Meta Oakley HSTN Smart Glasses
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The most recent sensible glasses by Meta function an enhanced design and options optimized for out of doors use.
- An upgraded digital camera decision and battery life headline the very best options.
- They’re pretty costly at $499, and the type may not enchantment to some customers.
extra shopping for selections
jul / 2025
The Meta Ray-Bans have been a hit since their launch, with customers (like me) drawn to their common type issue filled with mics, cameras, audio system, and AI. Now, Meta is catering to a extra athletic viewers with its new Meta Oakley sensible glasses — and with them, it has upped the ante throughout almost each spec.
As a glasses wearer, picture fanatic, and AI reporter, it was an absolute no-brainer for me to buy the Meta Ray-Bans. After months of trying them, I used to be principally impressed. My greatest qualm was the battery life, which solely lasted 4 hours.
Additionally: Meta Ray-Bans vs. Oakley: I tested both smart glasses, there’s a clear winner
So, when Meta introduced the Oakley model would have eight hours of battery life, I used to be instantly intrigued. I spent the previous weekend with the Meta Oakley HSTN Limited Edition, and so they exceeded my expectations.
At first: extra energy
There are various sensible causes an athlete would wish to put on sensible glasses, together with hands-free entry to music, messages, AI help, a digital camera, and video. Nonetheless, which means that the glasses must be snug, sturdy, and have a battery that lasts the length of your exercise.
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Meta executed on all of those fronts with Meta Oakley HSTN Restricted Version glasses, packing an eight-hour battery life from a single cost (up from 4 on the Meta Ray-Bans) and as much as 48 hours with the absolutely charged carrying case, in accordance with Meta.
To accommodate out of doors actions in all terrains, the glasses have an IPX4 water resistance score, a step-up in sturdiness from the Ray-Bans. The video high quality can be larger, capturing 3K video, up from 1080p on the Meta Ray-Bans.
However these glasses additionally preserve all the options that made the Meta Ray-Bans so nice, comparable to a 12 MP ultrawide digital camera, digital camera sensors embedded alongside the facet of the eyewear (nice for recording POV pictures throughout your exercise), two open-ear Bluetooth audio system, and a customized five-mic array.
Throughout my stroll, I listened to Justin Bieber’s new album and was extraordinarily glad with the audio, a lot in order that I used to be content material with my choice to forgo my standard open-ear headphones, the Shockz OpenFit.
I used to be additionally capable of ship audio messages, which is my most popular mode of communication, with no subject. I even obtained the suggestions, “your audio sounds nice, truly,” once I apologized prematurely for any splotchiness which will ensue from speaking into my glasses.
I additionally examined the picture and video capabilities by snapping pictures throughout my stroll. I’ve all the time been amazed at how nicely it takes pictures, even if you end up in movement, with the ultimate consequence being steady, good-quality pictures. Probably the most spectacular half, nonetheless, was the improved video high quality, which was evident as quickly as I seen the video after getting residence. You may distinctly hear the sound of my toes hitting the pavement as I did my mild jog, and the standard and POV make it really feel such as you have been taken alongside the trail of my jog.
This performance is especially vital as a result of in case you are available in the market for these glasses to doc your train, on the worth level, which is double that of a conventional GoPro, it’s crucial that the standard of the pictures be as excessive as doable.
Elevated consolation
Regardless of the extra rugged design and the higher elements underneath the hood, I discovered the glasses to be extra snug than the Meta Ray-Bans. Based on the specs posted on the Meta web site, each glasses are the identical precise weight at 49 grams. Nonetheless, the Oakley pair sits a lot extra comfortably on the bridge of my nostril that they virtually really feel lighter.
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Utilizing the smartglasses hands-free is simply as simple with both voice or touchpad instructions, relying on which you favor. Earlier than my outing, I synced the glasses to Apple Music and my messages, so I did not have to take a look at my telephone in any respect. Reasonably, I obtained a voice notification each time I obtained a textual content, and did easy motions on the touchpad, comparable to swiping ahead to manage quantity or tapping to pause a tune.
Utilizing Meta AI was simply as easy, with a easy command of “Hey Meta” unlocking a multimodal AI assistant that may see what you see, present audio help, and even carry out different extra superior duties comparable to AI language translation.
The Oakley pair’s case is a bit bulkier and fewer smooth than that of the Ray-Bans. That mentioned, it was probably a purposeful design, as you most likely need one thing extra heavy-duty when on a run, bike trip, hike, and so on. The Meta Oakley charging case holds 48 hours of cost versus the 32 hours on the Ray-Bans.
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There may be additionally the added comfort of getting high-quality sun shades catered to athletes. The sensible glasses have Prizm 24K Polarized lenses, which not solely shield in opposition to the beaming solar rays open air but in addition help you see components you’ll have in any other case missed.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The audiences for the Meta Ray-Bans and the Meta Oakleys are a bit totally different. If you’re an outside fanatic who’s seeking to doc a few of your adventures and have easy accessibility to your telephone, music, and an AI assistant, the added specs and design make the $499 funding within the Meta Oakley HSTN Restricted Version glasses price it.
If you’re simply in search of sensible glasses you should utilize sometimes, with no specific want for prolonged battery life or capturing high-quality video, it’s possible you’ll wish to both follow the Meta Ray-Bans, which begin at $240, or wait till extra fashions are made out there later this summer season on the lower cost level of $399.
The most recent sensible glasses by Meta function key enhancements that fulfill the shortcomings of the favored Ray-Bans, from the upper decision video recording to the longer-lasting battery life. Whereas the design of the Oakley model will go away prospects divided, it additionally covers a spot within the sensible glasses house for customers who search a wearable for extra intense leisure actions.
You may sustain with my newest tales and tech adventures on social media. Observe me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz.
