On June 20, 2025, Meta officially released its initial sports-performance smart glasses with Oakley. Brand-new glasses for athletes and explorers called the Oakley Meta HSTN, featuring AI technology, a 3K front-facing camera, open-ear speakers, extended battery life, water-resistant construction, and built-in Meta AI. With preorder doors opening on July 11, this is a bold venture into performance-driven wearable technology.
Enhanced Features for Athletes and Explorers Meta has labeled these glasses as being for "athletes and fans alike". Oakley Meta HSTN takes camera resolution up to 3K over twice Ray‑Ban Meta's 1080p battery life upped to 8 hours of normal use and 19 hours of standby, and a charging case with 48 hours of backup power. They are also IPX4 water‑resistant, designed on Oakley's performance‑grade frame.
Smart, Hands‑Free AI Integration Adding Meta AI, the glasses allow hands-free voice command, like "Take a video, Hey Meta," or "How much wind is there today?" via the built-in speakers and microphones. Users can take a photo or video, play music or take a call, translate languages, and use it while engaging in physical activities perfectly positioned for sports, outdoor activities, and live content streams.
Global Launch and Market Positioning Preorders start July 11 for a limited-edition gold-accent model at $499; base models start at $399 later in the summer. It will launch first in North America, Australia, and specific regions of Europe before Meta rolls out in Mexico, India, and the UAE by year's end. Launch is tied to major sports events like Fanatics Fest and UFC International Fight Week.
Analyst Reactions Aisha Malik of TechCrunch called them "Meta's first product for athletes and fans alike," pointing out the 3K camera and doubled battery life, major upgrades from the Ray‑Ban variant. Alex Himel, VP of wearables at Meta, told Fox Business: "The image quality is better… and battery lasts longer that's one of the biggest complaints… so we are bringing some pretty significant improvements.". Analysts point out that this release heightens competition with Google, Apple, and Snap in the smart-glasses market.
Privacy Concerns and Competitive Landscape Just like with Ray‑Ban Meta, privacy is also a hot issue. The Verge cautions against data storage concerns and surveillance, especially with the front‑facing camera and always‑on AI. Despite controversies, Meta's partnership with EssilorLuxottica now with iconic brands like Ray‑Ban, Oakley, and next, Prada indicates its intent to increase smart‑glass manufacturing to 10 million units annually by 2026.