Meta is reviving its smartwatch plans with a new device set for release this year, according to a report from The Information. The smartwatch, code-named Malibu 2, will feature health-tracking capabilities and built-in Meta AI, marking the company's first entry into the competitive wearable market dominated by Apple Watch.

This project represents a resurrection of Meta's previously canceled smartwatch initiative from 2022, which had been shelved amid spending cuts at the company's Reality Labs hardware division. The original plan called for three camera-equipped watch models, but those designs won't be part of the new product lineup. The timing suggests Meta is accelerating its hardware ambitions as it seeks to compete more directly with Apple's ecosystem.

Meta's smartwatch could launch alongside updated Ray-Ban smart glasses that may include facial recognition features, though the company has delayed its mixed reality glasses project until 2027. Executives reportedly grew concerned about overwhelming customers with too many devices in quick succession. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly developing its own smart glasses, AI pin, and camera-equipped AirPods for a potential 2027 launch, setting up an intensifying battle in the wearable technology space.