Meta Introduces $1,299 VR Glasses and a Handheld Shortcut to Its AI Agent

Meta’s next VR device moves its computer and battery out of the headset; its new handheld device puts a recently launched AI agent within speaking distance. Mark Zuckerberg introduced both at Meta Connect on Wednesday. One aims to make virtual reality less bulky, while the other aims to remove the step of opening a phone app to reach Muse.

Muse came first

Meta introduced Muse on September 8 as a personal AI agent that can take actions for a user, such as filling out forms or booking travel. The company said it was rolling out in the U.S. on phones and the web. That earlier launch gives Charm a job: it is another way to reach an agent Meta has already released, not the debut of the agent itself.

Muse can keep working after someone closes the app, according to Meta, and return when it needs a decision. Meta says the agent checks before sensitive actions, including sending an email or making a purchase. Zuckerberg described Charm as a quicker way to speak to Muse and show it what is nearby when someone is not wearing glasses.

A lighter headset, with a second piece to carry

At Connect, Zuckerberg also showed the Meta VR Glasses. They are slimmer and lighter than the company’s older Quest headsets, according to CNBC. An external puck holds the Qualcomm processor and battery that power the glasses, shifting that hardware away from the wearer’s face. The design reduces the size and weight of the glasses, though the computing hardware remains a separate part of the setup.

Sensors track eye and hand movements, reducing the need for controllers. CNBC also describes the visuals as better than those of older Quest headsets, without giving a measurement for that comparison. The glasses are slated to go on sale in spring 2027, so the announcement is not a retail launch. The price also puts them well above Meta’s $299 Quest 3S, introduced in 2024.

$1,299Meta VR Glasses

Meta VR Glasses are priced at $1,299, with sales scheduled for spring 2027.

$299Quest 3S

Meta introduced the $299 Quest 3S in 2024.

The handheld route to Muse

Zuckerberg offered fewer details about Muse Charm. He said people will be able to speak to the handheld device to interact with their AI agents without having to unlock a phone or open an app. He also said they could show Muse what is happening around them. The proposed benefit is less friction when someone wants the agent’s help, rather than a new set of agent tasks.

Meta has not given Charm a price. Zuckerberg said the company still needed to finalize its component layout and planned to have the device ready to ship in time for the December holidays. That is a target, not an on-sale date. It leaves a practical question for a device built around convenience: what it will cost to avoid reaching for a phone.