Meta unveils Muse Charm handheld and expands Muse across glasses and VR at Connect

# What happened Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg used the company's Connect event to reveal several new consumer devices built around Muse, Meta's AI assistant. The surprise hardware headline was a small, standalone Muse device called the Meta Charm. Meta also announced a camera-free pair of Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses and a new Meta VR Glasses headset.

# The Meta Charm: a pocket Muse Muse without opening a phone or app. Meta said the Charm will be ready to ship for the December holiday period but did not give a retail price. Coverage describes the device as roughly the size of an Apple AirPods case and likens its look to a Tamagotchi-style gadget. Early reporting notes a physical fingerprint sensor, multiple front microphones and what appears to be a small camera, suggesting voice-first interaction plus some on-device sensors.

Meta framed the Charm as a convenient, always-available way to speak with Muse for tasks the assistant can handle.

# Smart glasses and VR announced alongside Charm Meta expanded Muse across several eyewear form factors:

• Ray-Ban Meta Audio: An audio-only pair of smart glasses produced with EssilorLuxottica. Meta announced a starting price of $349 and a ship date of October 13. Removing the camera allowed thinner frames, new styles (Clubmaster and Burbank among them), and claims of up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.

• Ray-Ban camera-equipped glasses: Meta will continue to offer camera-capable Ray-Ban models (Aviator and Zena styles) that include the usual recording indicator lights.

• Meta VR Glasses: A wraparound VR headset priced at $1,299 and slated for spring 2027. Meta says the design moves the battery and processor into a separate puck to reduce headset weight to about that of a deck of playing cards. The VR device responds to eye, voice and hand gestures.

# How Muse fits in Meta intends Muse to be the primary interface across glasses and headsets, enabling voice-driven actions such as shopping, making appointments and completing tasks with retailer integrations (examples mentioned include Walmart, Best Buy and Gap). The company says audio is among the most popular features of its glasses and that audio-only models satisfy a segment of users who prefer sound without visual recording.

# Privacy and market trade-offs Meta positioned camera removal as a response to privacy concerns, but critics and market analysts raised unresolved issues. Jitesh Ubrani of IDC warned that audio-only glasses can still record without a clear external signal and that consent remains a central problem. Linda Sui of Smart Analytics Global suggested removing cameras may reduce demand because photo and video capture are among the most popular smart-glass features and consumers may opt for earbuds instead if functionality is limited to voice and audio.

# What to watch next Expect more details about the Charm's price, exact hardware specifications and any privacy or recording indicators before general availability. The market will also look for consumer reaction to audio-only glasses and whether Muse's voice-first interface drives adoption across eyewear and VR.