Hands-on: Meta Oakley Vanguard smart glasses are impressive

I walked into a demo of the Meta Oakley Vanguard expecting a sporty take on camera glasses. I walked away feeling they could be the most thoughtfully executed pair of smart eyewear for people who actually move. And they actually look like Oakleys first and a dorky gadget second — and that is the selling point.

Unveiled at Meta’s developer showcase alongside some new Ray-Bans, the Vanguard really does bring tangible improvements: a center-camera mount with more impact than you’d think (plus surprisingly punchy audio), IP67-grade durability and fitness integrations that actually work for cyclists, runners and board sports enthusiasts. And it’s cooler than a glance suggests, because they do the basics — comfort, capture and coaching — without demanding attention.

Tech that fades away behind classic Oakley performance

Oakley’s DNA is obvious. The frame’s silhouette is a nod to the Sphaera visor style, and with four Prizm-based lens options available, from a few steps back these read as performance eyewear. You only notice the subtle mic ports and flush camera bezel at the bridge when up close.

The build of Meta feels more polished than its earlier sport-centric model and has a leaner, stronger frame that does not cause pressure hot spots in long sessions. That IP67 rating is significant: a little sweat, some rain and dust and an occasional puddle dunk shouldn’t bother them. If you’ve ever babied audio glasses on a wet run, that’s welcome.

Cameras and controls ready for movement

It has a 12MP sensor that captures 3K video at up to 30fps, and moving the camera onto the bridge is a deceptively large upgrade. Center alignment helps minimize the perspective skew of corner-mounted lenses and results in more natural POV footage, especially on trails or when tucked on a bike.

There’s an “action” button on the underside of the temple, placed so it won’t interfere with helmet straps. This one’s remappable: start recording, slow motion (either 720p or 1080p), or ask for a preset Meta AI prompt. The tactile, and importantly here, primary button doesn’t require you to fumble mid-descent.

What to listen to at full speed with open-ear audio

Open-ear speakers are at least louder and clearer than Meta’s Ray-Bans and previous Oakley HSTN stabs. Meta says playback will be understandable at something like 30 mph, and in a demo with wind simulated, spoken prompts as well as music remained audible but not shouty or shrill. While the directionality reins in the leakage, someone sitting beside you at a stoplight can still pick up on your playlist a bit.

For outdoor athletes, that strikes the right balance: you remain aware of your environment while hearing turn-by-turn cues, AI responses or workout stats without anything crammed into your ears.

Fitness smarts that make a difference during workouts

The real feature isn’t a sensor inside the glasses — it’s the device’s integration. Pair it with a Garmin watch and you can query Meta AI for real-time pace, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. In a static bike test, questions like “How fast am I going?” and “What’s my cadence?” provided spoken responses rapidly and at a comfortable loudness level.

That presents a far more important safety upgrade from wrist glances, particularly in traffic or over technical terrain. If you live in Apple Health or Google Fit, you’ll receive post-workout summaries versus live stats for the time being. Smart eyewear “grows when it gives light-touch utility, not flash,” analysts at IDC have written; this is precisely that kind of utility.

Battery life, durability and daily use in real training

Battery life comes in north of six hours for a typical mix, which includes some long ride time with clips and steady prompts thrown in. Continuous video will obviously cut that, but for check-ins and clip capture it’s easy to make it through a day. That IP67 rating takes away most weather-related worry and makes the Vanguard feel less like gear you have to baby.

There’s no heads-up display here. If you want overlays, you’re better off looking for dedicated AR glasses. The Vanguard are utterly audio-and-camera-first, which means their weight is palatable, and their silhouette wearable.

Who should buy them and who should look elsewhere

Priced slightly steeper than Meta’s Ray-Ban line and the Oakley HSTN, with a starting cost of $499, the Vanguards do deserve the upcharge for those athletes and creators who are willing to pay extra if it means stable POV capture, glove-friendly controls and real-time coaching without something covering their ears.

They’re also attractive if you simply seek out a pair of Oakleys with a competent hands-free camera.

If you’re all about the always-on display or full AR, move on. These are better, and cooler, than you’d think if you want eyewear that looks at home on the road or trail but has a conversation with your training data (and looks good while moving quickly).