It seems that the next big player who intends to take the Apple Watch crown may have the resources to compete seriously, even if he has other obstacles to overcome. According to a new report by The Information, Facebook is planning to launch its first smartwatch, and the company may have something available as early as next year.
The story, corroborated by four anonymous sources at the company, states that the wearable will have its own mobile connection, ensuring that it can work independently of a smartphone, and is likely to play strongly with the company’s social appeal with the integrated Facebook Messenger.
Health is reportedly another big area, with Facebook planning connectivity with hardware and software from other companies, like Peloton. The wearable will initially run Android, but Facebook has been working on its own operating system for a long time, with a second generation possibly arriving in 2023.
In the meantime, the Apple Watch 7 is expected to deliver a wide range of updates. It may feature an advanced microLED display, as well as the ability to monitor your blood pressure and possibly your blood glucose levels.
Will smartwatch buyers trust Facebook?
This is quite bold planning, especially when Facebook’s experience with hardware so far can be described as “irregular”. While it is difficult to find where to buy Oculus Quest 2, the same cannot be said for the company Portal Smart screen. And few will remember ChaCha – the company’s 2011 smartphone collaboration with HTC featuring its own dedicated Facebook button.
In fact, the challenges have increased over the past decade. Although Facebook has become even more dominant, a series of privacy scandals have made consumers more skeptical about how the company uses data, and it’s hard to see how it fits with a wearable that diligently collects user fitness data and potentially tracking location.
That’s before you even face the challenges involved in any company facing the Apple Watch. In addition to LG and Sony, many classic watchmakers and fashion houses have tried to break Apple’s wearable domain with limited success. Only Samsung and Fitbit proved to be competitive.
Without a doubt, Facebook is aware of the difficult challenge it faces, despite its huge R&D budget and the ability to advertise to its 2.7 billion members. Presumably for that reason, The Information report suggests that Facebook plans to sell its wearable at near cost.
The question is what is the construction cost: there is a big difference between a $ 150 Fitbit Charge 3 and the $ 399 Apple Watch Series 6, after all. The answer to that question will help us predict whether a Facebook watch has potential or is likely dead on arrival.