Meta Unveils Lighter VR Glasses and AI Devices to Challenge Mobile Dominance

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-09-24

Meta announced lightweight virtual reality glasses and a standalone artificial intelligence device in an effort to shift consumers away from traditional smartphones.

Meta Platforms unveiled a lightweight virtual reality headset and dedicated artificial intelligence devices at its annual Connect developer conference, marking the company's latest attempt to build a hardware ecosystem independent of dominant mobile platforms.

Scheduled to go on sale next spring for $1,300, the new VR glasses weigh 100 grams and connect to an external battery puck. The device is significantly lighter and lower-priced than competing high-end hardware, such as Apple's 600-gram Vision Pro headset, as tech companies compete to define the next generation of personal computing.

In addition to the eyewear, Meta announced Charm, a palm-sized standalone hardware device scheduled to ship in time for the holiday shopping season. Charm serves as a dedicated portal for Muse, Meta's proprietary AI assistant, which is also integrated across the company's updated smart glasses and new virtual reality hardware.

To bolster its device ecosystem, Meta detailed new media partnerships with entertainment companies, including Disney, aimed at delivering interactive experiences. Meta executives outlined a vision where users access digital services, social media platforms, and messaging tools directly through proprietary hardware rather than relying on third-party smartphones.

The product announcements highlight a growing trend among technology firms leveraging artificial intelligence to challenge established mobile operating systems. By pairing lighter wearables with conversational AI agents, hardware makers hope to capture consumer engagement currently dominated by traditional mobile devices.