Meta used its annual Connect event in Menlo Park to widen its push into AI hardware and virtual reality.
On Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta VR Glasses, a lighter and slimmer VR device than the company’s older Quest headsets. Meta said the glasses weigh 100 grams and will sell for $1,299 when they ship in spring 2027. The device is designed for cinematic experiences, spatial computing, and gaming, and it uses an external battery pack.
Zuckerberg said Meta had made 'the decision to focus a little bit less on metaverse for now; build fewer VR devices and only release them when we have real breakthroughs.' He also said the company had heard that 'a lot of people are less interested in wearing a headset.'
The glasses are Meta’s first VR device since 2024, when the company debuted the $299 Quest 3S, according to CNBC. Meta said the new device is powered by an external puck that houses a Qualcomm processor and battery, and that it includes sensors that track users’ eyes and hand movements.
Meta also introduced Muse Charm, a compact handheld device designed to fit on a keychain. Zuckerberg said the gadget will let people speak to their Muse AI agent 'without having to unlock a phone or open an app.' He said Meta has built only a few early working units and plans to ship it in time for the holidays in December. Fortune said the device will include a real-time voice mode.
The Muse agent itself is only a few weeks old, but Meta is moving quickly to add features. TechCrunch reported that Muse will connect to users’ apps and services, including email and calendars, and will soon be able to generate a distinct digital avatar for live video chat. Meta’s chief AI officer Alexandr Wang said the company is also bringing Muse computer work to Mac, where it can operate apps on a user’s desktop.
Meta is also pushing Muse into commerce. Wang said Muse can access the Shopify product catalog, use Lync and Shop Pay, and support payments with PayPal. Meta announced partnerships with retailers including Best Buy, Gap, Sephora, Walmart, and Wayfair, along with Expedia and soon Instacart.
The move is straightforward: Meta wants users talking to its software, buying through its platform, and wearing its products. That is not a consumer convenience story first. It is a control story, with more of daily life routed through one company’s hardware, software, and payment rails.
The market has already voted on where Meta sees the future. It is not just screens or phones anymore. It is a full stack of glasses, agents, and transactions, with the company aiming to collect a fee as usage grows. Capital rewards clear rules, but it also rewards scale. Meta is trying to own both.
