Meta plans smartwatch with health tracking, AI for 2026 launch

Meta plans a 2026 watch launch

Meta plans to release a new smartwatch equipped with health tracking and AI features by the end of 2026. This device marks the company’s return to wrist-worn hardware four years after it canceled its previous wearable project.

The upcoming watch currently carries the codename Malibu 2. Meta intends to position this device as a central component of its growing hardware ecosystem, linking it directly to its smart glasses and future augmented reality efforts.

The company also plans to release an updated version of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses alongside the watch. These updates follow a period of high demand for the current model, which forced Meta to pause international shipping to manage inventory shortages.

AI glasses and hardware delays

Meta is prioritizing the Malibu 2 watch and updated glasses over more complex hardware projects. The company recently delayed its high-end mixed reality glasses, codenamed Phoenix, until 2027.

This delay stems from a broader effort to streamline the Reality Labs roadmap. Executives want to ensure the foundational AI and gesture-control technologies work reliably before launching a full AR headset to the public.

The Phoenix glasses represent Meta’s attempt to shrink the capabilities of the Quest 3 into a standard eyeglass frame. Technical challenges regarding battery life and heat dissipation contributed to the decision to push the launch back by at least 12 months.

Replacing the neural wristband

The Malibu 2 smartwatch will likely replace the standalone neural wristband Meta previously demonstrated for gesture control. This wristband uses electromyography (EMG) to translate nerve signals into digital commands.

By integrating EMG sensors into a standard smartwatch, Meta avoids asking users to wear two separate devices on their arms. This integration allows users to control the Ray-Ban glasses or Quest headsets with subtle finger pinches and hand movements.

Meta acquired CTRL-labs in 2019 to develop this specific neural interface technology. The company has spent years miniaturizing these sensors to fit into a consumer-grade watch chassis without sacrificing battery performance.

Meta’s history of wearable failures

This is not Meta’s first attempt to enter the smartwatch market. The company scrapped a previous device, codenamed Milan, in 2022 after nearly two years of development.

The Milan watch featured two cameras, including a 5-megapixel sensor on the face and a 12-megapixel sensor on the back. Engineers struggled with the rear camera because it interfered with the EMG sensors required for gesture control.

Meta ultimately canceled the Milan project to cut costs during a period of company-wide layoffs and restructuring. The Malibu 2 represents a more focused design that prioritizes AI integration over redundant hardware like dual cameras.

Competition from Apple and Google

Meta faces an increasingly crowded market for wrist-worn technology and smart eyewear. Apple is reportedly developing its own AI-powered smart glasses that could arrive as early as 2027.

The Malibu 2 must compete with established fitness and productivity ecosystems. Meta will go head-to-head with several major hardware manufacturers:

• Apple: Holds the largest market share with the Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2.
• Google: Integrated Fitbit technology into the Pixel Watch 3 to bolster health tracking.
• Samsung: Recently expanded its lineup with the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Ring.
• Garmin: Dominates the high-end fitness and endurance athlete segment.

Meta expects its advantage to come from deep Instagram and WhatsApp integration. The company wants to make the Malibu 2 the primary interface for social communication and AI-assisted tasks.

The struggle for hardware dominance

Meta’s Reality Labs division continues to lose billions of dollars each quarter as it pivots from software to hardware. CEO Mark Zuckerberg views the smartwatch as a bridge between the mobile era and the future of spatial computing.

The success of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses proved that consumers are willing to wear Meta-branded hardware if it looks like traditional fashion. Meta is applying this lesson to the Malibu 2 by focusing on a slim, lightweight design.

Recent sales figures for the Ray-Ban glasses exceeded internal projections. Meta executives stated that "unprecedented demand" led to the current stock shortages, justifying the accelerated timeline for the Malibu 2 watch.

AI features and health sensors

The Malibu 2 will feature a custom processor designed to handle Meta AI locally. This allows for voice-activated features and real-time translation without relying entirely on a paired smartphone connection.

Health tracking remains a core focus for the new device. Meta plans to include a standard suite of biometric sensors to monitor the following metrics:

• Heart rate variability (HRV) for stress monitoring.
• Blood oxygen levels (SpO2) for sleep quality analysis.
• GPS for accurate outdoor activity tracking.
• Skin temperature sensors for cycle tracking and illness detection.

Meta is also exploring ways to use AI to provide personalized health coaching. The watch will analyze activity data to suggest recovery times and workout intensities through the Meta AI interface.

The path to 2027

Launching the Malibu 2 in 2026 gives Meta a one-year window to establish its wrist-control system before the Phoenix AR glasses arrive. The company needs a large user base of watch owners to justify the high price of its future AR hardware.

Engineers are currently testing the watch’s compatibility with the Quest 3S and the upcoming Quest 4. Meta wants the watch to serve as a universal controller for all its Reality Labs products.

If the Malibu 2 succeeds, it will validate Meta’s long-term bet on neural interfaces. If it fails, the company may struggle to convince users to adopt the more expensive and complex Phoenix glasses in 2027.