The biggest difference between the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses and their sibling, the Oakley Meta HSTN released back in June, lies in its aesthetic. With this pair, the company leans into the signature Oakley Sphaera look, combining the advanced specs of the HSTNs with the familiar visor design.
The new form factor also gave way for the inclusion of a new action button, a more centered camera for POV shots, and integrations with Garmin devices and Strava. However, it does come at a steeper price of $499. Is it worth the splurge? Here are my thoughts after a week of testing.
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For one, the camera is positioned at the center instead of the corner of the lenses, which makes POV shots appear less angled or too high. In the videos I recorded, I found it much easier to get the positioning correct, as it was recording from the bridge of my nose (which is in the center of my view), as opposed to the edges of the glasses. In addition to the standard video capturing mode, you can also record in slow-motion and hyperlapse.
On the audio front, the two open ear speakers provide audio that’s as good as any of the smart glasses in Meta’s lineup. I listened to music and audio messages throughout my two-hour walk and was satisfied with the quality and sound levels. I especially enjoyed being able to leave my headphones at home, making my walk a bit lighter.
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Capitalizing on the appeal to athletes, Meta integrated its Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses with Garmin devices and Strava. You’ll need to link your Garmin and Strava accounts via the Meta AI app, download the Garmin Connect IQ app to track fitness metrics.
For Strava, the integration enables users to add a helpful overlay to footage captured on their Meta Vanguard AI glasses, showcasing their performance metrics, including distance, average pace, elevation, and more. (Note that the overlay doesn’t actually appear through the glasses as you’re running.)
Using this integration is simple; once the activity is completed, all you have to do is select the media taken and overlay the stats. I am attaching one from my walk below, though I pulled it from my Garmin stats.
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
There is one significant caveat to the Oakley Meta Vanguard, and that’s its lack of prescription support. As lovely as they look to me, they’re not compatible with prescription lenses, so you have to commit to wearing contacts with them, or you won’t be able to see properly. For that reason, I recommend the Oakley Meta HTSNs to those who want similar recording features, plus support for varying vision.
Although I say this every time I write a smart glasses review, having a wearable on your face is deeply personal, and they need to look and feel good for the purchase to be worthwhile. As a result, these smart glasses may not be for everyone, but I love them.
The iridescent sheen on the smart glasses, paired with the vibrant color options, makes for a stylish fit. The lens color also filters light beautifully, reducing strain even in bright outdoor conditions.
, the purchase is worth the money, as traditional Oakleys would be a better match, as they pass for more common everyday sunglasses.
