Meta Revives Abandoned 'Malibu 2' Smartwatch Project, Targets 2026 Launch: Report

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) is reviving its previously shelved “Malibu 2” project, with plans to launch its debut smartwatch in 2026. The watch is anticipated to offer health tracking features and an integrated Meta AI assistant, The Information reported on Wednesday.

The revival of this project marks a significant return for AI-powered wearables, particularly in the health and fitness industry.

The report also indicated that Meta has roughly four augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) glasses under development. The company is currently reevaluating its launch schedules to prevent the release of too many devices in a short period, which could potentially confuse consumers.

Reality Labs employees were notified in December that the launch of Phoenix, its MR glasses, had been delayed until 2027.

The company had initially toyed with the idea of a smartwatch around five years ago, even contemplating a version equipped with three cameras. However, in 2022, the project was put on hold due to budget cuts in its Reality Labs division.

Meta Platforms did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.

Meta Doubles Down On Wearables Expansion

The resurrection of the smartwatch project aligns with Meta’s broader strategy of expanding its footprint in the wearables market. In October, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed confidence in the profitability of the company’s growing wearables business, highlighting the potential of services and AI features layered on top of device sales.

In January, Meta stated that it is delaying the international launch of its latest AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses as U.S. demand outpaces supply, forcing the company to focus on fulfilling domestic orders before expanding abroad. Interestingly, the Ray-Ban Display was supposed to be paired with a wrist-worn "Neural Band" for gesture control with features like a teleprompter mode and gesture-based writing at CES 2026.

Benzinga's Edge Rankings place Meta Platforms in the 90th percentile for quality and the 46th percentile for value, reflecting its strong performance in both areas. Benzinga’s screener allows you to compare Meta’s performance with its peers.  

Price Action: On a year-to-date basis, Meta stock declined 1.11%, as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Wednesday, it rose 0.61% to close at $643.22.

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