Meta and Oakley Unveil Vanguard Smart Glasses for Athletes
Key Points
- Oakley‑styled wrap‑around frames with interchangeable lenses
- Center‑mounted 12‑megapixel, 122‑degree camera with adjustable stabilization
- Dedicated slow‑motion and hyperlapse video modes
- Six‑decibel louder open‑ear speakers and IP67 water resistance
- Battery life: six hours music, nine hours mixed use; 36‑hour case boost
- New bottom‑right capture button and customizable action button
- Strava and Garmin integrations for real‑time fitness data
- Price set at $499, pre‑orders open with sale beginning October 21
Meta and Oakley have introduced the Vanguard smart glasses, a performance‑focused wearable that blends Oakley's wrap‑around frames with Meta's AI‑powered features. The glasses place a 12‑megapixel, 122‑degree camera at the center of the frames, add adjustable video stabilization, and include dedicated slow‑motion and hyperlapse modes. Battery life now reaches six hours of continuous music playback and nine hours of mixed use, with a charging case that adds 36 more hours. Open‑ear speakers are louder, and the device carries an IP67 water‑resistance rating. New button layouts let users trigger custom actions, and integrations with Strava and Garmin enable real‑time fitness data.
Design and Build
The Vanguard glasses keep Oakley's signature wrap‑around silhouette and feature interchangeable lenses. The camera, a first for Meta's smart glasses, sits centrally above the nose, a change meant to reduce interference from hats or helmets. The frames are rated IP67, meaning they can be fully submerged, and they are engineered to perform across a wide temperature range.
Camera and Performance Features
Equipped with a 12‑megapixel sensor and a 122‑degree wide‑angle lens, the glasses now offer adjustable video stabilization. Dedicated modes let users capture slow‑motion footage and Instagram‑ready hyperlapse clips. These upgrades aim to make first‑person action recording more reliable for athletes.
Audio and Battery Improvements
Meta boosted the open‑ear speakers by six decibels, delivering louder sound that can still accommodate conversation. Battery life has been extended to six hours of continuous music playback and nine hours of mixed use. The included charging case provides an additional 36 hours of power.
User Interaction and Apps
The capture button moves to the bottom right side of the frame, and a new customizable "action button" lets users program shortcuts such as playing a specific Spotify playlist or invoking Meta AI for a surf report. Integration with Strava and Garmin allows the glasses to share heart‑rate and pace data, and users can request AI‑generated summaries of their workouts.
Pricing and Availability
Priced at $499, the Vanguard glasses are now available for pre‑order and are slated to go on sale on October 21.