Meta Unveils Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses for Athletes

Meta, the social media giant, has announced the launch of its latest Oakley smart glasses, the Meta Vanguard, at the 2025 Connect conference. This new product is designed for athletes and enthusiasts involved in activities such as running and cycling. The glasses, priced at 499 dollars, will be available for purchase starting October 21st.

The Connect conference, an annual flagship event for Meta, has historically been a platform for unveiling new smart glasses and VR headsets. The Meta Vanguard stands out with its integrated, large front lens design, supporting up to 3K resolution video recording and featuring a 122-degree wide-angle 1200-megapixel camera. This design is a departure from earlier Meta smart glasses and the Oakley Meta HSTN model, which had dual cameras positioned at the top corners of the frame.

One of the key features of the Meta Vanguard is its programmable buttons, allowing users to customize AI commands through the Meta AI application. The buttons are strategically placed on the lower part of the temple, ensuring comfortable operation even when wearing a helmet. The glasses offer up to 9 hours of use on a single charge, with 6 hours of continuous music playback. The included charging case provides an additional 36 hours of battery life and supports a 20-minute quick charge to 50% capacity.

In terms of audio performance, the Meta Vanguard uses an open speaker design, with a 6-decibel increase in volume compared to the Oakley Meta HSTN. It is equipped with a five-microphone array to reduce wind noise during calls, messaging, or voice commands to Meta AI. The glasses also meet IP67 dust and water resistance standards, making them suitable for high-intensity training. The frame design incorporates OAKLEY PRIZMTM lens technology, effectively blocking sunlight and sand.

For sports enthusiasts, the Meta Vanguard supports integration with Garmin smartwatches, allowing users to view real-time data such as heart rate and pace during activities like running and cycling. Additionally, the glasses can be deeply integrated with the Strava sports social platform, enabling users to visualize performance metrics on videos and photos captured by the glasses and share them directly with the Strava community.

The Meta Vanguard will be available in four frame and lens color combinations and will initially launch in markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Meta plans to expand the availability of these glasses to Mexico, India, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates later this year.

This launch comes just three months after the release of the Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses, which Meta described as its first product aimed at both athletes and sports enthusiasts. In addition to the Oakley series, Meta also unveiled two new Ray-Ban branded smart glasses at the conference. One model features an integrated display for applications, photos, and navigation information, paired with a wrist-worn band for control. The other model, the Ray-Ban Meta 2, offers double the battery life of its predecessor and supports 3K ultra-high-definition video recording.

Meta's continued investment in wearable technology highlights its strategic focus on expanding its presence in this market. By integrating advanced features into everyday accessories, Meta aims to attract a broader audience interested in smart wearable devices. The release of the Meta Vanguard smart glasses further solidifies Meta's commitment to wearable technology, leveraging its expertise in AI and augmented reality to create innovative products.