The Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, unveiled at Meta Connect 2025, represent a significant leap forward in wearable technology for athletes. These glasses combine Oakley's renowned sport-focused design with Meta's AI technology, offering a range of features aimed at enhancing athletic performance and capturing the user's perspective.
Design and Functionality
The Meta Vanguard glasses sport Oakley's signature wraparound frames and swappable lenses, built for demanding athletic activity. The design addresses the challenge of capturing a genuine athletic perspective without sacrificing performance or safety. They are designed to be compatible with cycling helmets. The glasses feature a centered, ultra-wide 12MP camera with a 122-degree field of view, capable of recording 3K video at 30fps and full HD at up to 60fps. The camera placement above the nose aims to prevent obstruction by hats or helmets.
Key Features
- Hands-free Capture: The glasses support voice commands for hands-free photo and video capture and include modes like hyperlapse and slow motion.
- Real-time Fitness Insights: Integrating with compatible Garmin smartwatches and cycling computers (sold separately), the glasses provide real-time, voice-activated fitness stats and post-activity summaries via Meta AI. Metrics such as heart rate, pace and distance can be monitored.
- Open-Ear Audio: Powerful open-ear speakers with adaptive volume control deliver clear sound while maintaining situational awareness. The speakers have advanced wind noise reduction.
- Durability and Comfort: The glasses boast an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, making them suitable for various weather conditions. They're also optimized for comfort during long workouts. Replaceable nose pads allow users to customize the fit.
- Action Button: A customizable "action button" allows users to trigger specific actions, such as playing a Spotify playlist or starting a hyperlapse video.
- Strava Integration: The glasses can integrate with Strava to provide real-time personalized performance insights.
Performance and AI
The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses aim to bring "Athletic Intelligence" to high-intensity sports. The centered camera placement is engineered to capture exactly what athletes see and experience, offering a new level of insight for coaches and athletes alike. This technology could transform how coaches analyze technique in sports, allowing them to review the exact visual information that informed an athlete's decisions.
Comparison with Previous Models
The Meta Vanguard represents a clear step up from the earlier Oakley Meta HSTN glasses, which were considered to have only modest upgrades over Meta's Ray-Ban lineup. The Vanguard boasts improved battery life, a higher water resistance rating, a centered ultra-wide camera, and Oakley's three-point fit system.
Pricing and Availability
The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are priced at $499. The glasses were available for pre-order in late September 2025, with official sales beginning on October 29.
Potential Impact
The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses have the potential to transform how athletes train and compete. By providing real-time data, hands-free capture, and a comfortable, durable design, these smart glasses could become an essential tool for athletes seeking a competitive edge.
