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AI wearables roundup: Amazon's Bee Frontier and Eclipse, Friend 2.0, Meta's Muse Charm

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AI wearables roundup: Amazon's Bee Frontier and Eclipse, Friend 2.0, Meta's Muse Charm

TechCrunch has published a guide to the AI wearables and gadgets on the market. Some work as productivity tools, others pitch themselves as companions that listen to your everyday thoughts. The piece also notes that OpenAI is working on a compact AI companion device.

Bee is a pendant priced at $49.99 that clips to clothing or is worn like a fitness band. It records everything it hears, learns routines and preferences, and creates reminders and notes. It has a mute button. The companion app, currently iOS only, comes with a $19 monthly subscription and offers questions to Bee, key takeaways from the day and chronological transcripts. Amazon acquired the startup in July 2025 and launched its first new products earlier this month: the Bee Frontier at $74.99, worn on the wrist or clipped to clothing, and the Bee Eclipse at $99.99, a credit-card-sized device that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. Both keep the previous generation's core functionality, position Bee as a cheaper alternative to the Plaud Note and Plaud NotePin, and can be connected to Alexa.

Friend is a $129 white pendant worn around the neck that acts as an emotional support companion. It recognizes tone and mood, connects to the phone over Bluetooth, and constantly listens, ready to respond or send proactive messages, such as wishing you luck before an interview. It has drawn criticism, including backlash against its New York City subway ad campaign, where people vandalized the ads with messages like "surveillance capitalism." The article says the company recently unveiled "Friend 2.0", likely as an attempt to stay relevant. The update adds a built-in speaker so the device can talk to users and show a more distinctive personality.

Limitless, formerly Rewind, is a $99 conversation-recording pendant. It continuously listens and transcribes meetings, calls and conversations (with consent) into searchable, summarized knowledge, and the article calls it ideal for professionals, especially journalists. The companion app includes 10 hours of AI features a month, such as transcription and summaries; unlimited use costs $29 per month.

Meta introduced its first AI wearable, the Muse Charm, in September, as a new way to reach its AI assistant Muse. It has not shipped yet. It is expected to feature Jolly, a playful digital avatar shown on a miniature display, in a pocket-sized device that can be carried or attached to a keychain. Users will talk to Muse by voice and have it complete tasks.

Nirva is a startup founded by former Meta Reality Labs employees. Its pendant or bracelet listens to the wearer's speech and turns everyday experiences into a personal journal, aimed at personal growth rather than productivity or meeting notes. The app lets users explore behavior patterns and how they communicate. Nirva plans to open orders in November, with shipments to early users targeted for the end of the year, at $249.

Omi costs $89. It answers questions, summarizes conversations, builds to-do lists and helps schedule meetings. It is constantly listening and runs conversations through ChatGPT so it can remember context and give personalized advice. It can be worn as a necklace or attached to the side of the head with medical tape, and it can detect when you are speaking to it.

Plaud's NotePin, at $159, is one of the pricier options. It is a tiny voice recorder worn on the wrist or attached magnetically to clothing, with built-in transcription and summaries that the article pitches at lawyers, journalists and students. Recordings are saved in real time on the phone. It includes 300 free transcription minutes a month; the $8.33 per month Pro plan raises that to 1,200 minutes. Plaud is also preparing a $179 ultra-thin device, the Plaud Note Pro, now open for preorder.

The Rabbit R1 is a small retro-styled handheld with a touchscreen and rotating camera, at $199. It is meant to be phone-adjacent, handling tasks like booking flights, ordering meals and controlling apps. After a software update that fixed performance problems from its rocky launch, it gained expanded AI features, including "Creations," which lets users build their own tools and games.

Sandbar emerged from stealth last year with the Stream ring, an AI note-taking wearable. Its microphone is off by default and is switched on through a touch-sensitive surface on top of the ring. Press and hold to record notes, talk to an AI assistant through the companion phone app, and control music playback and volume. The ring is expected at $299 in silver and gold finishes.

Key facts

  • Amazon's new Bee devices, launched earlier this month after its July 2025 acquisition of the startup, are the Bee Frontier at $74.99 and the Bee Eclipse at $99.99; the original Bee pendant is $49.99.
  • Prices in the roundup: Limitless $99, Omi $89, Friend $129, Plaud NotePin $159, Rabbit R1 $199, Nirva $249, Sandbar Stream ring $299.
  • Subscriptions: Bee app $19 per month, Limitless unlimited features $29 per month (10 hours included), Plaud NotePin Pro $8.33 per month for 1,200 minutes versus 300 free.
  • Friend 2.0 adds a built-in speaker so the pendant can talk; the original drew backlash over its NYC subway ads, which were vandalized.
  • Meta's Muse Charm, introduced in September, has not shipped; Nirva plans to open orders in November at $249.

Why it matters

The roundup shows how crowded the always-listening AI gadget category has become, with pendants, rings, wristbands and handhelds at prices from $49.99 to $299. Two big names are now in the field: Amazon has launched its first new Bee products since buying the startup, and Meta has introduced the Muse Charm, which has not shipped yet. The article also says OpenAI is working on a compact AI companion device.

Who it affects

Buyers choosing among note-taking and companion gadgets. The article pitches Limitless at professionals and journalists, and the Plaud NotePin at lawyers, journalists and students in meetings or lectures. Nirva targets people who want a personal journal for emotions and habits. Friend is sold as an emotional support companion.

How to use it

Start with price and subscription. Bee costs $49.99 for the original, $74.99 for the Frontier and $99.99 for the Eclipse; the $19 monthly subscription is stated for the original Bee app, which is iOS only. Limitless is $99 with 10 hours of AI features a month, or $29 a month for unlimited. The NotePin is $159 with 300 free minutes a month, or 1,200 on the $8.33 per month Pro plan. Omi is $89, Friend $129, Rabbit R1 $199. Nirva ($249) and the Stream ring ($299) are expected rather than shipping, and the Plaud Note Pro ($179) is available for preorder.

How solid is it

This is a TechCrunch product roundup, and prices and subscription terms are stated in the text. Several items are forward-looking: the Muse Charm has not shipped, Nirva's orders are planned for November, and the Plaud Note Pro is only on preorder. The Sandbar section says the Stream ring is expected "this summer" at $299, which does not line up with the article's October date, so treat its timing as unclear. The article does not give a price for Friend 2.0.

Risks and caveats

Most of these devices constantly listen. Bee records everything it hears (it has a mute button), Friend constantly listens, and Omi runs conversations through ChatGPT. Limitless transcribes conversations with consent. Friend's NYC subway ads were vandalized with messages like "surveillance capitalism." The Rabbit R1 had launch problems that a software update later fixed. The source does not say whether the $19 Bee subscription applies to the new Frontier and Eclipse.

“surveillance capitalism.”

— messages written by people who vandalized Friend's NYC subway ads, as reported by TechCrunch