Meta’s latest revamp of their surprisingly standard good glasses have arrived, however beneath one other trend label. Oakey Meta HSTN is a brand new line of AI-enabled glasses becoming a member of Meta Ray-Bans, however they’re coming with some notable enhancements to go along with their new design and barely increased value.
Oakley, like Ray-Ban, is a part of glasses-maker EssilorLuxottica’s portfolio. In response to Meta’s head of wearable tech, Alex Himel, they’re only one a part of a lineup of Oakley merchandise to return. And, judging by questions I requested, sports activities and health options could possibly be on their method quickly.
“The primary grievance we get concerning the glasses proper now could be battery life,” Himel says of the present Meta Ray-Bans, however is optimistic that the brand new Oakleys will likely be higher. “We’re providing a fairly substantial enhance, 40% higher with each the {hardware} and software program enhancements.”
The $499 restricted version model of the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses are being bought first, with extra fashions coming later in the summertime.
Digicam and battery boosts
The brand new round-framed glasses look sharp at first look, and they need to additionally carry some welcome efficiency boosts. Battery life in keeping with Meta can last as long as eight hours on a cost now, as an alternative of the 3-4 hours I usually get on Ray-Bans. The onboard digicam, nonetheless shifted off to the aspect, can shoot higher-res wide-angle video, at 3K decision this time. The glasses will likely be accessible to pre-order July 11 beginning with a $499 particular limited-edition model, following up “later in the summertime” with costs that vary $399 and up for different fashions, with a wide range of light-filtering lens choices.
In response to Himel, the brand new glasses use the identical Qualcomm chipset because the one-and-a-half-year-old Meta Ray-Bans (not Qualcomm’s upcoming chipset), however can do extra due to digicam and battery enhancements and optimizations, together with a brand new set of batteries within the arms. Session-based live AI, at the moment restricted to half an hour or so on present Ray-Bans, might see a lift on these new Oakley fashions. Himel additionally informed me that the glasses are able to a lower-power digicam mode that would work at decrease resolutions for longer AI-enabled periods, though when that function may be unlocked is unclear.
The bumped-up 3K video decision (at an uncommon 2203×2938, in portrait mode) ought to make for clearer on-the-fly movies, and Himel sees quite a lot of use for sports activities or different excessive actions, though the IPX4 water resistance nonetheless is not meant for water immersion. I requested about prospects for zoom features, one thing I would like in digicam glasses. Sadly, there aren’t any plans for that now, however Himel sees different concepts within the works. “I believe you may see us launch plenty of options on the intersection of taking photographs and movies and AI, which I believe will likely be nice.”
Himel additionally sees promise in iOS 26 help for auto-aware Wi-Fi and background processing modes that would probably assist glasses share photographs and movies higher with iPhones.
A transparent pair of their cost case, which ought to give about 48 hours of further battery life.
Sports activities and health features to return?
One lacking piece, to me, nonetheless lies in how Meta’s more and more sports activities and health lifestyle-targeted glasses do not work straight with health apps on telephones and watches. Himel sees quite a lot of prospects to return. “I actually strongly imagine that within the subsequent technology of wearables, which is glasses and novel type components, well being and wellness will nonetheless be a spotlight — however in a brand new model of that. After we discuss AI, what may be doable, the potential is big.”
How quickly might health options like this arrive? “I believe you must look ahead to Join,” Himel says, referring to Meta’s September-timed AR/VR developer convention the place Meta’s glasses and headset updates are likely to arrive…and when Meta is predicted to launch a extra superior model of display-enabled glasses, too.
The style panorama for good glasses is already ramping up quick: Ray-Ban and Oakley for Meta, and Warby Parker, Mild Monster and Kering Eyewear for Google in 2026. The AI-enabled glasses area is already getting actual, however these glasses may be paving the best way for show and AR-enabled glasses coming after that. And, with the battery life positive factors Meta’s promising for Oakleys, we could also be getting nearer to glasses that may really deal with extra intensive always-on AI options subsequent for durations longer than half an hour, with extra linked features on deck.
