Facebook is planning to release their own smartwatch next year

Have you ever wanted to rep a social media site so hard you’d be willing to wear it on your wrist? While I gather that the answer is no for most people, I’m wondering why Facebook thinks we would want our very own Facebook smartwatch. The social media platform currently plans to debut it in summer of 2022.

According to The Verge, the device will feature a display with two cameras used for taking pictures and videos that can be shared across Facebook’s suite of apps—including Instagram. But what’s comical is the thought of detaching the watch from your wrist to take a photo and then putting it back on your wrist.

One of the two cameras will be on the front of the watch use primarily for video calling. The second camera is an auto-focus camera on the back of the smartwatch used to take photos and videos after you’ve take it out from your wrist.

Facebook is also working with other companies to create accessories for its watch like something to help attach the camera hub to backpacks. It is also working with wireless carriers in the U.S. to support LTE connectivity in the watch—which means that it won’t need to be paired with a phone to work.

The watch will come in white, black, and gold, and the pricing of the device is said to be roughly around USD 400 (around RM1,600). The watch has yet to enter mass production or be given an official name, but Facebook aims to release the first version of the watch next year, and is already working on second and third generations for subsequent years.

Facebook has previously looked into acquiring Fitbit in 2019 before Google bought the fitness wearable maker. Since then, it has spent roughly USD 1 billion (RM4.1 billion) to develop its watch.

However, the social media platform has also previously tried to release its own hardware. Its 2013 phone—HTC First—flopped, and its Oculus VR headsets or Portal video chat device for the home aren’t super popular either.

So far, Facebook’s camera-focused smartwatch doesn’t really sound that exciting. But if its features are worth the while when it gets released, who knows? I might even snag one myself. But for now as I read through the information we have so far, I would think twice before I consider getting a “Facebook watch”.

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