Oakley Meta Vanguard: Smart & fast? The new Oakley sports glasses think for themselves

Following the introduction of the first joint Performance AI glasses at the beginning of the year, this new product line represents the next stage of evolution. "Our goal at Oakley is always to design for the future and deliver for the present," explains Oakley's Global President Caio Amato. "Oakley invented the performance sports eyewear category, and now with Oakley Meta Vanguard we're setting new standards for what's possible. We want to redefine what eyewear can be by providing performance AI eyewear, technological advancements that expand the potential of the human."

The eyewear combines Oakley's signature sport-orientated design with AI technology to give athletes detailed insights into their performance. The product line is being launched as part of a global campaign with Team Oakley Athletes, including former cyclist Mark Cavendish. The Oakley Meta Vanguard is designed for use in high speeds, harsh conditions and extreme physical activity and is said to represent the next evolution of athletic intelligence and sports technology.

"Hey Meta, how's it going with me?": Technical equipment & functions

The Oakley Meta Vanguard has several performance-enhancing features designed specifically for practical sports use. Seamless integration with fitness apps such as Strava and Garmin enables real-time performance tracking while allowing athletes to focus on their activity.

By connecting with health apps, real-time insights can be accessed via LED notifications using voice commands such as "Hey Meta, what's my heart rate?" or "How am I doing?". Garmin's automatic recording function records important milestones without manual operation. With a battery life of up to nine hours and six hours of continuous audio playback, the glasses are suitable for long training sessions such as marathons or extended bike rides.

The included charging case offers an additional 36 hours of battery life, while the quick charge function delivers 50 per cent of capacity in 20 minutes. The integrated 12-megapixel camera with 122-degree wide-angle lens records with a resolution of up to 3K and offers functions such as slow motion, hyperlapse and adjustable stabilisation for recording and later analysis of sporting activities.

Design and wearing comfort

The Oakley Meta Vanguard utilises Oakley's Three-Point Fit System with three interchangeable nose pads, including options for low and high nose bridges. This is designed to ensure a secure, customised fit that remains stable during any activity. The frames are designed to work seamlessly with bike helmets and caps and are IP67 rated for dust and water resistance.

Oakley's PRIZM lens technology improves contrast, enhances colours and highlights details while protecting the eyes from sun, wind and dirt in a variety of conditions. The glasses are offered in four different combinations of frame and lens colours: Matte Black with PRIZM 24K, Matte White with PRIZM Black, Matte Black with PRIZM Road and Matte White with PRIZM Sapphire.

The lenses can be easily exchanged to adapt them to different light conditions. Replacement lenses are sold separately and include the PRIZM Road, PRIZM 24K, PRIZM Black and PRIZM Sapphire variants. A PRIZM Low Light option will also be available shortly. The glasses' open-ear speakers are designed to filter out ambient noise, while an array of five microphones should help reduce wind noise during calls, messages and voice commands.

Multimedia functions, application areas & price

The Oakley Meta Vanguard offers extensive options for documenting sporting activities. The integrated hands-free POV camera makes it possible to create personalised highlight shots from your own perspective without the need for manual operation.

The 12-megapixel camera with 122-degree wide-angle lens records with a resolution of up to 3K and offers various recording modes such as slow motion, hyperlapse and adjustable video stabilisation. Athletes can thus document their activities in a creative way and use the recordings both to analyse their performance and to share their successes.

The open-ear speakers integrated into the arms of the glasses are designed to create an immersive sound experience that allows you to maintain full concentration in any situation. Of course, the glasses also play your favourite playlist and forward phone calls or other notifications to the wearer's ear.

The glasses are designed for various sports, from road cycling and running to skiing, and are intended to work reliably in a wide range of conditions. The combination of hands-free operation and AI technology aims to allow athletes to concentrate fully on their activity while the technology works in the background.

Interested customers can register on the Oakley and Meta websites for advance information on availability and pre-orders. They say that shipping will start on 21 October. Price: 549 euros.