Meta, EssilorLuxottica unveil Oakley smart glasses

Meta, in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, has introduced a groundbreaking line of smart glasses under the Oakley brand. These innovative eyewear, known as the Oakley Meta HSTN, were unveiled on Friday and feature Meta's artificial intelligence assistant, marking a significant expansion of their partnership. Targeted primarily at athletes, the Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses come with a starting price of $399. This release is noteworthy as it extends the companies' smart glasses venture beyond the previously established Ray-Ban line. Following the unexpected success of their second-generation smart glasses launched earlier this year, the new HSTN model further demonstrates the commitment of both companies to the smart eyewear market. The HSTN glasses boast Oakley's PRIZM Lens technology, which enhances visibility for athletes by adapting to varying light and weather conditions. Compared to the Ray-Ban Meta's second generation, the Oakley version features an extended battery life and an upgraded camera, providing users with enhanced performance and usability. Similar to their Ray-Ban counterparts, the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses integrate with a smartphone app, allowing users to interact with the Meta AI assistant. This functionality includes asking about weather updates or recording activities seamlessly. The glasses come in a variety of color combinations, including a stylish gray with red lenses and a sleek black version. Moreover, the glasses are designed to be water-resistant, adding to their appeal for outdoor enthusiasts. For collectors and fashion-forward consumers, a limited-edition model featuring gold lenses and accents will be priced at $499, with pre-orders starting on July 11. The standard Oakley Meta HSTN is set to hit the market later this summer. The smart glasses landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with other tech giants like Alphabet and Snap also making strides in this field. Recently, Alphabet announced a significant partnership with Warby Parker to create smart glasses using the Google Gemini AI assistant, while Snap is preparing to launch its sixth-generation augmented reality smart glasses next year.