Meta’s Smartwatch Saga: From Cameras to AI and the Future of Wearable Tech
Meta is once again diving into the smartwatch arena with “Project Malibu 2,” a project that’s seen more twists and turns than most tech ventures. After multiple cancellations and revivals over the past four years, the company is now targeting a 2026 release, but this time, the focus has dramatically shifted. Forget the wrist-mounted cameras of earlier iterations; Malibu 2 is positioning itself as a health and AI powerhouse, designed to complement Meta’s augmented reality and smart glasses ambitions.
A History of Revisions: From Milan to Malibu 2
The journey began with Project Milan in 2021, a smartwatch concept featuring a detachable design and dual cameras intended for video calls and photography. Even as promising, Milan was shelved in 2022. However, leaks in July 2025 hinted at a revival, envisioning the watch as a companion to Meta’s upcoming ‘Celeste’ smart glasses. Malibu 2 represents the latest refinement of this vision.
The core idea now is not to replicate a smartphone on your wrist, but to offload tasks that are impractical for slim smart glasses. This includes visual intelligence processing and, crucially, health sensing.
The Pivot to Health and AI: A Latest Direction
This move towards health tracking marks a significant departure for Meta, which has previously only dabbled in basic fitness metrics within its Quest ecosystem. Malibu 2 is expected to be a fully-fledged health wearable, running on an Android-based operating system. This places Meta in direct competition with established players like Apple, but with a key differentiator: deep integration with Meta AI.
The watch is envisioned as the primary interface for Meta AI, leveraging its proximity to the body to deliver more context-aware responses. The potential also exists for incorporating neural band (EMG) technology, currently under development for gesture-based control of Meta’s smart glasses.
Why Now? The Rise of Smart Glasses and the Need for a Companion
The success of Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses appears to be a driving force behind this renewed smartwatch push. These glasses excel at delivering information and capturing moments, but they lack the processing power and battery life for complex tasks and continuous health monitoring. A smartwatch like Malibu 2 solves these limitations, providing a dedicated platform for data processing and biometric analysis.
As a peripheral device, the smartwatch can handle the heavy lifting of health tracking, leaving the glasses sleek and focused on their core function: augmented reality experiences.
The Uncertain Road Ahead
Given Meta’s history with smartwatches, skepticism is understandable. However, the company now has a clear use case for a wrist-worn device and the success of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses provides a strong incentive to see Malibu 2 through to completion. Whether it will actually appear at Connect 2026 remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Project Malibu 2?
Project Malibu 2 is Meta’s latest attempt at creating a smartwatch, focusing on health tracking and AI integration.
What happened to the previous Meta smartwatch project, Milan?
Project Milan, which featured wrist-mounted cameras, was reportedly shelved in 2022 but was briefly revived as a companion to Meta’s ‘Celeste’ smart glasses.
Will the Meta smartwatch compete with the Apple Watch?
Yes, the Meta smartwatch will directly compete with the Apple Watch in the health and fitness tracking space, but will differentiate itself through integration with Meta AI.
What is the expected release date for Project Malibu 2?
The current target release date for Project Malibu 2 is 2026.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on Meta’s Connect conference for the latest updates on Project Malibu 2 and other upcoming AR/VR and wearable technologies.
What are your thoughts on Meta’s renewed smartwatch efforts? Share your predictions in the comments below!
