Meta has reportedly shelved its rumored dual-camera smartwatch
The long-rumored smartwatch was pegged as a possible Apple Watch competitor and the report suggests it was expected to go on sale next spring for around $349. A prototype was said to have features including activity tracking, a calendar, photo gallery and heart rate monitoring. It's believed to have had an 18-hour battery life., as well as ones for Meta's own WhatsApp and Instagram Stories. The prototype reportedly did not have a native app store.
The device reportedly had WiFi, GPS and eSIM support and a removable watch face with two side buttons, one of which was a circular control . It was said to feature a five-megapixel camera on the watch face and a 12-megapixel one on the rear. The latter was designed to be usable after the watch face was removed.
That second camera appears to have caused issues during development — its positioning reportedly interfered with sensors that turned feedback from the wearer's nerves into digital signals. The company hasof using smartwatches as input devices for its take on the metaverse, with users being able to control avatars or engage with VR spaces through gestures.
Along with technical complications, it seems that broader issues at Meta played a role in the device being put on hold. A report last month suggested the company has