Facebook plans to release its first smartwatch with detachable cameras, Next Year

According to The Verge, Facebook is working on its first smartwatch, which might be released next summer. The smartwatch is rumored to have a dual-camera display. The second camera on the back will be removable, according to the source, and users will be able to post photos and movies made with the watch on Facebook-owned apps like Instagram.

According to the rumor, one of the detachable cameras would be used for video calling, while the other would be capable of recording video in full HD or 1080p definition. The company also wants to explore accessories that might be used with this camera hub. The watch will run on Google's new Wear operating system, which was revealed at the I/O conference last month.

This isn't the first time we've heard that Facebook is working on a smartwatch. The Information has previously stated the same, stating that health and messaging functions would be prioritized. According to The Verge, Facebook is working with two US wireless carriers to provide LTE connectivity in the wristwatch.

It also appears like Facebook is committed to this hardware initiative, with plans for a second and third generation. More crucially, the next-generation Facebook smartwatches might be used as a primary input device for the company's upcoming augmented reality spectacles.

Past, current, and future Facebook hardware products

Portal, Facebook's video-calling gadget with voice assistants, is currently its most prominent hardware product, meant to compete with similar products from Amazon and Google. In 2019, Facebook announced three new Portal products, bringing the total number of Portal products to four, however, these are exclusively available in the United States.

It has also dabbled in the smartphone market in the past, most notably with the HTC phone in 2013, which was a flop. However, whether it was through the acquisition of Oculus or the introduction of Portal, Facebook has always had clear hardware ambitions.

However, Facebook has yet to find success in the hardware sector. Advertising accounts for the majority of its revenue. Facebook will be stepping into whole new ground with the smartwatch, and it will be interesting to see how it does if it actually launches these items.