Oakley and Meta Team Up on Smart Glasses That Might Actually Make Sense

Nick Papanikolopoulos

June 21, 2025

Another smart glasses launch. Yes, again. But this one’s… different. At least, it’s trying to be. Meta just announced a new line of AI-powered eyewear, built in collaboration with Oakley—the sport-first, no-nonsense optics brand best known for wraparound shades and aggressively aerodynamic vibes. They’re called the Oakley Meta smart glasses, and land somewhere between a fitness accessory and a sci-fi assistant you wear on your face.

If that gives you pause, you’re not alone. After all, wearable tech has a mixed track record. Google Glass flamed out. Snap Spectacles turned into a kind of niche toy. Even Meta’s own Ray-Ban smart glasses—while better received—still haven’t cracked into the mainstream. But this time? There’s a bit more reason to pay attention.

A Crossover of Sport, Style, and AI

These aren’t your everyday “glasses with a camera stuck on.” The Oakley Meta HSTN (pronounced Houston, for those wondering) is the first in a new “Performance AI” category that Meta’s pushing—wearables that blend real-time smarts with serious physical utility.

The hardware leans into Oakley’s DNA. Bold frame design, built to take a hit, and styled like something you’d see on a cyclist or trail runner. But beneath the surface is Meta’s AI platform, tucked into a surprisingly sleek package.

The HSTN comes with an ultra-wide 12 MP camera for hands-free photo and video. There’s a tiny LED up front that lights up to indicate recording—a nod to privacy that, honestly, should be standard at this point. Audio? It’s handled via open-ear Bluetooth speakers that sit just above the ear canal. Not revolutionary, but they’re there, and they work. You can still hear traffic. Or birds. Or the stranger who just commented on your eyewear.

Let’s Talk About the AI (Because It’s the Real Hook)

Here’s the meat of it: voice-activated Meta AI. Say “Hey Meta” and the glasses can take a photo, play a song, read you the weather, send a message, give directions—basically, the sort of assistant tasks you’d expect from your phone. But it’s strapped to your face now, so you don’t have to pull anything out of your pocket. It sounds convenient. Sometimes it is.

I tried something similar with the Ray-Ban Meta glasses a while back. The responsiveness was hit-or-miss—sometimes brilliant, sometimes frustrating. These new Oakleys are supposed to be snappier, but until we get more time with them in the real world (i.e., in wind, sweat, traffic, and panic), that’s still a big “we’ll see.”

Read Also: Wrist-Worn Tech Is Booming Again — And Xiaomi Is Stealing the Show

Oakley Meta smart glasses Specs

Key features:

3K camera with 12 MP ultra-wide sensor
LED recording light for privacy transparency
Open-ear Bluetooth audio, great for awareness
Meta AI voice assistant, triggered by “Hey Meta”
Touch + voice controls, fairly intuitive
IPX4 water resistance, but not the charging case
Battery: 8 hrs typical use, 5 hrs audio, 19 hrs standby
Fast charging: 50% in 22 minutes
Charging case adds up to 48 hours
Accessibility: voice support, Be My Eyes integration
Compatible with Android 10+ / iOS 15.2+

It’s the usual mix of power and compromise. The fact that the charging case isn’t water-resistant seems like an oversight, considering the whole “sport” positioning. But for casual athletes or commuters? Probably fine.

Styles and the Price of Looking Futuristic

The Oakley Meta smart glasses are coming in multiple colorways—seven, to be precise. Some with polarized lenses, others with photochromic transitions. Most look unapologetically Oakley, which is either a selling point or a hard pass depending on your style. There’s also a Limited Edition model with flashy Desert 24k Prizm Polar lenses and gold accents, marking Oakley’s 50th anniversary. Same tech inside, just a more collectible shell.

Limited Edition: $499 (USD), preorders July 11
Standard models: From $399, available later this summer

Markets include the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and much of Europe. India, Mexico, and UAE will follow later in the year.

Should You Buy These?

Maybe. If you’re into fitness, or you’re already in the Oakley ecosystem, or you just want AI without pulling out your phone 40 times a day—they make sense. They could be the kind of glasses that quietly work their way into your daily gear without becoming a spectacle (pun somewhat intended). But there are still questions. Will the AI be fast enough? Will battery life hold up after a few months? Will people accept yet another camera in public spaces?

Honestly, I think it’s a smarter bet than some of the earlier attempts. But the bar is low, and we’ve all seen how fast hype fades.

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