Meta Unveils $399 Oakley AI Glasses with 3K Video and Enhanced Battery Life

San Francisco – Meta Platforms Inc. is expanding its wearable tech lineup with the launch of new AI-powered smart glasses in collaboration with Oakley, marking the social media giant’s first move beyond its successful Ray-Ban series.

The $399 Oakley AI glasses, based on Oakley’s HSTN design, are geared towards athletes and performance users. Meta’s latest offering includes 3K video recording, water resistance, and upgraded battery life, targeting consumers seeking a blend of style, sport functionality, and intelligent wearable features.

“We are increasingly seeing performance use cases with the Ray-Bans like people wearing them on roller coasters, cycling and being around water, so we’re trying to lean into that,” said Alex Himmel, Meta's VP of Wearables.

New Features and Athletic Appeal

The Oakley glasses, priced between $399 and $499 for a limited-edition gold-accented model, are built with Meta’s AI-powered assistant, enabling users to:

• Answer environment-based questions

• Take phone calls

• Play music

• Capture photos and 3K-resolution videos

The new models offer double the battery life of their Ray-Ban predecessors, providing up to 8 hours of usage and 48 hours from the charging case. Meta attributes this improvement to battery chemistry enhancements and software optimization, rather than larger battery packs.

The glasses are display-free, continuing Meta’s strategy of targeting users who want smart features without screens, a category now gaining broader appeal in sports and activewear markets.

Ray-Ban Success Fuels Growth Plans

Meta’s first attempt at smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, stumbled in 2021. However, the 2023 update to the Ray-Ban line proved to be a breakout hit, leading the company to develop a multi-year roadmap for screenless wearables.

“It was crazy. Popularity caught us by surprise,” Himmel said. “We said we’ll take two swings at it, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll go all-in on AR. But now, this category has real legs.”

Meta has sold millions of smart glasses, with Himmel noting consistent year-over-year growth and adoption.

Display-Equipped Glasses Coming Soon

The Oakley launch is part of a broader Meta AI hardware strategy. The company is planning to introduce glasses with built-in displays later this year for functions such as viewing notifications and camera viewfinders. A true augmented reality (AR) headset is expected by 2027, blending digital overlays with real-world environments.

Friday’s HSTN-based model features a camera in the upper corner, similar to the Ray-Ban version. A follow-up pair, based on the Sphera design, is in development and will reportedly feature a center-mounted camera, optimized for cyclists.

A Race Against Time in Wearable Fashion

Oakley is the second-most popular brand under EssilorLuxottica SA, which also owns Ray-Ban. Meta plans to rapidly expand into other eyewear brands within the portfolio.

“We need to be fast to hit all the brands we’d like to,” Himmel said. “The stuff that is a hit right now might not be a year from now.”

The limited edition $499 Oakley AI glasses will be available for pre-order starting July 11. The $399 models, available in grey, black, brown, and clear, will launch in the coming months with clear, transition, and polarized lens options. Prescription lens compatibility is supported, similar to the Ray-Ban series.

As competitors like Apple and Amazon enter the smart glasses market, Meta appears to be cementing a leadership position, balancing functionality, fashion, and future-forward AI in a device built for real-world performance.