Smart glasses you won't distinguish from regular ones! Meta unveiled a trio of new models, prices are favorable

At the Meta Connect 2025 conference, we saw three new models of smart glasses. While Apple is still hesitant with a more affordable version of Vision Pro and Google is playing with prototypes, Meta is expanding its portfolio with the sporty Oakley Meta Vanguard, the futuristic Ray-Ban Display with a built-in display, and the improved second-generation Ray-Ban Meta. Each model targets a different audience and offers a different compromise between price and features.

Oakley Meta Vanguard: when you need glasses for outdoor use

Oakley is a household name among athletes, and Meta knows it well. The Vanguard model retains the characteristic sporty design with a massive shield, but adds smart features known from Ray-Bans. The 12-megapixel camera with a 122-degree field of view is this time placed in the middle above the nose bridge, which is intended to provide a more natural first-person view.

The glasses record video in 3K resolution at 30 fps, supporting slow-motion and hyperlapse modes. On board, you’ll find 32GB storage, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. Most importantly is the IP67 certification – as the first Meta glasses, they can handle sweat, rain, and dust without problems. Athletes will also appreciate the integration with Garmin watches and synchronization with Strava.

Meta boasts that the Vanguard has the loudest speakers of all their glasses – specifically 6 dB louder than the previous Oakley Meta HSTN model. Five microphones (two in the frame, three near the nose) ensure high-quality sound recording and hands-free calling. The battery lasts up to 6 hours of music playback or 9 hours of normal use, with the case adding another 36 hours.

The price of 549 euros (about 13,400 Czech crowns) is not exactly budget-friendly, but durability and sporty design simply come at a cost. Pre-orders start immediately, with regular sales beginning on October 21.

Ray-Ban Display: the display in glasses finally works

If listening to AI responses isn’t enough for you, Ray-Ban Display will put them directly before your eyes. Hidden in the right lens is a color display with a resolution of 600 × 600 pixels, a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz, and a brightness of 5000 nits. A 20-degree viewing angle is no IMAX projection, but it’s sufficient for basic information.

What can the display show? Text messages from WhatsApp and Messenger, turn-by-turn navigation, live captions with translation, information about music playing from Spotify, or Meta AI responses. It also functions as a camera viewfinder – finally, you know what you’re actually photographing.

Control is provided by the Meta Neural Band – a wristband that senses electrical muscle signals and converts them into gestures. It has IPX7 certification and lasts 18 hours of operation. The glasses themselves weigh 69 grams, have the same 12Mpx camera as the Vanguard, 32GB storage, 2 GB RAM, and support prescription lenses from -4 to +4.

For 799 dollars (about 16,500 CZK without tax), you essentially get a functional head-up display that is not as intrusive as Apple Vision Pro, but at the same time offers more than regular smart glasses. Sales start on September 30 in the USA, arriving in Europe in early 2026. The manufacturer has kept the European price to itself for now.

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2: improved classic

The second generation of Ray-Ban Meta glasses doesn’t bring a revolution, but important improvements. Battery life has increased to 8 hours, with the charging case adding another 48 hours. They charge to 50% in 20 minutes, which is solid.

You can now record video in 3K resolution at 60 fps – double the frame rate compared to Vanguard makes sense for general use, but in that case, I don’t quite understand why the sports version doesn’t have a higher frame rate. All Meta glasses will receive an update supporting hyperlapse and slow-motion modes. An interesting feature is Conversation Focus, which isolates the voice of the person you are talking to and suppresses ambient noise.

The price starting from 499 euros (approximately 10,200 Czech crowns) is the most acceptable of the trio. They are available in several designs – Wayfarer, Skyler, and Headliner.

What do you think of Meta’s new glasses?

Source: Meta