Meta unveils Muse Charm keychain AI device and $1,299 VR glasses at Meta Connect

Hardware debuts at Meta Connect

At the Meta Connect developer conference in Menlo Park, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a dedicated hardware device called the Muse Charm. Sized like a keychain, the pocket accessory is designed to provide direct access to the company's artificial intelligence assistant and is scheduled to enter the market by the end of 2026. The hardware features a compact display, a microphone, two cameras, and independent internet connectivity over 5G cellular networks, though Zuckerberg stated that development is not yet complete and launch countries remain unannounced. Meta also previewed its upcoming Meta VR Glasses, a 100-gram headset shaped like conventional spectacles with display screens positioned directly in front of the eyes. At a hands-on preview, the visual display quality of the Meta glasses appeared slightly lower than that of the Vision Pro due to lower screen resolution. The device is scheduled for a US launch in the spring at a retail price of $1,299, positioning it against Apple's $3,699 Vision Pro for gaming, television, three-dimensional sports broadcasts, and computer monitor use.

Software rollout and market reaction

The hardware announcements build on the United States launch of Muse, an everyday AI assistant that Meta released several weeks ago. The tool recorded millions of downloads in its first two weeks, contributing to an 11% increase in Meta's share price since the start of the week. Brent Thill, an analyst at investment bank Jefferies, described the tool as an important consumer agent milestone.

Muse is an absolute top product.

Avi Greengart of advisory firm Techsponential stated that Meta has managed to move ahead of its competitors in delivering everyday AI hardware. Greengart noted that while privacy concerns over integrated cameras persist, Meta continues to sell millions of smart glasses while reaching billions of daily active users across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

But can it be supplemented? Absolutely!

Competitive rivalry with Apple and OpenAI

The new product lineup represents a renewed push by Meta to challenge the mobile platform dominance of Apple and Google. Apple chief executive John Ternus recently presented new iPhone models, reiterating Apple's view that smartphones remain the anchor of personal computing. Meanwhile, OpenAI has been developing its own AI hardware alongside former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, who previously helped design the iPhone and iPad. That effort has encountered headwinds from an Apple lawsuit accusing OpenAI of misappropriating trade secrets through former staff, noting that more than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI.

Rebound from earlier strategic setbacks

The product releases follow two deal failures for Meta earlier in 2026. Following the initial popularity of the Open Claw AI framework at the start of the year, Zuckerberg attempted to recruit its Austrian creator, Peter Steinberger, who ultimately declined and joined OpenAI. Meta also suffered the collapse of its planned $2 billion acquisition of Beijing-based AI startup Manus, which was developing agent systems. Chinese state authorities intervened as the transaction was being completed, detaining the startup's founders in Beijing, blocking their scheduled trip to Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, and formally prohibiting the deal.