Four years in, Meta’s smartwatch might finally appear
You thought you’ve heard the last about a Meta smartwatch? Think again. The company might finally have a smartwatch to show for its efforts. A report suggests it could make its debut this September during the company’s annual Connect event.
Meta smartwatch development picks up again
After several years of false starts, Meta’s smartwatch project seems to have a pulse again. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that development is underway. Not by a long-shot. So take this with a pinch of salt.
According to DigiTimes, Meta has partnered with Chinese design manufacturer Huaqin. This is a company known for working with brands like Xiaomi, Samsung and Huawei on both phones and smartwatches.
That kind of collaboration hints at hardware maturity, not just early prototyping. It also aligns with Meta’s broader strategy of outsourcing device design while keeping a tight grip on software and platform integration. Huaqin’s role is reportedly to help push the smartwatch to production stage, which would be the furthest this project has come since it was last shelved.
Meta Connect might be the launch window
The obvious timing for a reveal is Meta Connect, scheduled for September 17. The two-day event is focused on AI, metaverse developments, and wearables, so the stage is already set. If the watch appears, it would signal that Meta is ready to re-enter the hardware space it abruptly exited back in 2022.
That exit was part of a large internal reset. Meta laid off thousands of staff, dropped the Portal smart display line, and halted all smartwatch work. At the time, a dual-camera watch was reportedly in development. It had one camera on the front for video calls and another on the back for capturing content. Early prototypes also included LTE, heart rate tracking, and a square-ish design with a single physical button.
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However, that hardware had problems. The second camera clashed with Meta’s experimental gesture input system based on electromyography, or EMG. The idea was to use nerve signals in the wrist to trigger commands, a concept that remains part of Meta’s long-term wearables playbook. With the camera getting in the way, priorities shifted. And then, the entire project was put on hold.
Details still scarce for now
At this stage, there are no leaked specs or images of the revived model. Even the name is still unknown. Whether Meta is picking up where it left off or starting over is unclear. The only real takeaway is that the partnership with Huaqin signals renewed intent.
There’s always a chance the project hits another wall. But if it does appear in September, it could be Meta’s first real hardware push since the days of Portal. A wearable with ties to its AI or AR ambitions would make sense as a long-term play. Especially if EMG or gesture control is still part of the vision.
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