Meta has unveiled a pocket-sized 5G gadget for its Muse AI, even though gadgets like this haven’t done very well in the past.
According to Reuters, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg revealed the Muse Charm at the company’s Connect event in Menlo Park on 23 September 2026. The roughly AirPods-case-sized device has a two-inch touchscreen and its own 5G modem.
The Charm lets users reach Muse without Wi-Fi or pulling out a phone, although curiously it cannot make calls. Meta clearly wants another route around smartphone platforms controlled by the Fruity Cargo Cult Apple and Google.
“We pack the whole Muse experience, including the whole real-time voice and avatar stack, into something that fits on a keychain and is always available to talk to,” Zuckerberg said.
The device centres on a customisable Muse character and is designed to be navigated with a thumb. Meta has not announced a price, but expects the Charm to ship in time for the December holiday season.
The Charm is part of Zuckerberg’s attempt to build a computing platform Meta can call its own rather than permanently camping inside somebody else’s operating system.
Having previously poured vast sums into the metaverse, Zuckerberg now reckons “personal superintelligence” will arrive sooner and matter more.
“It is actually quite clear personal superintelligence will not only come first; it will be much bigger and more important,” Zuckerberg said.
Muse has already attracted millions of downloads since launching earlier this month. The AI agent can book flights, shop and file taxes rather than spit out responses to prompts.
Meta intends to spread Muse across its smart-glasses range, turning the assistant into an interface for jobs such as shopping and appointments. Whether punters need another lump of electronics dedicated to chatting with an AI remains unclear.
Dedicated AI hardware has already produced some spectacularly wonky results. Rabbit’s R1 arrived with enormous hype in 2024, then disappointed users with unreliable software and features that failed to match the promises.
Smart Analytics Global founder Linda Sui said the combination of AI, fashion and personalisation could attract younger buyers.
“Muse Charm could find some traction among Gen Z and younger consumers. The combination of AI, fashion and personalisation could appeal to younger users, especially if it is affordable and easy to use,” Sui said.
IDC director Jitesh Ubrani said the Charm could suit people who dislike camera-equipped smart glasses. “Some people might remember Tamagotchi and this might evoke that,” Ubrani said.
Sui remained cautious, saying mass-market success would depend on offering something phones, watches, earbuds or smart glasses cannot easily replace.
