Oakley and Meta have launched the Meta Vanguard Performance AI glasses, designed for athletes and “engineered for pure performance.” Featuring a 12MP 3K camera, Oakley Prizm lenses, open-ear speakers, and up to nine hours of battery life, they integrate with Strava for ride overlays and Garmin for hands-free stats. They’re available for pre-order now priced at $499 (~£365).
Last month, Oakley and Meta introduced the Oakley Meta HSTN Transitions which are AI glasses designed for casual use. Now, Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg has announced the Oakley Meta Vanguard which are Performance AI glasses “designed to give athletes a competitive edge”. The news first surfaced during ‘Meta Connect’, the social media giant’s annual developer’s conference, as the Zuck took to the stage to announce an array of devices in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley.
Spec-wise, the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses feature a centred 12MP wide-angle camera capable of recording in 3K with options for slow motion, hyperlapse, and adjustable stabilisation. Audio comes via open-ear speakers which is claimed to still work in 30mph winds.
They use Oakley’s wraparound design with Prizm lens technology, are helmet-compatible, and carry an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. Battery life is quoted at up to nine hours, with the charging case adding another 36.
Strava and Garmin integration
Strava has teamed up with Oakley to launch an integration with the new Meta Vanguard Performance AI glasses, giving you the option to overlay ride data onto the footage you capture while pedalling. Perfect if you’re keen to relive your intervals… or just prove to your mates that you did actually hit 1,000 watts.
The glasses link via the Meta AI mobile app and clips can be exported to Instagram, WhatsApp or wherever else you want to share your efforts. You’ll need a Strava account to use the feature, but a Premium subscription isn’t required.
Garmin users also get some handy integration. You can ask Meta AI questions mid-ride and receive spoken feedback. There are also LEDs in your peripheral vision that flash to let you know if you’re on pace or inside your heart rate zone – no head-unit-glancing required.
Pricing and availability
The Meta Vanguards come in two frame colours – black or white, paired with four Prizm lens options: 24K, Black, Road and Sapphire. Replacement lenses can be purchases separately for $85 (~ £60).
Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are now available for pre-order online at meta.com and Oakley.com. Priced at $499 (~ £365), these Performance AI glasses are scheduled to hit the shelves October 21st.
Sunglasses with some form of head up display and/or smart features have never really taken off in cycling, and the genre is a fixture of our feature on bike tech that has failed to catch on. If any brand is going to crack it and make the category a success, though, Oakley would be a sound bet. Aesthetically, the glasses don’t look dissimilar to the current large-lensed cycling shades in Oakley’s range, which may persuade more cyclists to upgrade.
We’ll hopefully be finding out if they’re worth the extra over unintelligent sunglasses soon, as we’ve requested a pair for review.
Would you wear these glasses on the bike? Let us know in the comments section below.
18 thoughts on “Oakley and Meta launch new Oakley Meta Vanguard AI-powered glasses that record your rides and integrate with Strava and Garmin”
Am I the only one that finds
Am I the only one that finds it creepy that people will be recording you without your consent and providing this info to Facebook? I will not buy “smart glasses”, even if they’re “cool” because they’re Oakleys.
PoorInRichfield wrote:
Any cyclist with a camera is recording you without your consent and can upload your image to Facebook or any other social media platform, as can anyone with a dashcam, CCTV camera, smartphone etc providing you are in a public place. What makes this more creepy?
Any cyclist with a camera is
Any cyclist with a camera is recording you without your consent and can upload your image to Facebook or any other social media platform, as can anyone with a dashcam, CCTV camera, smartphone etc providing you are in a public place
Not according to LancsFilth you can’t! – unless you’re carrying a notice indicating that you’re filming ‘on your mode of transport’- which includes legs if you’re walking, of course
Lancs filth as you well know
Lancs filth as you well know talks bollocks.
Oh so they’re happy to make
Oh so they’re happy to work with Oakley and make products for cyclists, but when I report someone for suggesting fishing line is strung across a cycle lane, that doesn’t go against their guidelines.
F#*k Meta and F#*k Zuckerberg.
So $499 (~ £365) for “smart”
So $499 (~ £365) for “smart” glasses that have no heads up display? No thanks
Please die in a fire.
Thanks.
Please die in a fire.
Thanks.
Wearable cameras that upload
Wearable cameras that upload to Meta – the next layer of AI data harvesting. You get filmed, you’re uploaded. Add in a bit of facial recognition tech and think of the possibilties!
(F no, in answer to the Q)
Id like more of a range of
Id like more of a range of lens for the Jawbreakers, coverage darker ranges
One of the reasons I ride a
One of the reasons I ride a bike is get away from the all pervasive technology. Hope this idea burns as I wont ride with anyone recording me (with exception of cyclist cameras for recording incidents).
Gbjbanjs wrote:
So what will your stance be on someone who’s using them to record incidents? Personally I like to ride the way I want to ride and I’m happy for anyone riding with me to ride the way they want to ride (provided they don’t drop me), no skin off my nose what they’re up to.
I dont with types who do that
I dont with types who do that sort of thing, noone posts incident footage.
Jesus you’re a bag of fun.
Jesus you’re a bag of fun.
What other weird restrictions do you impose on your riding buddies?
So we have (from various
So we have (from various preferences folks have posted):
– No filming (except for crime reports where footage only goes to Police)
– Choice of online ride-recording site, or no way José?
– Towing/wheelsucking etiquette
– Announcing presence to pedestrians – shout, bell, sing, noisy freehub, loud horn…?
– No “cheating” (EAPC use)?
– Use of headphones?
– Hi viz or not or don’t care? Helmet?
– Lights on in daylight?
– Sock height?
‘Lycra’ – essential for
‘Lycra’ – essential for comfort or the preserve of the cycle-terrorist?
There’s something iffy about
There’s something iffy about those battery times. Cycle cam makers can’t make a big square lump like a Cycliq or a Garmin camera last that long. Finding it all a bit unbelievable.
“Up to 9 hours” What’s the
“Up to 9 hours”
Given that it does audio, I expect that is the life for doing little other than listening to music and taking a call.
(2) Up to 9 hours of battery on a single charge (for moderate usage), or 6 hours of continuous audio playback or voice calling, with an additional 36 hours of charge per fully charged case. Battery life varies by use, configuration, settings and many other factors. Actual results will vary. Visit our FAQ for more details.
So they only record video
So they only record video once you’ve asked; hopefully I’ll remember to do that quickly enough as the car cuts me up and I’m bouncing over the bonnet! Seems to only be for those that are all about the socials and not for safety!