Meta Connect 2026: What XR Women Are Saying
Lighter hardware. More capable AI. Plenty to debate.
At a recent XR Women meeting, Meta Connect attendees compared notes on what impressed them—and what still needs proving. The conversation centered on accessibility: making XR easier to wear, use, and create for.
VR Glasses: Worth the Tradeoff?
General attendees said they could inspect Meta’s new VR Glasses but couldn’t try live demos. Secondhand reports of laggy gestures and weaker passthrough remained just that: secondhand.
Developers with hands-on access were more enthusiastic. Some called the glasses the show’s highlight, praising responsive eye tracking and the easy-on, easy-off design. Although the field of view is narrower than Quest 3’s, they felt the lighter form factor could be worth the tradeoff.
Meta says the glasses arrive in spring 2027 for $1,299.99, weighing about 100 grams on the face, with processing and battery power housed in a separate tethered puck.
Muse: Less Chat, More Action
Meta’s new AI assistant, Muse, sparked interest beyond the usual chatbot comparisons. One member described using it to list an item on Facebook Marketplace in about five minutes.
That’s the appeal: not simply answering questions, but completing useful tasks.
Muse is the consumer assistant; Meta Model API, Muse Spark, and Muse Code serve developers. Meta also announced plans to bring Muse to glasses and previewed a pocket-sized device called Muse Charm.developers.meta+1
Our community’s question: When might Muse enter virtual worlds?
Creating Faster—Without Losing Control
Horizon Create and Horizon Studio caught creators’ attention with AI-assisted workflows and publishing across Horizon, Facebook, and Instagram.
Members welcomed easier creation but wanted to know how much flexibility the tools would offer beyond getting started.
Smart Glasses, More Choices
Members welcomed lower-priced options and camera-free designs. Meta Adventurer starts at $249; Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 starts at $449; and camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio starts at $349, shipping October 13. Meta Ray-Ban Display is $799.engadget
Some attendees connected camera-free options to privacy concerns, although that was their interpretation—not Meta’s stated rationale.
Beyond the Keynote
The excitement was real. So were the questions.
Will lighter devices encourage everyday use? Will AI save meaningful time? Will simpler tools support richer experiences?
For XR Women, those answers matter more than keynote promises.
Did you attend Connect? Share what impressed you—and what still needs work—with XR Women. Here’s a link to the conversation in SLACK
