Meta to challenge Apple with its first smartwatch — and it's reportedly launching this year

Mark Zuckerberg wearing Orion glasses — (Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Meta is planning to release the brand’s first smartwatch sometime in 2026, according to an insider report. Allegedly code-named Malibu 2, the smartwatch will reportedly offer health-tracking tools like those already found on the best smartwatches, along with a built-in Meta AI assistant.

Successfully launching a Meta smartwatch would potentially put the tech giant in direct competition with other big wearable makers, including Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, and Oura.

Zuck’s making a smartwatch?

Blue Meta logo, with black Meta text on a white banner

(Image credit: Chesnot / Getty Images)

According to an insider report published by The Information, Project Malibu 2 is based on a previously mothballed smartwatch project. No word on what prompted Zuck and Co. to revisit it, but I’m hopeful that Meta will actually see the project to completion this time around.

Apparently, Meta first began work on a wrist-based wearable back in 2021, but pulled the plug roughly a year later due to cuts in its hardware department. Insiders say that the previously-shelved project featured an onboard camera, with three variations of the watch to choose from. Can we expect the same from Project Malibu? It’s difficult to say. However, reports of cameras coming to smartwatches are far from new.

A smartwatch to go with your smart glasses

Meta Ray-Ban Display side view being worn by person — (Image credit: Future / Tom's Guide)

Meta is obviously no stranger to the wearables market, with multiple AR glasses models currently on offer, including the popular Meta Ray-Ban Displays. You could even go as far as to say that Meta makes some of the best smart glasses in 2026.

Moreover, the inclusion of a smartwatch in the brand’s product portfolio has the potential to unlock loads more gesture-based functionality for the glasses, which would be a huge plus. I could even see the brand selling the two wearables together as a bundle.

Meta smartwatch outlook

One of the best reasons I can think of for Meta to jump into the smartwatch market in 2026 comes down to compatibility. Unlike the best smartwatches for Android and the best Apple Watch models, a Meta smartwatch could theoretically play nicely with both Android and iOS smartphones.

This would mean that you don’t need to go out and buy a new smartwatch just because you were curious and decided to switch from one mobile operating system to another.

Ultimately, I’m cautiously optimistic about a Meta smartwatch. As one of the lead wearables experts here at Tom's Guide, I welcome additional competition in the space, especially from a tech powerhouse with a proven track record for hardware.

On the other hand, a Meta smartwatch could end up being Zuck’s Fire Phone moment. Let’s hope that’s not the case. Stay tuned for more reporting on a potential Meta smartwatch as the leaks and peeps drop.

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Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.

An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.

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