Oakley and Meta Unveil a New Athlete‑Centric Design

The latest collaboration between Oakley and Meta brings the Vanguard smart glasses to market, positioning them as a purpose‑built upgrade to the earlier Ray‑Ban Meta HSTN model. While the HSTN offered basic smart‑glasses functionality, the Vanguard adds features tailored for high‑impact sports, including stronger water and sweat resistance, a more robust acoustic system, and a design that accommodates helmets and hats.

Key Hardware Enhancements

At the heart of the Vanguard is a 12‑megapixel camera with a 122‑degree field of view, placed centrally on the nose bridge. The camera supports multiple recording modes, including 1080p at 30 fps for five minutes, 1080p at 60 fps for three minutes, 3K at 30 fps for three minutes, and 720p at 120 fps for slow‑motion capture. An action button provides a shortcut to start and stop recordings, and an LED above the right eye changes color to signal heart‑rate zone breaches.

Audio performance has been boosted by speakers that are six decibels louder than previous versions, tested on cyclists traveling up to 30 mph in noisy environments. The glasses carry an IP67 rating, ensuring they survive immersion in water and heavy perspiration. Battery life offers up to nine hours of mixed use, with six hours dedicated to continuous music playback, and a charging case extends total runtime to 36 hours.

Customization and Fit

The Vanguard includes three interchangeable nose pads to secure a comfortable fit for a range of facial structures. Oakley’s PRIZM lens technology remains, with swappable lenses that can be tailored for specific lighting conditions, such as a low‑light option planned for release later in the year. Color variants are optimized for different activities, for example, blue lenses that neutralize blue hues for fishing.

Software Integration and Partnerships

Integration with popular fitness platforms deepens the glasses’ utility for athletes. Direct pairing with Garmin watches allows users to request real‑time biometric data, such as heart‑rate, via the glasses. Strava integration enables one‑click uploads of recorded footage and AI‑driven insights into historical workout data. Users can also overlay performance metrics onto video clips for social sharing.

Athlete Feedback and Market Positioning

Early evaluations from elite athletes—including cyclists, NFL quarterbacks, and professional soccer players—have been “promising,” according to Oakley’s global president. The feedback highlights the seamless blend of audio, visual, and fitness data, positioning the Vanguard as a multifunctional tool for both elite competitors and weekend enthusiasts.

Availability

The Vanguard is currently available for preorder, with shipments expected later this year. Oakley and Meta aim to replace separate audio glasses, sunglasses, and action cameras with a single, integrated device for active users.

Used: News Factory APP - news discovery and automation - ChatGPT for Business