Facebook smartwatch with focus on messaging and health is in the works

Social media giant Facebook is working on a smartwatch with a focus on health and messaging features, reports The Information citing four people aware of the development.

The Facebook smartwatch (not actual name) will run an open-source version of Google's Android software, but the company is also developing its own OS for its future hardware, which could debut with the second-gen smartwatch expected to arrive in 2023.

The smartwatch is expected to have tight integration with Facebook-owned apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and it will support cellular connectivity, allowing you to quickly interact with messages without relying on a smartphone.

The report also states that Facebook will allow the wearable to connect with the hardware and services of health and fitness companies like Peloton Interactive. However, considering Facebook's reputation with handling user privacy, it remains to be seen if the smartwatch will get a warm welcome or meet with heavy skepticism, especially since the company will now have access to more health and fitness data, which could be sold to third parties for targeted advertising.

The Facebook smartwatch isn't coming until 2022, and the source claims it's expected to be sold at the "near cost to produce it", but how much exactly that will be is unclear. It's likely Facebook will price its smartwatch below Apple's Watch Series 6 and Watch SE.

Source