Facebook is taking a new approach with its first smartwatch, which the company has not yet officially confirmed but plans to launch next summer. According to reports, the device will feature a screen with two cameras that can detach from the wristband to capture photos and videos that can be shared across Facebook's suite of applications, including Instagram. The front-facing camera on the watch's screen is primarily for video calls, while a 1080p autofocus camera on the back can be used to capture shots when detached from the stainless steel wrist frame.
Facebook is collaborating with other companies to create accessories that connect the camera hub to items like backpacks. The idea centers around encouraging smartwatch owners to use it in ways similar to how smartphones are currently used. This watch is part of Mark Zuckerberg's plan to build more consumer devices that can compete with Apple and Google, which largely control Facebook's access to users. This new device marks Facebook's first venture into wrist-worn hardware, opening another avenue for competition with Apple at a time when the tech giants are at odds on other fronts.
Apple has positioned itself as a privacy protector by limiting the types of data apps like Facebook can collect, while Facebook has faced years of scandals regarding its handling of user data. This dynamic creates a significant challenge for Facebook in convincing people to buy its smartwatch, especially as it also aims to market the watch as a fitness device with a heart rate monitor.
Facebook is working with major wireless carriers in the United States to support LTE connectivity in the watch, meaning it will not need to be paired with a phone to function and will be sold in their stores. In future versions of the watch, Facebook plans for it to serve as a primary input device for planned augmented reality glasses. Zuckerberg believes augmented reality glasses will someday be as ubiquitous as mobile phones. The company plans to leverage technology acquired from CTRL Labs, a startup that demonstrated that wristbands can control computers through wrist movements.
Facebook aims to launch the first version of the smartwatch in the summer of 2022 and is already working on the second and third generations for subsequent years. Recent discussions among employees indicated a pricing target of around $400, but this price point may change. Facebook could potentially cancel the smartwatch, as the device has not yet entered mass production or even received an official name.
Facebook's interest in building a smartwatch dates back at least a couple of years; it considered acquiring Fitbit in 2019 before Google purchased it. Since then, the social network has spent nearly a billion dollars developing the first version of its watch and has hundreds of people working on this initiative. Using a customized version of Android, Facebook plans to rely on a suite of applications and external partnerships to create compelling experiences for the watch. However, a wearable device from Facebook is not guaranteed, as smartwatches with cameras have thus far struggled to gain traction.
