The reality Meta is pitching is one where we're not always relying on our iPhones

The tech giant unveiled a new version of its virtual reality glasses at its annual developers conference, Meta Connect.

Before you panic that you've traveled back in time, this isn't quite the same metaverse Mark Zuckerberg was pitching back in 2021. The goal of replacing the hardware in your pocket, though, remains the same. More on that in a bit.

Meta VR Glasses, which go on sale next spring, are a far cry from the bulky headsets we typically associate with virtual reality. (I'm looking at you, Apple Vision Pro.)

Weighing in at a svelte 100 grams and costing $1,300, Meta VR Glasses are much lighter and cheaper than the Apple Vision Pro, which weighs 600 grams and costs $3,700.

But don't take my word for it. BI's Peter Kafka took them for a test drive. He said the difference between Meta VR Glasses and Apple's Vision Pro is immediately noticeable. But, like the Apple Vision Pro, he also struggled to think of many reasons to use them regularly. Read his full review here.

The VR glasses weren't the only thing Meta showed off at the event. There was also an update on Meta's somewhat controversial AI glasses, as well as new partnerships with Disney and others to boost entertainment options on its new gadgets. Here are all the highlights from the event.

Muse, Meta's buzzy new personal AI agent, is deeply integrated into the new VR glasses and also got its own palm-sized device users can speak into. It's called Charm, and should be ready to ship for the holidays.

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It's another way Meta can pull you deeper into its ecosystem, and away from your iPhone.

Ideally, Zuckerberg would love for users to remain in a Meta-exclusive world: wearing Meta VR Glasses while interacting with Muse, scrolling Instagram and Facebook, and chatting with friends on WhatsApp.

He's not alone. The fact that so many of us live on our iPhones is a major bummer to tech companies since it gives Apple an incredible advantage. Currently, Apple doesn't need to stress too much about AI because companies still rely on the iPhone to get their fancy AI products to consumers.

It's like running the only toll bridge over a river that sits between two major cities. Even if the road isn't great, or it gets a lot of traffic, it's still the only way to get to where you need to go.