Meta Introduces Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses for Athletes
At its flagship Meta Connect 2025 event, Meta revealed the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses, a new wearable designed specifically for runners, cyclists, and other athletes. The glasses will be available starting October 21, retailing for $499.
Distinct from previous models, the Oakley Meta Vanguard features a large unified front lens instead of dual cameras positioned at the frame corners. Equipped with a 12-megapixel camera and a 122-degree wide-angle lens, the glasses can capture video up to 3K resolution.
Enhanced Features for Athletic Use
The glasses incorporate a programmable button beneath the frame that can be configured to trigger custom AI prompts via the Meta AI app. This button placement allows athletes to comfortably wear helmets while interacting with the device.
Battery life extends up to nine hours, or six hours of continuous music playback, supported by a charging case that provides an additional 36 hours. The case enables a rapid charge to 50% capacity within 20 minutes.
Audio capabilities include open-ear speakers that are six decibels louder than those in the Oakley Meta HSTN model, accompanied by a five-microphone array optimized to minimize wind noise during calls, messaging, or voice commands with Meta AI.
Durability and Visual Technology
The glasses carry an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, the highest among Meta’s smart glasses to date, making them suitable for intense workouts. The wraparound design utilizes Oakley PRIZMTM Lens technology to effectively block sun glare, wind, and dust.
Integration with Fitness Ecosystem
In alignment with their athletic focus, the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses integrate with Garmin smartwatches, allowing users to access real-time metrics such as heart rate and pace during physical activities. Additionally, integration with Strava enables users to overlay performance data onto captured videos and photos, sharing results directly with their Strava community.
Availability and Options
The glasses will launch in 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 availability to Mexico, India, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates later this year.
Consumers can choose from four frame and lens color combinations: Oakley Meta Vanguard Black with PRIZMTM 24K, White with PRIZMTM Black, Black with PRIZMTM Road, and White with PRIZMTM Sapphire.
Context and Additional Announcements
This launch follows Meta’s introduction of the Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses three months prior, which the company described as its inaugural product for athletes and fans. At the same event, Meta also unveiled new Ray-Ban branded smart glasses featuring built-in displays for applications, photos, and navigation, as well as a wearable wristband for control. The updated Ray-Ban Meta 2 model offers double the battery life of its predecessor and supports 3K Ultra HD video capture.
FinOracleAI — Market View
Meta’s introduction of the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses targets a growing niche in wearable technology focused on athletic performance and integration with fitness ecosystems. The device’s advanced camera, AI features, and compatibility with Garmin and Strava position it well to attract fitness enthusiasts seeking enhanced data and multimedia capabilities during workouts.
Risks include competition from established sports wearables and the challenge of convincing users to adopt smart glasses over traditional devices. Market response will hinge on user experience, battery performance, and software ecosystem maturity.
Investors should monitor initial sales figures post-launch and user feedback on integration features and durability in real-world athletic conditions.
Impact: positive
