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Oakley’s New Ultra-Futuristic Sunglasses Are Still Classic Oakley

Meta’s partnership with the sunglass maker finally delivers what fans wanted from the HSTN frames: smart glasses that look and perform like real Oakleys.

Sport sunglasses with a large, wraparound red-orange mirrored lens and a built-in camera on the left side near the nose bridge. The frame is black with a sleek, modern design. The lens has the word "PRIZM" printed on the lower right corner.Oakley

By Jack Seemer

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During its 50th anniversary party earlier this year, Oakley didn’t waste time looking back.

Instead, the brand outlined a bold new vision for the future, which includes a journey to the moon and, almost as lofty, a high-profile partnership with Meta.

If the Oakley Meta HSTN smart frames were the seed of an idea sprouting, though, the brand-new Vanguard frames should finally provide fans with a taste of some real fruit.

Close-up of a pair of Oakley sunglasses with a reflective yellow-gold lens and a transparent black frame, set against a dark background. The Oakley logo is visible on the lens.
The Vanguard smart glasses are the second model to come from Oakley’s partnership with Meta.
Meta

Performance glasses, with an emphasis on performance

First revealed at Connect and now available for preorder, the upcoming Oakley Meta Vanguard frames distinguish themselves from the HSTN in a handful of ways.

But the through-line is that they look, feel and perform more like Oakleys than Ray-Bans.

That said, there’s more to the new sunglasses than a shiny, wraparound lens with Oakley’s signature Prizm technology.

A pair of Oakley sunglasses with a large, single gold-tinted lens featuring the Oakley and Prizm logos, positioned above a black, rounded case with a small illuminated indicator light on the front. The background is black, highlighting the sunglasses and case.
These are Meta’s first smart glasses to position the camera at the center, which helps to keep hats and helmets out of photos and videos.
Oakley

Unlike the HSTN or Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, the Vanguard positions the camera at the center of the frames, a move that will address hats or helmets getting in the way of photos or videos.

The camera itself is also new, now featuring adjustable video stabilization and a wider 122-degree lens.

A close-up of a person wearing large, reflective sports sunglasses with a yellow tint. The person has light brown hair pulled back and is touching the side of the sunglasses with their index finger. The skin on their forehead is slightly sweaty.
The Vanguard frames carry an IP67 rating, which means they can take on sweat or dips in water.
Oakley

Center stage

Plus, the frames are rated for more extreme environments: an IP67 rating means it’s suitable to sweat and water sports, while the bigger battery — which provides up to six hours of music playback via more powerful speakers — can reportedly take on more severe fluctuations in temperatures.

In other words, the Oakley Meta Vanguard is made for actual athletics — a fact supported by integrations with Strava and Garmin that can tell runners their heart rates mid-stride or overlay photos onto activities, with more likely on the way soon.

Muscular man wearing a dark tank top, black shorts, sunglasses, and a smartwatch, standing outdoors on a grassy hill with mountains in the background during sunset or dusk.
At launch, the frames have integrations with Strava and Garmin for mid-stride playback.
Oakley

History will ultimately determine if the Vanguard will represent a key milestone for Oakley, a brand with no shortage of notable innovations in its quiver.

But for now, the future looks bright … and smart.

The Oakley Meta Vanguard frames cost $499 and are available now for preorder, with shipping scheduled for October 21. They come in four different lens and color configurations.

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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