Meta Unveils Muse Hardware Integrations, 100-Gram VR Glasses, and Health Software at Connect 2026

Meta announced a series of hardware devices and software features at its Connect 2026 event, detailing plans to expand its Muse artificial intelligence assistant across wearable devices, according to a report published by the Meta Newsroom (https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/the-biggest-news-from-connect-2026/). Mark Zuckerberg demonstrated new connectors, capabilities, and an upgraded foundation model for Muse, which launched earlier this month and is scheduled to roll out to Meta's AI glasses in the coming months.

The company introduced Muse Charm, a dedicated pocket-sized hardware device powered by a real-time voice model designed for conversational interaction with the assistant. Meta stated it will share additional details regarding the device later this year. Alongside the pocket unit, Meta revealed Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses, which integrate earbud functionality into a slimmer frame, and the third-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses featuring extended battery life, a redesigned frame, and a customizable physical action button mapped to Meta AI.

In spatial hardware, Meta detailed the Meta VR Glasses, a headset weighing approximately 100 grams—roughly the weight of a deck of cards—designed without headstraps or front-heavy mounts to maintain ambient visual awareness. The device allows users to turn flat surfaces into virtual keyboards and touchpads. It also represents the first IMAX Enhanced certified virtual reality hardware, supporting IMAX's expanded aspect ratio alongside streaming integrations with Prime Video, YouTube, DIRECTV, AMC+, Crunchyroll, Plex, ESPN, and Tubi, as well as 3D playback across Disney+, Peacock, HBO Max, and Paramount+. Meta also announced sports partnerships with ESPN, MLB, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, and UFC to broadcast more than 100 live immersive events annually.

Meta also introduced regulated consumer health software with an FDA-cleared hearing enhancement tool for adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Scheduled to launch in the United States later this year on supported AI glasses, the software requires no clinic visits or prescriptions and is configurable at home. The feature will retail for $149.99 with HSA and FSA reimbursement eligibility, or come bundled with a Meta One subscription, accompanied by new mono audio routing and audio balance controls.

Updates to the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses include hands-free navigation, holographic avatar displays for video calls, and spatial audio capture using Dolby Atmos. Direct online purchasing and retail availability for the display glasses are expanding to the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, and Germany. Meta projected that its smart glasses catalog will exceed 100 style configurations by the end of the year, including lower-cost baseline models and designer editions created with Kylie Jenner and music artist LISA.