Newly-branded extended reality (XR) firm Meta has confirmed it is planning to release an XR ready smartwatch in the summer of 2022.
Originally leaked in October 2021, the upcoming smartwatch will be available with square and circular designs and will run augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) apps.
Additionally, Meta’s upcoming device will come with two outward-facing cameras to support XR content, which customers can use to capture and share memories on the go.
remember when I said FB/Meta was working on a smartwatch for this year with a detachable display/cameras? here are mockups of said thing from a patent application published today by Meta’s head of tech engineering, who was previously a VP at GoPro pic.twitter.com/2MYF0zPsb0
— Alex Heath (@alexeheath) January 13, 2022
Users can then share memories as posts on Meta’s umbrella of social media apps such as Instagram and Facebook.
The news comes after Meta filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for the XR-ready smartwatch back in June last year.
On January 13, the WIPO later approved Meta’s 49-page patent documentation for its “detachable camera block for a wearable device.”
Hardware Specs
Despite its small size, Meta plans to pack a ton of hardware and software features into the upcoming wearable, and future adopters will be able to connect Meta’s XR smartwatch to AR/VR devices so that they can enjoy immersive experiences and apps.
Meta’s powerful outward-facing cameras will also support several lens types for creative photography and videography, including a prime telephoto, wide-angle, optical zoom, and fish-eye lens.
To access each lens mode, future adopters will be able to swap out the smartwatch’s touch display via a built-in magnetic watch face, allowing users to choose from different displays with a variety of camera functions.
Additionally, the intuitive display can rotate on a 270-degree axis for easy interaction no matter the angle. Also, wearers can use the rotating display to choose their lens mode.
Other confirmed features include a microphone for audio calls, 2D-application support, biometrics, and of course timekeeping.
Meta XR Developments
The developments come after last year’s Connect Event 2021, where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the Menlo Park-based firm’s Project Cambria and Nazare prototype AR/VR headsets.
Expected later this year, Meta’s devices will run shared Metaverse shared experiences. Currently, US Meta Quest 2 users can access Horizon: Worlds to enjoy social VR experiences.
Additionally, to enjoy Meta’s pre-existing XR content, individuals can access App Lab, the firm’s secure method to digitally submit and distribute AR apps on the Quest 2.