Meta Unveils $399 Oakley AI Smart Glasses with 3K Video for Athletes

Meta Platforms Inc. has partnered with Oakley to launch a new line of AI-powered smart glasses, expanding beyond its successful Ray-Ban collaboration. Priced from $399 to $499, these display-free glasses target athletes with enhanced features like 3K video recording and extended battery life.

The Oakley HSTN-based smart glasses, announced on July 11, 2025, integrate Meta’s AI for environmental queries, music playback, and phone calls. A limited-edition gold-accented model at $499 highlights Meta’s push into premium wearable technology.

Unlike the 2021 Ray-Ban Stories, which underperformed, Meta’s 2023 Ray-Ban smart glasses became a surprise hit. This success prompted Meta to develop a multi-year roadmap for display-less AI glasses, with Oakley as the latest brand addition.

The new Oakley smart glasses boast water resistance and an eight-hour battery life, a 40% improvement over Ray-Ban models. The charging case offers 48 hours of power, addressing user complaints about battery performance.

Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica, Oakley’s parent company, enables rapid expansion into new brands. A forthcoming Oakley Sphera model, designed for cyclists with a centered camera, is slated for release later in 2025.

These glasses support clear, transition, and polarized lenses, with prescription options available. They will be sold in 15 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, starting with pre-orders for the $499 limited edition.

Meta’s AI glasses strategy extends beyond display-free models, with plans for notification-enabled glasses later in 2025. By 2027, Meta aims to launch true augmented reality glasses, blending digital apps with the physical world.

Competitors like Apple, set to release similar glasses in 2026, and Amazon, with camera-less models, are entering the market. Meta’s edge lies in its AI enhancements and audio quality, surpassing standalone earbuds, according to VP Alex Himel.

Himel credits the Ray-Ban success to incremental improvements in audio, microphones, and camera quality. Weekly sales show a “nice, increasing multiple” year-over-year, with millions of units sold globally.

The Oakley smart glasses cater to active users, with features suited for cycling, water sports, and extreme activities. Meta’s focus on performance use cases reflects growing demand for durable, stylish AI wearables.

To maintain relevance in fast-moving fashion and tech markets, Meta plans to quickly integrate more EssilorLuxottica brands. “We need to move fast to hit all the brands we’d like to,” Himel emphasized.

Available in grey, black, brown, and clear, the $399 models will launch in the coming months. This expansion solidifies Meta’s position in the AI hardware race, blending fashion with cutting-edge technology.

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