Potential Triumph of Ray-Ban Glasses with Speculated Meta Smartwatch Launch
Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, is reviving its smartwatch project, aiming to launch a new wearable device with a built-in camera lens as early as September 2025. This smartwatch, known as "Project Milan," is designed to work closely with Meta’s upcoming smart glasses, reportedly called "Meta Celeste," creating an integrated ecosystem of wearable devices.
The smartwatch is expected to have at least one camera, possibly a dual-camera setup with a 5MP front camera for video calls and a 12MP rear camera for photography. The camera feature is not just for capturing images but also for enhancing the user experience of Meta's smart glasses and mixed-reality headsets.
One glaring shortcoming of Meta Ray-Bans, the branded eyewear smart glasses already on the market, is the lack of a screen. The smartwatch could potentially address this issue by displaying images captured by the smart glasses, offloading screen information, and reducing the size and cost of the smart glasses.
Meta Ray-Bans, which can play audio, take voice commands, and use the on-device camera for vision-based AI, have proven to be a popular gadget. The smartwatch, if successful, could enhance the user experience by acting as an interface for controlling the smart glasses, featuring a screen-based UI.
The smartwatch is reportedly based on Android software, powered by a Qualcomm chipset, and will be manufactured in partnership with Chinese firm Huaqin. It aims to differentiate itself from competitors like Samsung and Apple by focusing on AR and metaverse applications rather than primarily health metrics.
The device is expected to be revealed or teased at the Meta Connect event scheduled for mid-September 2025. This timing aligns with Meta’s strategy to expand its wearable ecosystem beyond VR headsets and smart glasses.
Meta is also reportedly considering partnering with a watch brand for style advice in creating the Meta smartwatch. The potential integration with the smart glasses is similar to Orion's wristband, which provides a tight integration between the smart glasses and a secondary device for features like video calling.
In summary, Meta's smartwatch with a camera is in active development and poised to launch soon to complement its smart glasses, enhancing mixed-reality experiences through integrated AI and camera capabilities. This approach marks a strategic shift from traditional smartwatch health tracking toward deeper integration with Meta's AR and metaverse ecosystem.
- According to reports, the tech giant Meta is partnering with a watch brand to seek style advice for its upcoming smartwatch, which is based on Android software and planned to differentiate itself from competitors like Samsung and Apple by focusing on AR and metaverse applications.
- The smartwatch, known as "Project Milan," is expected to feature at least one camera, potentially a dual-camera setup including a 5MP front camera and a 12MP rear camera, aimed not only at capturing images but also at enhancing the user experience of Meta's smart glasses and metaverse devices.
- The smartwatch, which is scheduled to be revealed at the Meta Connect event in mid-September 2025, is anticipated to serve as an interface for controlling Meta's smart glasses, offering a screen-based UI, and might address the screen-related shortcomings of Meta's existing smart glasses, the Ray-Bans.
