Meta is Sunsetting its Portal Smart Displays and Smartwatch Projects

Meta is planning to sunset its family of Portal smart displays. The company has just laid off 11,000 employees after increasing its workforce too quickly during the pandemic, and the cost-cutting measures are affecting some of the company’s hardware projects as well.

According to Reuters, Meta executives announced during an employee town hall meeting on Friday that the company’s Portal smart displays are being discontinued. Moreover, Meta’s smartwatch projects are also being axed as the company decided to focus more of its resources on the Metaverse.

Meta’s various Portal devices received decent reviews over the years. Home workers can use them for video calls on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or Meta’s own Workplace platform. In addition to video conferencing capabilities, Portal devices also integrate with calendars on Outlook Google Workspace.

Earlier this year, previous reports suggested that Meta would now focus on selling its Portal devices to enterprise users. However, the company has already updated its website to warn consumers that its Portal TV, 10”, and Go devices will only be available until December 31, 2022, or “while supplies last.

“You may see changes to the experiences and apps available. Many experiences on Meta Portal will remain and be supported. Content and features may vary,” the company added.

Regarding the company’s smartwatch plans, Bloomberg previously reported earlier this year that Meta had already halted development on a dual-camera smartwatch codenamed “Milan.” The smartwatch was expected to be released in spring 2023 with a $349 price point.