Meta reportedly shelves plans for dual-camera smartwatch

Image: Bloomberg

The development of a wristwatch with cameras has been stopped by Meta. The device was supposed to cost $349 in the spring of 2023. The cancellation is said to be due to technical issues, as well as general cost-cutting. Last year, the watch was reported by The Verge.

Meta had hoped that the presence of two cameras would differentiate its Wearable in a competitive market. The first would have been a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with a small display notch for use with video calls, and the second would have been a 12-megapixel camera with a small display notch for use with photos and video.

The second camera interfered with the watch's ability to pick up signals from the wrist Meta had hoped that the device would act as a controller for separate augmented reality glasses and other metaverse initiatives. Meta talked about using wrist-mounted devices to pick up nerve signals in a post last year.

The signals through the wrist are clear and can be seen in the picture. Input can be done easily. It may be possible to sense the intent to move a finger.

The typical features of a smartwatch would have been included in the Wearable. The team wanted the watch to last 18 hours on a charge. Meta was looking to work with other companies to build accessories for the watch that would allow it to be attached to backpacks for use as a camera.

Meta is still working on other wrist-based devices despite the cancellation of the watch. It is part of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plan to offer more consumer hardware of its own and to reduce its dependence on users having to go through Apple and Google to use its services.