Oakley Meta vanguard: Smart Glasses Designed for Performance
The Oakley Meta Vanguard are a new offering in smart eyewear, specifically geared towards athletes and those engaged in extreme sports. Unlike more casually-styled smart glasses, the vanguard prioritize a functional, aerodynamic, and enveloping design.
These glasses aren’t intended for everyday city wear, but rather for dedicated sports use, a fact reflected in the meticulous detail of their development. Weighing in at 66 grams, they are heavier than traditional sports glasses, but Oakley has focused on balanced weight distribution.
The Vanguard feature a three-point fit system with interchangeable pads for a secure hold even during intense movement, and a rubber bridge to improve support even when sweating or in wet conditions.They also boast IP67 certification, meaning they are dustproof, mudproof, splashproof, and snowproof. Interchangeable lenses allow for customization.
Beyond the physical design, the Meta Vanguard are packed with smart features. They include a five-microphone system and more powerful speakers than previous models, enabling voice interaction even in noisy environments. The system is designed to recognize individual users, preventing accidental activations from others wearing similar glasses.
Compatibility with training apps like Garmin Connect and Strava has been improved. Users can ask, “Hey Goal, how am I going?” to receive real-time data on metrics like heart rate, pace, or distance, without needing to check a watch or phone. Peripheral LEDs provide quick visual cues on progress towards rhythm or effort goals.
A new auto Capture function automatically records video clips during key training moments - peaks in speed, altitude, or effort – and synchronizes them with the Meta AI app. Users can then add graphic overlays and share videos directly to platforms like Instagram, Strava, or WhatsApp.
The glasses incorporate a 12MP camera with a 122-degree field of vision positioned on the bridge of the nose. It records video in 3K at 30fps and supports normal, slow-motion, and hyperlapse modes, offering a first-person viewpoint closely mimicking human vision.
Multimedia is managed via voice commands or a side button, with a touch zone on the right temple controlling volume and music playback.
Battery life is rated at up to 9 hours of mixed use or 6 hours of continuous music playback,extendable to 36 hours with the included charging case. A fast charge feature provides a 50% charge in just 20 minutes.
The Oakley Meta Vanguard will be available in Spain starting October 21 for a price of 549 euros.
