[News] Meta to Launch Charm Device for Muse AI in December, Unveils New VR and Ray-Ban Glasses

Meta is expanding its hardware push beyond smart glasses with new AI and VR devices. According to Reuters, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Meta Charm, a small handheld device designed for the company’s new Muse AI assistant. About the size of an Apple AirPods case, it features a roughly 2-inch touchscreen and built-in 5G connectivity. Meta said Charm is expected to ship in time for the holiday season in December.

More details about the device are also emerging. According to ITHome, citing Bloomberg, Muse Charm reportedly resembles a 1990s digital pet with a built-in 5G modem, allowing access to Muse without Wi-Fi, though it does not support phone or video calls. Sources say the device is expected to be priced around the level of a smartwatch.

Meta Pushes VR Into a Lighter Form Factor

Meta also unveiled Meta VR Glasses, a new VR device priced at US$1,299. The glasses aim to offer capabilities similar to bulkier and more expensive rivals such as Apple’s Vision Pro, Reuters notes. Weighing about as much as a deck of playing cards, they move the battery and processor into a separate puck to reduce the weight worn on the head. CNBC adds that the puck houses a Qualcomm processor and battery, effectively serving as a mini-computer for the glasses. Meta VR Glasses are scheduled to launch in spring 2027.

Designed as dark wraparound frames, the VR glasses respond to eye movements, voice, and hand gestures. Meta is betting that the lighter design can broaden the appeal of VR, a category long constrained by high prices and bulky headsets, according to Reuters. However, the report points out that the device’s core use cases remain broadly similar to previous VR headsets, while its US$1,299 price could still limit mainstream adoption.

Meta Expands Ray-Ban Lineup With Camera-Free Audio Glasses

Separately, Meta introduced Ray-Ban Meta Audio, a new pair of camera-free smart glasses focused on audio and AI features rather than photography and video, Reuters notes. Developed through Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica, Ray-Ban Meta Audio will begin shipping on October 13 at a starting price of US$349. Meta notes that the glasses weigh 43 grams, offer up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and are its lightest and slimmest AI glasses to date.

The Audio glasses are US$100 cheaper than the new third-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which retain their cameras and start at US$449. According to TechCrunch, the Gen 3 model upgrades to a 12MP camera capable of recording 3K Ultra HD video, adds a six-microphone array, and offers up to nine hours of battery life. Meta is also expanding the lineup beyond the Wayfarer with two new styles, the Aviator and cat-eye Zena.

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(Photo credit: Meta)