Oakley Meta Vanguard: the sport-first AI glasses we’ve been waiting for

For years, “smart glasses” promised everything and delivered compromises for sport. Batteries were too small for long sessions, mics collapsed in the wind, cameras sat off-centre, fits clashed with helmets, and water- and dust-proofing rarely matched winter reality.

If you’ve ever dreamed of  your sunglasses coaching your cadence, recording the moment you top a climb, and talk back with timely tips — all without a distracting screen — the Oakley Meta Vanguard are exactly that. The future of AI Glasses!

Launched alongside Meta’s latest smart-glasses line-up at Meta Connect, Oakley Meta Vanguard are built for speed, sweat and real-world training.

Think Oakley’s iconic wraparound performance design, a centred POV camera, wind-busting audio and microphones, and Meta AI that understands your workout in the moment. Well thats Oakley Meta Vanguard in a Nutshell.

We’ll be stocking them at Coleman Opticians, and we’re genuinely excited — because these feel purpose-built for athletes, not just “tech with lenses.”

Who they’re for (and who will love them)

Vanguard are aimed squarely at runners, cyclists, skiers and outdoor thrill seekers and any outdoor sports enthusiast wholes to were eyewear and who value presence over screens.

There’s no on-lens head display to pull your eyes off the road or trail (but watch this space, because it’s on it’s way.)

Instead, you get hands-free voice control with Meta AI, tactile controls that play nicely with helmet straps and gloves, and audio prompts that keep you informed while you keep moving.

If you’re an Oakley lover, who wants pro-grade fit and lenses with just the right amount of tech, or a Meta AI fan who wants a performance-first form factor, these Oakley Meta Vanguard AI Glasses are going to be a MUST. HAVE in your sports wardrobe, but they’re functional and super cool.

Design: unapologetically Oakley, engineered for action

This is classic Oakley performance DNA: a full-wrap chassis with PRIZM™ lens technology to boost contrast and detail, Three-Point Fit with interchangeable nose pads (low- and high-bridge options), and grippy Unobtainium® temple tips so they stay locked in place — even under a helmet.

The frames are IP67 dust and water resistant, built for rain, sweat, grit and speed.

Launch colours include Matte Black with PRIZM 24K, Matte White with PRIZM Black, Matte Black with PRIZM Road, and Matte White with PRIZM Sapphire.

Weight comes in at a very reasonable 66 g, impressive given the tech on board.

Image Credit: “Oakley / EssilorLuxottica 

A thoughtful touch for athletes: the physical buttons are tucked underneath the temples, so they don’t clash with helmet straps or winter gloves — and one is programmable to trigger your favourite Meta AI prompt (e.g., “start intervals” or “how’s my pace?”).

There’s also a status LED in your peripheral vision that can glow when you’re on target for a metric such as heart rate or pace. Camera: true POV that finally makes sense on a ride or run

At the bridge — right where your eyes look — sits a centred 12 MP camera with a 122° wide-angle lens. It records up to 3K/30 fps and includes slow-motion, hyperlapse, and adjustable stabilisation modes.

The placement means your clips look like your ride or descent — not forehead wobble. Storage is a practical 32 GB, good for 1,000+ photosor 100+ short videos before you need a clear-out.

One of our favourite features for training days is Auto-Capture: set the metric and the glasses will automatically bookmark short highlight clips when you hit key moments — a pace spike, a climb segment, a heart-rate zone, a big altitude gain.

It’s a tiny feature with huge storytelling value when you look back at the session.

Meet the Oakley Meta Vanguard – Official Launch Video

Audio & mics: built for 30-mph headwinds

Open-ear speakers keep situational awareness intact while still delivering punchy sound for prompts, calls and music.

A five-microphone array is tuned to reduce wind noise, so calls and voice commands stay intelligible — reviewers specifically call out clarity at speed (up to ~30 mph).

Compared with Oakley’s earlier HSTN model, these Oakley Meta Vanguard speakers are 6 dB louder, which you notice the first time you’re hammering into a headwind. Tom’s Guide+1

Meta AI that actually helps you train

Image Credit: “Oakley / EssilorLuxottica 

The magic trick here is useful AI. Pair Vanguard with compatible devices and say, “Hey Meta, what’s my heart rate?” or “How am I doing?” and get real-time stats hands-free while you run or ride.

The glasses hook into Garmin for live insights (including the Auto-Capture triggers), which is just incredible and Strava…, which is my go to choice of app for sports. It provides brilliant data overlays on your clips — distance, pace, elevation, the lot — ready to share with on your online stats or for professional coaching. This isn’t a gimmick.

After each workout, summaries land in the Meta AI app.

Battery life and charging

SO here’s the biggest decision maker for.

Vanguard deliver up to 9 hours of mixed use (or 6 hours of continuous music). That’s absolutely insane and marathon ready!

The charging case adds ~36 hoursand a 20-minute quick charge gets you to 50% — enough to rescue a forgotten pre-charge before a long run.

For category-leading endurance on a pair of AI glasses, this is as good as it gets.

The Spec:

• Frame & fit: Oakley wraparound sport frame; Three-Point Fit; interchangeable nose pads; helmet-friendly; IP67dust/water resistance. Weight ~66 g.

• Lenses: PRIZM™ (24K, Road, Black, Sapphire). Easy lens swaps; PRIZM Low Light option coming.

• Camera: 12 MP, 122° FOV, up to 3K/30 fps; slow-mo, hyperlapse, adjustable stabilisation; centred bridge mount for true POV. Auto-Capture highlights. 32 GB storage.

• Audio & mics: Open-ear speakers (+6 dB vs HSTN); five-mic array with wind reduction; clear at speed.

• Controls: Underslung buttons; programmable AI button; voice control; status LED in periphery for on-target metrics.

• Fitness integrations: Garmin (live stats + Auto-Capture) and Strava (metric overlays + share).

• Battery: Up to 9 hrs mixed / ~6 hrs audio; +36 hrs with case; 50% in ~20 min quick charge.

• Price & availability: We’re looking at prices starting from around the £499 mark.

How they fit into Meta’s 2025 line-up

Meta also announced Ray-Ban Meta Display: glasses with an in-lens HUD, bundled with the Meta Neural Band — an EMG wristband that looks a bit like a minimalist pager and lets you control the glasses with subtle finger movements.

It’s a clever upgrade from the Original Ray Ban Meta AI Glasses, that we also reviewed.

  Importantly though, the Neural Band comes with Ray-Ban Display, not Vanguard.

Vanguard are the screen-free, sport-first option that rely on audio and voice so you can stay fully present.

If you want navigation and visuals in-lens, grab the Display model; if you want pure athletic execution, choose the

Three things set Vanguard apart:

1. Clarity of purpose. Where everyday smart glasses try to be everything, Vanguard are laser-focused on performance: centred camera, wind-proofed audio, IP67 build, helmet-friendly controls, Garmin/Strava hooks. No faff, all function.

2. True POV storytelling. Auto-Capture plus 3K stabilised video means your session tells itself — the sprint surge, the steep ramp, the hair-pin sequence — without you touching a button. For creators and coaches, that’s gold.

3. Battery you can trust. Nine hours on-device and a case that keeps you going all weekend is best-in-class right now.

Where to buy in the UK

Coleman Opticians will be stocking Oakley Meta Vanguard. We’ll fit them properly (including nose-pad swaps for bridge height), advise on PRIZM lens selection for your sport

If you’d like a hands-on demo — audio clarity at speed, camera modes, and voice prompts — pop in and we’ll kit you out as soon as these arrive.

Follow our Facebook and Instagram Feeds because we’ll be announcing these as soon as they drop.

The Coleman Opticians verdict

Oakley Meta Vanguard are the first AI glasses we’ve tried that truly capture what a sports glass can do in 2025.

They keep your eyes on the world, they keep your mind on the job in hand and for even the most novice of sports people, they offer an element of gamification coaching to help you focus on your times,m your speed and your health while exercising,

If you’re an Oakley fan, you’ll love the fit, optics and ruggedness.

If you’re a Meta AI fan, you’ll love how the assistant becomes a coach — no taps, no screens, no faffing. If you’re both… you’ve just found your next obsession.

Come and se us at Coleman Opticians. We’ll get you fitted, synced and out the door with the most exciting bit of performance eyewear we’ve seen in years.