Meta and Oakley release sport-ready AI glasses

There are no flashing lights or weird visors. It is a mat frame which hugs the runner’s temple when they are sprinting or surfing, allowing the runner to squint at the spray. Behind those Oakley polarised lenses is 3K video recording and eight hours of battery. Meta’s latest smart glasses are also behind these polarised Oakley lens. Oakley Meta HSTN will release its latest wearable on 2025 June 20. It will transform a wearable from a novelty into a need, with a focus on sport, function and utility.

This new product is not like its famous cousin Ray-Ban. It’s designed with athletes in mind. Think about the frame stability and splash resistance in relation to open-ear audio. You’d expect this gear at a Tour de France Checkpoint or mountain bike descent. What exactly does this model offer? What does this new model offer? How does it fit in with Meta’s vision and is it time to finally take AI seriously now? Let’s take a look at it.

Oakley Meta HSTN: what makes it different? 

You need to stop making assumptions about smart glasses. The Oakley Meta HSTN allows you to scroll through augmented options. The Oakley Meta HSTN is more about the motion of the feature:

• Video recording 3K Ray-Ban Meta now supports up to 1080p
• Battery life: 8 hoursThis is more than double that of previous models.
• Open ear speakers include directional sound.
• IPX4 Water Resistant This product is designed to withstand rain and sweat.
• PRIZM sports lenses Outdoors, the lenses are optimized for clarity and contrast.
• Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 chip AI is included for faster processing
• Five microphones The voice-activated controls are designed to be used in noisy environments.

These glasses are designed to handle a beach stroll without blinking. 

• Then they come. Six colour optionsThey are flexible and lightweight, and they are known to withstand impacts without damage from the weather. 
• Beyond the tech sheet, these specs weren’t designed for early doctors. Instead, they were for early adopters like runners, cyclists, hikers or even professionals that don’t always have one hand free to hold the camera phone.

It’s the first time smart glasses have been sold as sportswear, not just as a fashion accessory or a novelty. This is a true design pivot and could be the thing that finally moves this category from its niche.

Wearable AI: Meta’s plan from Oakley to Ray-Ban 

Ray-Ban Meta, the retro, sleek device that was approved by influencers, was Meta’s appeal. It was a global success, selling well over 2,000,000 units. However, it felt more like an experiment in social media than a tool.

Meta has shifted its focus to practicality with this new launch. They partnered up with a sports brand known for its durability and performance.

• AI glasses enhance your life by enhancing the way you live.
• Not only is it about variety, but also about integrating AI into real-world scenarios.
• Oakley is known for its action endurance and hands-free features. Prada is a brand with prestige, minimalism and wearable luxury.

Meta can use your feedback to re-define the wearable AI platform that you will never leave home without. 

Smart glasses will soon be found in places we’ve never thought of as technology-related, such as hiking trails, tennis courts, golf tournaments, and even hiking.

Are they really used by people or just Google Glass 2.0?

Will people actually use the technology, frames, and use cases? Since the launch of Google Glass in 2015, this shadow has hung over all smartglasses.

The product was marketed as a futuristic device, but because it lacked social licence, its users were ridiculed, barred from bars and labeled. Glassholes For walk around with a camera on your face. 

Meta’s Oakley launch avoids that fate by rebranding to sport first and lifestyle second. Will people still fidget if someone is wearing a device which could record them? Even technology funders don’t like the idea of speaking to their glasses in public. So who is buying these? Maybe it’s not your typical computer but:

• Cyclists that want hands-free GPS navigation or POV footage
• Travel vloggers and field workers that would document in real-time. 
• Users with visual impairments who open up your audio and captions.
• Wearable AI ecosystems will be tested by developers.

The Oakley Meta HSTN is the tool that will completely avoid the Google Glass curse. Meta’s success will depend on social acceptance. But that will require more than specs. It will also take time.