Facebook, or the now recently rebranded Meta Platforms, Inc, has reportedly been working on a smartwatch for quite some time, but a leaked image suggests it's now much closer to completion. While its appearance alone can certainly raise some eyebrows, what sets it apart from the likes of the Apple Watch can either make or break it. Talks of Facebook entering the wearable market had been making rounds earlier this year.
The company itself, despite being primarily known for its widely-utilized social media platform, is no stranger to producing hardware. From releasing Portal smart displays and developing AR wrist controllers, to even acquiring VR headset company Oculus, it's safe to say that Meta's heavily invested in tech hardware. Given its recent foray into the smart glasses game, it only makes sense for it take a bite out of Apple's smartwatch dominance next.
Well, it seems like that time might be a lot sooner than expected, as a leaked image shows what appears to be a full-blown prototype of Meta's unreleased smartwatch. The image itself was reportedly unearthed from its smart glasses app, according to Bloomberg. This suggests that Meta could be establishing a broader wearables ecosystem, where its range of accessories connect with or compliment one another. As for the smartwatch itself, it's said to come with detachable wrist straps and a single side button. It looks pretty much like any standard smartwatch, albeit with one major difference, it has a bottom front-facing camera, something not found in neither Apple nor Samsung's latest smartwatches.
Meta's Upcoming Smartwatch Vs. Apple Watch: Can It Compare?
The aesthetics of Meta's rumored smartwatch does resemble the Apple Watch quite a bit, from its clean, all-white motif, down to its round edges and sleek bezel. However, it appears to have a tactile side button instead of the Apple Watch's convenient rotating crown control knob. Its more traditional-looking design does blend traits from both Samsung and Apple's smartwatches, and it's unclear if its chic rounded lugs can double as physical controls as well, While its built-in camera could certainly be a unique selling point, the privacy issues that might arise from it could also deter consumers away from the very thing that helps it stand out.
Of course, it's still too early to tell if it handles worse than an Apple Watch, or if fears over its camera alone can spell its downfall. Apart from its potentially concerning camera, there are still many things Meta can take advantage of in order to make its smartwatch more appealing than Apple's. There are already dozens of health-focused smartwatches on the market, but emphasis on the social and networking aspect is what sets Meta apart. If the company can consolidate its massive user base from its platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and somehow integrate them effectively into its smartwatch ecosystem, then that just might be its edge against the competition.
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Source: Bloomberg