Meta has introduced the Oakley Meta Vanguard, a rugged pair of smart glasses designed specifically for runners, cyclists, and outdoor athletes. These new glasses are built to survive real conditions, provide useful feedback during workouts, and capture memorable moments—all hands-free and without compromising on toughness.
Key Features
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The Vanguard glasses include a 12-megapixel camera with a wide 122-degree field of view that can shoot video up to 3K resolution. It’s centered in the nose bridge rather than at the sides, which helps with balance and visibility during active motion.
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They offer nine hours of regular use on a single charge. When playing music continuously, that drops a bit (to around six hours). To keep you going even when you’re away from a power source, there’s a charging case which adds up to 36 extra hours. The case can also get the glasses to about 50% charge fairly quickly.
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For audio, the Vanguard frames use open-ear speakers that are noticeably louder than previous models like the Oakley HSTN, with better sound clarity in wind or outdoor noise thanks to a five-microphone array optimized for such conditions.
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Build and durability are prioritized: they have an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, a wraparound frame to protect eyes from sun, wind and debris, and replaceable nose pads allowing better fit—especially with helmets or hats. Lenses use Oakley’s PRIZM™ technology to improve vision and contrast in different lighting and weather.
Athlete-Focused Integrations
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The glasses work with fitness platforms like Garmin and Strava. You can ask the glasses for stats like heart rate, pace, or distance while training, without holding or looking at a phone.
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There’s a new “autocapture” mode: the glasses can automatically record short video clips when you hit certain performance milestones (distance, speed, heart rate etc.). After the activity, you can overlay metrics on those videos or share with the community.
Pricing, Availability & Design
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The Vanguard is priced at US$499. The launch date is set for October 21, 2025 in the U.S. and Canada, with plans to roll out to various additional countries later.
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They come in several frame and lens color combinations, and weigh about 66 grams.
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Buttons are positioned underneath the frame to avoid interference with helmets or headgear during exercise.
What Makes Them Stand Out – And What to Watch
What’s notable:
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Their build is focused on active outdoor use—IP67, wraparound design, features to reduce wind noise, secure fit even under intense conditions.
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The ability to hands-free capture important moments with video at 3K, and the Garmin/Strava integrations, sets them apart from regular smart glasses that are more casual or fashion-oriented.
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Battery life plus the quick charging case gives them decent staying power for long workouts or outdoor sessions.
Things to consider:
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Even though nine hours is good, heavy use—like constant video or all-day music—will reduce that.
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These won’t replace action cameras like GoPro for serious video performance, but they offer convenience and immediacy.
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Fit matters: weight, lens clarity, and how the brace works under movement will influence comfort and usability.
