Meta's Malibu 2 Smartwatch Is Coming: Should You Wait or Buy Apple Watch Now? (2026)
Meta is reportedly preparing to launch its first smartwatch later in 2026, reviving Project Malibu— a wristwatch effort that was shelved back in 2022 during Reality Labs spending cuts. The new device, internally called “Malibu 2,” won’t be a typical fitness watch. It’s designed as an AI-powered companion for Meta’s expanding smart glasses ecosystem, pairing neural gesture controls with Meta AI to create something no other smartwatch offers.
But should you wait for a first-generation smartwatch from a company that’s never shipped one? Or buy a proven Apple Watch Series 11 or Galaxy Watch Ultratoday? Here’s our analysis.
What Is the Meta Malibu 2 Smartwatch?
Multiple reports from Social Media Today, Beebom, and TechBuzz AI confirm Meta has revived its smartwatch project under the codename Malibu 2. The original Project Malibu was killed in 2022 when Meta slashed Reality Labs spending by billions, but the company’s explosive success with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses — now approaching 10 million units sold — has created a compelling reason to build a wrist companion.
Key reported features include:
- Meta AI on-device: Health coaching, contextual notifications, and voice commands powered by Meta’s AI models
- Neural EMG gesture controls: Using differential electromyography to detect subtle wrist muscle movements, the same technology Meta already ships in its neural wristband for Display glasses
- Glasses companion mode: Control Ray-Ban Meta and Meta Glasses features from your wrist — skip tracks, trigger photos, manage calls
- Health tracking: Heart rate, sleep, and activity monitoring to compete with Apple Watch and Garmin
How Does Meta’s Smartwatch Compare to Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch?
The comparison is tricky because Meta isn’t building an Apple Watch competitor — it’s building a glasses ecosystem accessorythat happens to sit on your wrist. Here’s how the three approaches differ:
- Apple Watch Series 11 ($299–$429): The most mature smartwatch platform with 10 years of apps, proven health monitoring (ECG, blood oxygen, crash detection), and tight iPhone integration. Read our review →
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra ($639): The rugged Android flagship with Snapdragon Wear Elite, 590mAh battery, and the best Wear OS experience. Read our review →
- Meta Malibu 2 (price TBA): First-gen hardware with zero app ecosystem, but unique neural gesture controls and AI integration that no competitor offers
Why Meta Is Building a Smartwatch Now
The timing makes strategic sense. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are approaching 10 million units sold, and the company recently launched its own $299 Meta Glasses line. But glasses alone can’t deliver health tracking — they sit on your face, not your wrist. A companion watch fills that gap while also serving as a gesture controller for the glasses.
Meta recently shipped its neural wristband alongside Display glasses, proving the EMG technology works in consumer hardware. Integrating that same technology into a watch form factor is a natural evolution — and it’s something Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch can’t replicate without licensing Meta’s neural interface patents.
Should You Wait for the Meta Smartwatch or Buy Now?
Our recommendation: don’t wait.Here’s why:
- First-gen risk: Meta has never shipped a smartwatch. The original Malibu was killed before reaching consumers. First-generation wearables from new entrants typically have significant software gaps, battery issues, and limited third-party app support.
- Ecosystem lock-in: The watch is designed for Meta’s glasses ecosystem. If you don’t own Ray-Ban Meta or Meta Glasses, you’re buying a watch optimized for products you don’t have.
- iPhone uncertainty: iPhone compatibility is unlikely at launch, which eliminates roughly half the U.S. smartphone market.
- Proven alternatives exist: Apple Watch Series 11, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Garmin Venu 4 are excellent and available today at competitive prices.
The one exception: if you’re an Android user who already owns Meta Ray-Ban glassesand you want neural gesture controls for your glasses, the Malibu 2 could be uniquely compelling. In that case, wait for the announcement — but still don’t pre-order day one. Let reviewers test it first.
The Bigger Picture: Meta vs. Apple in Wearables
Meta’s smartwatch play signals something larger: the company is building a full wearables ecosystemto rival Apple’s. Between Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Meta Glasses, the neural wristband, and now a smartwatch, Meta is assembling the pieces for a connected platform that spans your face, ears, and wrist.
Apple is doing the same from the other direction — starting with Watch and AirPods, adding Vision Pro, and working toward smart glasses by late 2027. Samsung is in the middle with Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Ring, and Galaxy Glasses arriving July 22.
For buyers, this means more choice — but also more ecosystem pressure. The smartwatch you buy today will influence which glasses, earbuds, and rings work best with it tomorrow. Choose your ecosystem carefully, or pick standalone products that work well with everything. Compare all your options at our comparison hub.
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Meta Malibu 2 smartwatch?
- The Meta Malibu 2 is a reportedly revived smartwatch project from Meta, internally known as 'Project Malibu.' It's designed as an AI-powered companion for Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, featuring Meta AI integration, health tracking, and neural wristband gesture controls using differential electromyography (EMG) technology.
- When will the Meta smartwatch launch and how much will it cost?
- Reports indicate a late 2026 launch alongside updated Ray-Ban smart glasses. Pricing hasn't been confirmed, but given Meta's strategy of undercutting Apple (Meta Glasses start at $299 vs Ray-Ban at $379), expect competitive pricing in the $249–$399 range to challenge Apple Watch.
- Should I wait for the Meta smartwatch or buy Apple Watch Series 11 now?
- Buy Apple Watch Series 11 now unless you're deeply invested in Meta's glasses ecosystem. The Meta watch is a first-generation product from a company with no smartwatch track record, while Apple Watch has a decade of refinement, the largest app ecosystem, and proven health monitoring features.
- Will the Meta smartwatch work with iPhone?
- This hasn't been confirmed, but Meta's wearables historically require an Android or Meta companion app. iPhone compatibility is unlikely at launch given Meta and Apple's competitive relationship. If you use iPhone, Apple Watch remains the clear choice.