Sources: Facebook is planning to launch its first smartwatch, featuring a detachable display with two cameras and a heart rate monitor, next summer

A detachable display with cameras for capturing video without your phone — Facebook is taking a novel approach to its first smartwatch …

The Verge 2021-06-10 Alex Heath

Context & Ripple Effects

Earlier reporting framed Facebook's wearable effort as an Android-based health-and-fitness device; the detachable camera module turns that effort into a more distinct health, fitness, and smartwatch program with a video-capture role.

The design also fits Facebook's longer-term AR-glasses vision of a gesture-sensing wristband. A later image in the Facebook View app reinforced the device's detachable-display direction, before Meta ultimately halted the dual-camera smartwatch project and redirected attention to other wrist devices.

First-order effects

Facebook's hardware effort expands beyond heart-rate and fitness functions into a wrist-worn camera interface designed to capture video without a phone.
The detachable display makes the camera configuration—not merely watch software—the defining product decision for Facebook's first smartwatch.

Second-order effects

Facebook's video products gain a potential new capture surface, extending the company's earlier effort to encourage standalone photo and livestream creation through a dedicated camera app.
The device's camera-first design ties the smartwatch roadmap more closely to Facebook's AR and wrist-input work than a conventional health tracker would.

Third-order effects

Meta's subsequent decision to stop the dual-camera model suggests that wrist hardware may remain strategically important while the camera-watch form factor proves harder to carry into product development.
If the wristband remains paired with AR glasses as outlined in Facebook's roadmap, wearables would shift from standalone screens toward input and sensing layers for a broader hardware system.

The trend: Facebook's wearable strategy is moving toward wrist devices that combine health sensing, video capture, and gesture input for an eventual AR hardware stack.

Discussion

@alexeheath Alex Heath on x
Details on Facebook's first-ever smartwatch, which it plans to debut next summer to take on Apple: - 2 cameras with a display that can be detached from the wrist and used like a GoPro - Will integrate with Facebook's apps, including Instagram More here: https://www.theverge.com/.…
@boztank Boz on x
We've said we want AR glasses to be truly useful—we're investing in technologies across the board that will make that interaction feel more natural and intuitive. This includes research like EMG, haptics, adaptive interfaces that could come together in a wrist-based form factor. …
@boztank Boz on x
Research doesn't always lead to product development. Productizing these forms of input—for AR glasses or others—happens on parallel paths and in multiple iterations.
@thekenyeung Ken Yeung on x
Would you wear a Facebook-powered smartwatch? https://www.theverge.com/...
@boztank Boz on x
We'll share more when we're ready. And just like with our glasses work, we will consult third party experts to help us get these right.
@glengilmore Glen Gilmore on x
Facebook plans first #smartwatch for 2022 with 2 cameras 📸 and 💓 monitor FB plans for its ⌚️ to serve as a key input device for its planned #AugmentedReality 👓 May control 💻 w/ wrist movements $400 https://www.theverge.com/... @verge #tech #innovation #healthtech #wearable https:…
@mkbhd Marques Brownlee on x
How about nah https://twitter.com/...
@pierce David Pierce on x
Facebook's smartwatch plans sound way less like “we're building an Apple Watch” and way more like “we're building a much less intrusive version of Snap Spectacles,” which is not NOT smart https://www.theverge.com/...
@lanceulanoff Lance Ulanoff on x
Torn between excitement that Facebook could finally get mobile hardware right and remembering the Facebook Phone https://twitter.com/...
@grant_jenkins Grant Jenkins on x
“Let's give Facebook more of our data... They've been so trustworthy before...” ~ Not Me https://twitter.com/...
@adrianweckler Adrian Weckler on x
A Facebook watch is coming. - Will connect directly to mobile networks, bypassing your phone (handy for runners?) - Two cameras - Is part of FB's plan to lessen total reliance on iPhone & Android phones https://www.theverge.com/...
@katienotopoulos Katie Notopoulos on x
oh hell YES i cannot wait for this https://www.theverge.com/...
@lukemiani Luke Miani on x
Alternate title: Facebook plans first personal wrist-based ad targeting and spyware device https://twitter.com/...
@gavinsbaker Gavin Baker on x
Zuckerberg famously said “Carthago delenda est” at the end of a speech about responding to Google Plus. Suspect a similar speech has been given about Apple. https://www.google.com/...
@jason @jason on x
Facebook has proven itself the most untrustworthy tech company; consumers will rightfully reject a wearable from Zuckerberg—& conversely, trust one from @apple. Consumers are getting smarter & the marketplace of ideas is working thanks to @tim_cook's awesome vision. https://twitt…
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
This is Facebook's loyal lieutenant - also responsible for leaked and misleading memos on sensitive issues that showed up in major media. No different than their video cameras, you don't want Facebook anywhere near devices with your sensitive info especially tracking and cameras.…
@campuscodi Catalin Cimpanu on x
Hahahah... good luck with that! https://twitter.com/...
@hypervisible @hypervisible on x
Mind boggling that so much money and time goes into “innovations” that are basically “take existing thing and add more cameras to it.” https://twitter.com/...
@mhbergen Mark Bergen on x
The ole find a way around Google and Apple by “using a custom version of Google's Android operating system” trick. https://www.theverge.com/...
@yoda Drew Olanoff on x
leaked photo of FaceWatch https://twitter.com/...
@kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x
Siphon data from the bloodstream https://twitter.com/...
@daveleeft Dave Lee on x
A smartwatch with a “detachable display with two cameras” certainly sounds like a stylish, inconspicuous device you'd definitely want to wear in public https://twitter.com/...
@iansherr Ian Sherr on x
Can't wait to use this with Facebook Home on my HTC First. Think it'll have Chat Heads? https://twitter.com/...
@yoda Drew Olanoff on x
*ZERO* chance i'm giving facebook any health data. https://twitter.com/...
@samcarvalho Samuel Carvalho on x
Is that it? Why try and join the market with something so basic when Apple Watches exist? Nobody is even close to capturing most of the smart watch market that Apple deservedly has. Apple with over 50% of the smart watch market and Samsung only 7%. https://twitter.com/... https:/…
@laurengoode Lauren Goode on x
Of *course* Facebook is developing a smartwatch with cameras. https://www.theverge.com/... h/t @alexeheath
@jyarow Jay Yarow on x
Generous of The Verge to credit The Information with this scoop! https://www.theverge.com/...
@nickstatt Nick Statt on x
Detachable GoPro-like handheld cam is uhhh very cool. God help any company trying to compete with the Apple Watch, let alone... Facebook, but that's a good idea right there. https://twitter.com/...

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