Meta held its Connect 2026 keynote on September 23, and it turned out to be one of the company’s biggest hardware announcements in years. Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a completely new type of VR device, a mysterious new AI companion gadget, and several updates to its smart glasses lineup. Here is everything that was announced, explained simply.
Quick Answer
- Meta announced Meta VR Glasses, a lightweight VR headset weighing about 100 grams, priced at $1,299.99, launching spring 2027
- A new companion device called Muse Charm was revealed, built for talking to Meta’s AI agent, Muse
- Meta introduced its first camera-free smart glasses, aimed at people who care about privacy
- Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) and updates to Meta Ray-Ban Display were also announced
- The overall theme of the event was Muse, Meta’s personal AI agent, which Zuckerberg called the centerpiece of the company’s shift from the metaverse to AI
Meta VR Glasses: The Headline Announcement
The biggest reveal of the night was a device Meta is simply calling Meta VR Glasses. Unlike the bulky Meta Quest headsets that strap fully around your head, this is styled and shaped like a regular pair of glasses, weighing only around 100 grams, roughly one-fifth the weight of a Meta Quest 3.
Meta achieved this by separating the heavy components. Instead of packing the processor and battery into the glasses themselves, those parts live in a separate pocket-sized “puck” that connects to the glasses. This is the same basic idea Apple explored with the Vision Pro, but in a noticeably lighter form.
Key specs:
- Weighs approximately 100 grams
- Micro-OLED display with 5K resolution
- First VR device to receive IMAX Enhanced certification
- Controlled through eye tracking and fingertip gestures, no handheld controllers needed for many experiences
- Over 75 games playable using hand gestures alone
- Up to 3 hours of continuous high-resolution media playback per charge
- The puck supports 45W fast charging
- Priced at $1,299.99
- Launching in 13 countries starting spring 2027
Meta is positioning this as a device for cinematic experiences, watching movies, spatial computing, and gaming, rather than replacing the Quest line entirely.
Muse Charm: A New Way to Talk to Meta’s AI
Meta also revealed something called Muse Charm, though the company kept details fairly light. According to Meta, it is a small, playful device built specifically so you can talk and interact with Muse, Meta’s personal AI agent. It appears designed as a physical companion to Muse rather than a screen-based app, giving people a simple way to talk to their AI assistant without needing to pull out a phone.
Meta’s First Camera-Free Smart Glasses
One of the more requested features finally arrived: smart glasses without a camera. These are aimed at people who like the idea of smart glasses but have been uneasy about wearing a device that can record video of everyone around them. The new audio-only glasses will be available in Ray-Ban’s Clubmaster and Burbank styles, keeping the smart features like audio and AI assistance while dropping the camera entirely.
Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) and Display Updates
Meta also introduced the third generation of its camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, along with updates to Meta Ray-Ban Display, the version of its glasses that includes a small digital display built into the lens. Meta announced this display model is becoming more broadly available going forward.
Muse AI Was the Real Star of the Show
While the hardware announcements grabbed headlines, Meta made clear that Muse, its personal AI agent, is the actual focus of the company’s direction going forward. Zuckerberg described AI agents like Muse as being close to delivering what he called “personal superintelligence,” meaning highly capable assistants that can work on a person’s behalf continuously, not just respond when asked. Meta also announced improved data security for Muse and new partnerships aimed at expanding what Muse’s AI agents can actually do on your behalf.
If you want to understand what Muse actually is and how it works, we covered that in detail in our Meta Muse AI assistant guide.
Other Announcements Worth Knowing
- Hearing assistance feature added for Meta’s glasses lineup
- Beat Saber received one of its biggest updates yet
- A new Disney Immersive Cinema by ILM app is coming next spring, bringing VR-enhanced versions of films like Avengers: Infinity War and Star Wars: A New Hope
- A new documentary series called Meta Presents launches September 29 on Meta Quest TV, starting with a series following NBA player Draymond Green
Why This Is Such a Big Financial Bet for Meta
It is worth understanding the scale of what Meta is betting on here. Meta’s Reality Labs division, responsible for VR and AR hardware, has reportedly lost more than $70 billion cumulatively since 2020, with 2026’s losses expected to land close to 2025’s roughly $19 billion loss. None of the devices announced at this event will generate meaningful revenue until they actually ship in 2027, so this remains a long-term bet rather than an immediate business win for the company.
