Ray-Ban wasn’t the only eyewear partner to get the spotlight at this year’s Meta Connect. In addition to its slick new Ray-Ban smart glasses, Meta also unveiled a fresh collaboration with Oakley—because apparently, the future of face-mounted tech is going to look a lot like a ski slope or a cycling track.
The new Meta Oakley Meta Vanguard (yes, that’s the real name, awkward word order and all) is a $499 pair of wraparound smart shades that leans hard into Oakley’s sporty DNA. If the Ray-Ban partnership is meant for casual lifestyle wear and fashion-forward selfies, the Oakley collab is targeting adrenaline junkies—the kind of people who think nothing of strapping a GoPro to their helmet before bombing down a mountain.
Unlike Meta’s earlier HSTN smart glasses, which already skewed athletic, the Vanguard is clearly purpose-built for action. The biggest design difference, beyond the aggressively wrapped frame, is the center-mounted 12MP camera. Positioned directly above the bridge of your nose, the placement is supposed to give a more natural and balanced point of view—perfect for capturing high-speed downhill bike rides, snowboard tricks, or even a casual jog through the park.
Spec-wise, the Vanguard steps things up too. The 12MP shooter can capture 3K resolution video with a 122-degree field of view, giving it a wide but still realistic perspective. The idea here is to blend Oakley’s reputation for performance eyewear with Meta’s ambitions for hands-free, wearable cameras. Whether you’re hurtling down a mountain or grinding it out on a long training ride, the glasses promise to double as both protective eyewear and a POV content machine.
It’s an interesting split strategy from Meta:
- Ray-Bans = style, lifestyle, daily wear.
- Oakleys = sport, action, high-performance utility.
In other words, Meta wants smart glasses on everyone’s face—whether you’re sipping espresso at a café or clipping into pedals at the start of a triathlon.
Meta isn’t just making smart glasses to snap café selfies or listen to podcasts while you commute. With the new Oakley Meta Vanguard, the company is leaning hard into the fitness and action-sports crowd. One of the most intriguing additions is the new fitness integrations with Garmin and Strava, two of the most widely used platforms in the endurance world. These integrations turn the Vanguard into a kind of companion device for your existing health wearables. Instead of fumbling with your watch or phone mid-run, you can simply ask Meta AI for updates on your fitness goals—things like pace, distance, or heart rate zones—and get those stats relayed to you in real time through the glasses.
But the Vanguard isn’t just about what’s inside—it’s about the form factor. Wraparound shades might not be the go-to style for everyday wear, but they’re a staple in skiing, snowboarding, and cycling for a reason: superior wind blockage and full-face coverage. Having spent some time with Meta’s earlier HSTN smart glasses, which double as more casual eyewear, I can see the Vanguard resonating much more with the action-sports set. These are purpose-built for people moving fast, outdoors, and in the elements.
Louder, Stronger, Faster
One of the most noticeable upgrades comes in the audio department. Meta says the Vanguard’s built-in speakers are 6 decibels louder than those on the HSTN glasses—a meaningful bump if you’re bombing down a mountain at 30 mph and still want to hear your playlist or navigation prompts. Pair that with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, and these shades aren’t just smart—they’re durable. Whether you’re kicking up dust on a trail ride or getting splashed on a jet ski, they’re designed to hold up.
Battery and Charging
Battery life is always a big question with wearables, and on paper, the Vanguard holds its own. Meta claims:
- 9 hours of mixed usage (a balance of audio, video, and interactions).
- 6 hours of continuous music playback.
- 36 hours total with the charging case, which also supports quick charging—0 to 50% in just 20 minutes.
That’s more than enough to last a full day of outdoor activity, with juice to spare if you throw them back in the case between sessions.
Customization Options
Meta is also leaning into style, at least for the sporty aesthetic. The Vanguard will launch with several lens options: black, sapphire, 24K gold, and “Road” (a tint optimized for—you guessed it—road cycling). The lenses are interchangeable, though swapping them out will cost you an extra $85.
The Verdict (So Far)
I haven’t had the chance to test the Vanguard thoroughly in real-world conditions yet, but the early impression is clear: these are smart glasses built for people who spend their free time moving—fast, outdoors, and often in extreme environments. With stronger speakers, real fitness integrations, rugged durability, and a battery that can keep up with you, they’re shaping up to be an attractive option for the action-sports crowd.
The Meta Oakley Meta Vanguard will officially launch on October 21, with preorders already open. If you’ve ever wished your Oakleys could not only protect your eyes but also track your rides, play your music, and nudge you toward your fitness goals, these might be the most Oakley Oakleys you can buy.