TL;DR
- Meta may be developing a new version of its previously canceled smartwatch.
- A leak claims the watch could use a custom version of Android that’s not Wear OS and run on a Qualcomm chip.
- The device is reportedly very similar in physical build to the first iteration of the smartwatch.
The parent company of Facebook, Meta, may not be done with its plans to compete in the smartwatch market quite yet. A new leak suggests the social media behemoth is once again working on a smartwatch device.
Last year in November, we reported that Meta was taking measures to be a leaner and more efficient company after laying off over 11,000 employees. To do so, the company cut some of its projects that were still in development. This included multiple smartwatch projects, one of which — codenamed Milan — was scheduled to go on sale in 2023 for around $349.
However, it looks like that may not have been the end of the story for Meta’s smartwatch ambitions. According to well-known leaker Kuba Wojciechowski, Meta is currently working on a new version of its previously canceled smartwatch.
Based on Wojciechowski’s anonymous source, the first version of Meta’s smartwatch was in fact canceled. But the company may be working on a new version of the device with the purpose of getting users used to the form factor. Supposedly, Meta wants to do this because it may eventually be used for other metaverse-related gadgets.
The leak further reveals that the rumored device is physically similar in design to the Milan device. However, there appear to be minor cosmetic changes. It could also use a custom version of Android that’s not Wear OS and run on a Qualcomm chip.
Unfortunately, the leak didn’t have any information on when we could expect this smartwatch to ship.
What do you think Meta possibly trying its hand at making a smartwatch again? Let us know in the comments below.
