin to produce the device. Huaqin is no small player eithe. They've previously built products for Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi. If the report is accurate, the Meta smartwatch launch could happen soon, maybe even at Meta Connect, which kicks off September 17. The source is a bit cagey about the timing, though. It hints at a reveal during the event but later says that nothing's confirmed. What makes this more than just another smartwatch rumor is the hardware. Leaks from the original prototype, codenamed Milan, showed a design similar to a Fitbit Versa with a twist, with a front and rear camera. You could even detach the body from the strap to use the rear shooter. That's not just a gimmick. It opens the door for camera-based AI features, something Meta could tie closely with its upcoming smart glasses. A smartwatch with a built-in camera would stand out in a market crowded by Apple, Samsung, and Garmin. It's been a while since we've seen anyone seriously challenge the status quo in wearables, and Meta clearly wants to bring something different. We still don't have much else to go on. There are no specs, no price, no firm launch date. However, there are signs pointing to a real product this time. If Meta can deliver, the Meta smartwatch launch could be one of the more interesting wearable debuts this year.

Meta Is Said to Have Revived Its 'Smartwatch With Camera' Project

China's Huaqin Technology is said to be manufacturing the wearable Meta Platforms is once again said to have resumed the development of a smartwatch which might have built-in cameras. The project was first reported to have begun in 2021 but was shelved less than a year later as the company prioritised development of other wrist wearables. According to a report, the smartwatch project has been revived and it could be introduced as early as September 2025, arriving as a companion to the Meta AI glasses. According to a DigiTimes report, Meta has revived its smartwatch project and this development is timed with the Meta Connect conference which takes place between September 17-18 in the US. Huaqin Technology, based in China, is said to be the primary manufacturer of the purported wearable. While details remain under wraps, the Meta smartwatch could arrive with a built-in camera that would act as a differentiator when put up against the likes of the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Its inclusion could enable artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. However, the report contradicts itself later on and goes on to say that "it's unclear if the smartwatch will debut at the upcoming Meta Connect event". This makes the future of the Meta smartwatch uncertain, but it isn't the first time that will have happened. The project was first reported in 2021, with the smartwatch being codenamed "Milan". At the time, it was believed to be a watch with a screen that is curved around the edges. The purported Meta smartwatch was said to carry a front-facing camera at the bottom of the display and a physical control button on the right side of the frame. A few months later, a dual-camera smartwatch being developed by Meta's Reality Labs division surfaced. In a report, we even saw an image showing the front and back of a prototype of the smartwatch, having a 5-megapixel camera and a 10-megapixel camera, respectively. It featured a gold-coloured casing that had two buttons on one side. However, this project was ultimately shelved in June 2022. Reports suggested that the second camera had caused issues with an in-development feature that would've allowed the wearer to control the smartwatch by converting nerve signals from the wrist into digital commands.

Meta Is Developing A Smartwatch With A Built-In Camera For AI Features, Potentially Launching In September To Rival The Apple Watch And Redefine Wearable Tech

The Apple Watch was launched more than a decade ago, and the device has come a long way since then. The company also considered adding a camera to the wearable, but the plan was scrapped, and now, Meta is working on its own iteration of a smartwatch with a built-in camera. A new report claims that Meta may introduce the wearable at its September event, alongside the new iPhone and Apple Watch Series 11. This is not the first time that we are hearing details on the Meta smartwatch with a camera, as the wearable was first spotted in 2021. However, the development was paused the following year. A supply chain report now claims that the project has been revived once again and has moved closer to launch, now expected later this year. Apple proposed a camera on the Apple Watch years ago, and it also filed several patents to secure the technology over the competition. However, Apple did not go ahead with the technology, potentially with fear that the camera on the Apple Watch could cannibalize iPhone sales to some extent. The camera on the Apple Watch was a proper sensor capable of recording videos and taking photos instead of a sensor for health-based purposes. However, it is worth mentioning that not all Apple patents see daylight in the form of a product, and if you have been keeping track, the company files a lot of patents. While Apple gave up on its dream of a camera on the Apple Watch, DigiTimes reports that Meta's development of a smartwatch with a camera is going in full flow. Meta Platforms Inc. is reportedly reviving its smartwatch project, potentially with a camera lens, timed with its Meta Connect conference on September 17-18 in the US. The smartwatch is expected to complement Meta's upcoming AI glasses. China's Huaqin is said to be the primary manufacturer. Meta's smartwatch will be significantly different than other watches, which include the Apple Watch, Samsung's Galaxy Watch, and the Pixel Watch lineup. For one, Meta's smartwatch will have a built-in camera, which would give it a unique selling point and open doors for AI features similar to Visual Intelligence on the iPhone and Google Lens on Android phones. The report seems uncertain whether the watch will appear at Meta's September event. The intro suggests it's being timed for an announcement there, while later in the piece it says, "it's unclear if the smartwatch will debut at the upcoming Meta Connect event." It remains to be seen how the company would position and market its smartwatch, as it has to be paired with a smartphone to utilize its true potential, and it would definitely be a tough sell to iPhone users who are loyal to the Apple Watch due to ecosystem restrictions. We are not familiar with the official design of the wearable, so do stick around for more details on the matter. Do you think Meta's smartwatch with a camera can compete against the Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments.

Will Meta Smartwatch Outperform Apple and Samsung? Reality Labs Holds the Key

Meta's New Smartwatch Features Built-In Cameras and AI Assistant; Launch Rumored for September Meta is reviving its long-awaited AI wearable project to enter the global smartwatch market. The company is preparing to compete with Apple and Samsung, now the dominant leaders in the segment. The upcoming Meta smartwatch is reportedly back in development and could make a surprise appearance as early as September 2025. Before the project was put on hold, aimed to bring the smartwatch into a futuristic realm. It would have featured wrist-based neural-signal reading and was planned to add the neural signal interpretation system for an AI assistant-based, more intelligent, hands-free interaction. That is why the company restarted the project, intending to change how smartwatches work in an AI-powered world.

Meta Smartwatch Comeback: Camera, AI Tools May Launch at Connect 2025

Meta to Relaunch Smartwatch with Built-in Camera and AI Features, Likely to Debut at Meta Connect 2025 Meta, formerly the Facebook company, will rejoin the smartwatch competition with artificial intelligence at the center this time. The technology giant is said to be restarting its cancelled Meta smartwatch project and might launch the new gadget during Meta Connect 2025 on September 17-18 in the US. According to DigiTimes, Meta is working on a smartwatch with an onboard camera and AI-enabled features, as reported by 9to5Google. The development is part of to create an AI-first ecosystem that integrates well with its Ray-Ban smart glasses and Quest VR headsets.