Meta Launches Oakley Smart Glasses: A Sportier, More Advanced Alternative to Ray-Bans

Meta's new Oakley smart glasses beat its Ray-Bans - and you can preorder them starting today

Several months ago, reports emerged that Meta was looking to expand beyond its current smart glasses lineup into sportier versions. Now the glasses are officially here -- and the preorder starts today. In June, Meta launched limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN model glasses. Staying true to the brand, the Meta version of the glasses keeps the form factor Oakley is known for, with a more flexible and rugged design that still allows athletes to take advantage of the smart glasses' capabilities, such as filming, listening to audio, and getting notifications on their runs. Like the original Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, the Oakley model also has camera sensors embedded along the side of the eyewear, making it a practical tool for people who are recording sportier, fast-action videos and want to accurately capture their POV while doing activities such as running, biking, and more. Also: I've tested the Meta Ray-Bans for months, and these 5 features still amaze me To accommodate these outdoor activities, the glasses have an IPX4 water resistance rating, a step-up in durability from the Ray-Bans. The quality of the video captured will also improve, with the Oakley glasses capturing 3K video, up from 1080p on the Meta Ray-Bans. The Oakley version also addresses one of the biggest pain points in the Meta Ray-Ban glasses -- battery life. Meta shares that the Oakley glasses will power eight hours of usage instead of four, doubling the battery lifetime and letting it capture more of an average day of work or activity. Also: I tested the best AR and MR glasses: Here's how the Meta Ray-Bans stack up Of course, AI is still a large part of the experience with these glasses, with users being able to conveniently access the Meta AI assistant from their glasses by just using their voice (or a long press on the frame). This feature may be especially helpful for athletes who need to be hands-free while carrying out physical activity. The Oakley brand is owned by EssilorLuxottica, which also owns Ray-Ban. Meta unveiled its collaboration with Ray-Ban for smart glasses two years ago, and it has been a smashing success since they launched. EssilorLuxottica reported in February that two million pairs of the Meta Ray-Bans have been sold since their October 2023 launch. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are so popular that Meta claims they have become the number one selling AI glasses in the world. Meta began breadcrumbing the release of the glasses earlier this week with the release of its official "Oakley Meta" profile on Instagram. A Bloomberg report from earlier this year hinted that Meta would release a new pair of smart glasses targeted toward athletes that would launch in 2025. Now, that time has come. The limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN glasses retail for $499, but more models will be available later this summer at the lower price point of $399. For comparison, Meta's Ray-Ban glasses cost between $240 and $300, depending on the model. Also: Snapchat's upcoming AR glasses beat the Meta Ray-Bans in a meaningful way The glasses come in five Oakley frames and lens combinations. They also offer prescription lens support for eyeglass wearers. The Oakley Meta HSTN glasses will be available to preorder on July 11 and sold in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Notably, Google is working on its own version, as is Apple. There's also a third generation of Meta's glasses in the works, the latest reported to have a built-in display. We probably wouldn't know more about that until Meta Connect in the fall. Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

You can finally preorder the Oakley Meta smart glasses, but there's a catch

The wait is finally over. Meta's Oakley smart glasses are finally available to preorder ahead of their July 22 launch, though there's a catch. Only its pricier limited edition HSTN are available for now; other designs are coming "later this summer" (that's Northern Hemisphere summer for our Aussie readers, so later this month or August). The Limited Edition Oakley Meta HSTN (pronounced how-stuhn) is on preorder at Meta.com for $499 / £499 / AU$789. In exchange, you'll get white-framed specs with PRIZM 24K polarized lenses, which are apparently well-suited to playing sports in bright conditions. Beyond their capabilities as regular glasses, these smart glasses live up to that descriptor by boasting a camera which can capture 3K video (a higher resolution than the Meta Ray-Ban glasses), built-in open ear speakers for music and hearing what the Meta AI companion has to tell you (as well as microphones so the AI can hear you), and a battery that can last for up to 8 hours of regular use (again, better than their Ray-Ban sibling). With their charging case, these specs can squeeze out up to an extra 48 hours of use. Now, I haven't tested these glasses for myself, yet, but I constantly use my Ray-Ban smart glasses and after my phone (and maybe my VR headset), they're easily the best gadget I own. And these Oakley specs are just Ray-Bans with a different design, a few technical upgrades, and unfortunately, a higher price. Things should get a little better in the coming month or so when the other six Oakley smart glasses designs launch. For context, they are: That's because these specs are set to introduce a new lower starting price of $399 / £399 / $629. However, this would still be higher than the cheapest Ray-Bans at $299 / £299 / AU$449, and much like the Ray-Bans, I expect the Oakley specs will get pricier if you opt for snazzier lenses - the Ray-Bans instead cost you $329 / £329 / AU$489 for polarized and $379 / £379 / AU$539 for transition lenses. If you're an athlete, the Oakleys could be a worthwhile upgrade, especially with PRIZM lenses tuned to a sport you play. Those of you simply looking to get the best smart glasses tech, however, might want to wait and see what Meta showcases at Meta Connect in September, where it's expected to debut smart glasses with a screen. Yes, they're likely going to be very pricey, however they are also believed to offer a truly next-gen experience - so if you're tempted to upgrade your Ray-Bans and budget isn't a concern, you might want to hold off a little longer (or be prepared to buy Oakleys, and then yet another pair of Meta smart glasses).