Meta’s subsequent model of its Ray-Ban Display sensible glasses may very well be arriving later this yr, and together with them, a watch. A brand new report from The Information says the smartwatch, codenamed Malibu 2, may have fitness features like an Apple Watch or Fitbit. However the actual purpose for a watch like this to emerge now’s to work with sensible glasses. Let me clarify.
After I talked with Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth final yr, he advised me that the neural band Meta launched with the Ray-Ban Show glasses final fall was one thing that may finally make sense as a part of a watch. That is precisely what I believe will occur this yr.
Meta representatives did not instantly reply to a request for remark.
Meta will not be alone in a mission to triangulate wearables. Apple is reportedly planning on releasing glasses and possibly a pin to go together with AirPods and Apple Watch. Google’s XR staff confirmed to me that its upcoming 2026 smart glasses will work with Android watches, too.
The largest downside with Meta’s fascinating neural band accent, which makes use of skin-based electromyography to sense motor neuron indicators and translate them into interface gestures, is that it at the moment works solely to regulate Ray-Ban Show glasses. Meta’s already been exploring different units its neural band tech may join with: I tried a demo of Meta’s neural band in an idea Garmin sensible automobile cabin at CES again in January.
Sporting a neural band and a smartwatch on the similar time is not perfect. Meta’s subsequent transfer may very well be to mix each.
However Meta’s wearables staff can also be doubtless engaged on methods to have a wrist wearable do extra than simply acknowledge hand gestures. Enter a smartwatch, which may add health monitoring. Meta’s already been dipping its toes into health over the previous yr, too: The corporate’s Oakley Vanguard sports activities glasses function coronary heart rate-tracking LED indicators and pair with Garmin watches.
If I have been to guess a companion for this smartwatch, it will be Garmin. Meta clearly has a partnership going with them, each for current glasses health capabilities and the sensible automobile demo I attempted. Of all of the smartwatch makers on the market that are not Apple-, Google- or Samsung-made, Garmin is one of the best remaining guess.
One factor a watch may additionally do is be a greater glasses companion. A touchscreen may doubtlessly act as a viewfinder or management the on-glasses digital camera.
A watch may very well be one other place Meta may discover onboard AI, both as a glasses companion or for AI-powered health capabilities.
We in all probability will not know extra till later this yr, since Meta’s Join developer convention, the place its new merchandise are typically introduced, normally occurs in September. However debuting a brand new neural-equipped watch with next-gen Ray-Ban Show glasses (hopefully with a wider vary of subscription help and developer entry to create apps) would make lots of sense as Apple and Google look able to dive into the identical territory.
