Menlo Park (California): At its Connect event on September 17, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the Oakley Meta Vanguard, a new line of Performance AI glasses specifically engineered for high-intensity sports. He also introduced the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses. This launch expands the "Athletic Intelligence" category, building on a partnership with EssilorLuxottica to integrate wearable tech into the demanding world of athletics.

Built for extreme conditions

Designed for extreme action, the Vanguard glasses are built to withstand the elements with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. The wraparound frames feature Oakley’s PRIZM Lens technology to block sun and wind and are optimized for wear with cycling helmets and hats.

Enhanced audio and microphone system

Audio has been significantly upgraded, with open-ear speakers that are six decibels louder than previous models, making them ideal for noisy environments like a windy bike ride.

They feature a five-microphone setup designed to minimise wind interference during calls, voice chats, or when interacting with Meta AI. The battery is designed to last through a marathon, offering up to nine hours of life or six hours of continuous music playback.

Integration with Garmin and Strava

The standout feature is the deep integration with popular fitness platforms Garmin and Strava. Athletes with a compatible Garmin device can ask Meta AI for real-time performance stats, such as heart rate or pace, completely hands-free. A new "autocapture" feature automatically records video clips when users hit key milestones in distance, speed, or elevation, ensuring athletes never miss a shot while staying focused on their workout.

For the Strava community, users can graphically overlay their performance metrics onto photos and videos captured with the glasses and share them directly to Strava through the Meta AI app. This functionality allows athletes to showcase their efforts and celebrate milestones with their community.

Camera and recording capabilities

The Vanguard glasses also serve as a personal point-of-view camera, capable of capturing hands-free video in up to 3K resolution with a 12-megapixel, wide-angle lens. New recording modes like Slow Motion and Hyperlapse have been added to help athletes document their adventures in creative ways.

Price and availability

The Oakley Meta Vanguard is available for pre-order now on meta.com and oakley.com for $499 USD (around ₹43,968), with a launch date of October 21. The glasses will initially be available in 17 countries, including the US, Canada, UK, and Australia, with plans to expand to Mexico, India, Brazil, and the UAE later this year.