Meta, in collaboration with Oakley, a sport and lifestyle equipment brand, has presented a new category of product – Performance AI glasses. The glasses combine Oakley’s signature design DNA with Meta’s innovative technology.
“Together with Meta, we are setting new bounds of reality—It is not only about pushing forward performance, but also about amplifying human potential as never before. And this is just the first chapter of a new era for sports.” – Caio Amato, Global President of Oakley.
Features
According to Meta’s press release, AI Glasses can record 3K video, play music, handle calls, and respond to Meta AI prompts. Notably, AI Glasses are waterproof, which is designed for people practicing water sports.
What truly makes these glasses different is the built-in AI assistant. In its press release, Meta shared:
“For example, you can level up the competition in a whole new way when playing a round of golf. Need to know how the wind is going to affect your drive? Ask, “Hey Meta, how strong is the wind today?” and channel your inner Team Oakley Athlete J.R. Smith. Or, like Boo Johnson, record epic moments and post to Stories, hands-free, by saying, “Hey Meta, take a video.” Get answers to a range of questions, whether you’re improving your game or checking the surf conditions”.
Also, Meta shared that the AI Glasses will be released in various designs of six frames and lens color combinations.
Release
The limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN will be available for preorder on July 11, starting at $399. A premium $499 version will also be offered. They’ll launch in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Meta is also working to expand availability to Mexico, India, and the United Arab Emirates later this year.
Echoes of the past collaboration with Ray-Ban
This is not the first time Meta has collaborated with a glass company. Previously, Meta partnered with Ray-Ban to create Ray-Ban Stories. These smart glasses combined classic Ray-Ban style with built-in cameras, speakers, and voice control via Meta AI. Launched in 2021, they aimed to let users take photos, listen to music, and make calls hands-free. While the design was praised, adoption was limited. Many users found the features too basic or unnecessary, and battery life was a common complaint. Meta later admitted that most owners stopped using them after a few months, making the first version more of a learning step than a major success.
Since the previous collaboration was far from successful, the new product in collaboration with Oakley provokes skepticism. Following the earlier flop with Ray-Ban, Meta has now narrowed its target audience to athletes. Let’s see if the product will find demand in this group or meet the same outcome as Ray-Ban.
