Meta and Oakley to release new smart glasses this summer

Meta and Oakley are set to release a new version of smart glasses this summer. The limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN, priced at $499, will open for preorder on July 11. Later in the season, additional Oakley models using Meta’s technology will arrive, with prices starting at $399. The glasses share many features with Meta’s Ray-Ban models. Each frame includes a front-facing camera, open-ear speakers, and built-in microphones. When connected to a smartphone, they can play music or podcasts, handle phone calls, and access Meta AI. The camera and microphones also let Meta AI describe what you see and translate spoken language in real time. Designed with an active lifestyle in mind, these Oakley frames meet an IPX4 water-resistance standard. A single charge provides about eight hours of use, twice the battery life of the original Ray-Bans, and the included charging case offers up to 48 extra hours. The camera now records video in 3K resolution, up from 1080p. There are five frame-and-lens combinations, all of which can be fitted with a prescription for an added cost. Frame colors include warm grey, black, brown smoke, and clear. Lens choices range from standard tints to transition lenses. The $499 special edition adds gold details and Oakley PRIZM lenses. These glasses will be sold in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Competition in AI eyewear is heating up Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley extends over several years. To date, Meta Ray-Bans have sold more than two million pairs. EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Rayban and Oakley, has said it aims to ship ten million smart-glass units with Meta’s software each year by 2026. Other tech firms are also working on smart glasses. In May, Alphabet agreed to invest $150 million with Warby Parker to develop frames that use Google’s Gemini AI. Snap has said it will introduce its sixth-generation augmented-reality glasses next year as part of a wider push to add AI features to eyewear. Meanwhile, Meta has revealed WhatsApp is about to feature ads for the first time. The app’s original creators had pledged to keep the service free of advertising, but starting this summer, users around the globe will encounter three distinct ad formats—none of which will intrude on private, end-to-end–encrypted conversations. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot