Oakley Meta Vanguard are the sensible glasses athletes may really need

When Meta introduced its first pair of Oakley-branded sun shades, the HSTN frames, earlier this yr, it known as them “efficiency AI” glasses although they solely got here with modest upgrades in contrast with Meta’s Ray-Ban lineup. However the brand new Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses, which have been just unveiled at Join, are way more clearly aimed toward severe athletes and so they have the options to again it up.

The $499 sun shades function Oakley’s acquainted wraparound frames and glossy (swappable) lenses. They’re the primary of Meta’s sensible glasses to alter the location of the digital camera, which is now within the heart of the frames above the nostril. In line with Meta, this could make it tougher for a hat or a helmet to spoil your photographs, which was a constant subject for me with the HSTN glasses.

Meta is making different digital camera changes that ought to make the glasses extra dependable for capturing first-person motion cam-style footage. The 12 megapixel digital camera now has a wider, 122-degree angle lens and adjustable video stabilization. There are additionally now devoted modes for capturing sluggish movement movies in addition to Instagram-ready hyperlapse slips.

There are different spec upgrades too. Battery life has been improved to 6 hours of steady music playback and 9 hours of “combined use”. The charging case can present one other 36 hours of battery life. Meta additionally informed me the glasses have been optimized for a wider vary of temperatures, so the battery ought to maintain up higher in very chilly or very popular environments.

The onboard audio system are extra highly effective. Mark Zuckerberg mentioned throughout the Join presentation that the open-ear audio system are 6 decibels louder than earlier than. He mentioned he took a name on a jet ski “a couple of weeks in the past… it was nice.”

After I cranked up the amount throughout my demo, I needed to pause the music with the intention to hear the particular person subsequent to me talking. The glasses are additionally way more waterproof than their predecessors, with an IP67 score which means they are often totally submerged.

Meta has additionally modified up the button placement on the glasses, placing the seize button on the underside proper aspect of the glasses as a substitute of the highest. There’s additionally a brand new “motion button” that is notably intriguing. It is a customizable button that customers can program to set off particular actions. For instance, it may begin enjoying a selected Spotify playlist or it may set off a hyperlapse video. It may also be mapped to actions that reap the benefits of Meta AI, like offering a surf report or figuring out what you are . I am undecided what I’d use this button for, however I am wanting ahead to attempting it out once I get my arms on a pair for quite a lot of minutes.

The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses will include integrations for Strava and Garmin. In my demo, I walked on a treadmill whereas sporting a Garmin watch and the Vanguard glasses. This meant I may ask Meta AI for information about my coronary heart fee and my tempo. For those who’re a Strava consumer, you may overlay images and movies out of your run onto the stats you get on the finish of your run.

Just like the HSTN glasses, I’ve a sense the Vanguard frames might be a bit… polarizing. Most individuals don’t need to put on massive wraparound sun shades for day by day actions. I undoubtedly do not! However Meta has added sufficient new options that the $499 sun shades may really make sense for athletes. I have been sporting Oakley ski goggles for years and I think a pair of Vanguard glasses may simply change them in most situations.

The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses can be found now for pre-order. They formally go on sale October 21.