Meta announces new Oakley Vanguard smart glasses heres how theyre better
than the HSTN glasses for athletes

Date:
Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:33:35 +0000

Description:
Meta debuted new Oakley Vanguard glasses at Meta Connect 2025 to join the Oakley HSTN glasses that launched earlier this year.

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Meta debuted new Oakley Vanguard glasses at Meta Connect 2025 to join the Oakley HSTN glasses that launched earlier in 2025, and we know the big question on your mind is whats the difference between these two specs?

Obviously, theres an immediate design difference Vanguard is a visor while the HSTN glasses look kinda like more angular Wayfarers though there are
some important hardware and feature differences youll need to be aware of before you buy the wrong pair for your needs.

Well provide a deeper analysis once weve had the chance to test the Vanguard glasses beyond the demos weve had so far, but for now, heres an overview of the differences between the two Oakley smart glasses. (Image credit: Future / Hamish Hector) Fashion over function

The Oakley HSTN smart glasses are definitely for your more casual sporting escapades, while the Vanguard specs are positioning themselves as a must-have for athletes.

I have run in the HSTN glasses a couple of times, and with the PRIZM lenses,
I think theyre pretty good. However, they also wouldnt look out of place if I wore them to a golf course or just out and about while Im wandering around my city.

The Vanguard glasses, or more accurately, a visor, wouldnt really work for most people as casual specs. Im sure someone could pull them off as their daily driver, but I assure you that person isnt me, and it isnt 99% of
people.

Theyll be best for cyclists, skiers, marathon runners, and other folks who want to keep the dust out of their eyes as they fly down a road or slope. (Image credit: Meta)

This use case is amplified by the first technical upgrade that the Oakley Vanguards boast: louder speakers.

According to Meta, the Vanguards are 6dB louder than the HSTN specs, which should make them better at being heard over the sounds of wind, traffic, and other distractions while youre trying to push for your next personal best.

Vanguard is also more water- and dust-resistant with an IP67 rating compared to the HSTNs IPX4 rating meaning the visors will be better at surviving harsher weather conditions, plus they might be more comfortable too.

Thats because the Vanguards come with three replaceable nose pads to create a more customized and secure fit compared to glasses like the HSTN specs. The latter arent as adjustable, but they are pretty comfy and have sat securely
on my head while Ive been testing them. (Image credit: Meta)

Lastly, on the design side. One easy-to-overlook advantage of the Vanguard specs is that Meta will be selling replacement lenses at $85 (regional
pricing TBC).

This will allow you to swap to different lens options based on what best
suits the sport or weather conditions, including changing out your polarized PRIZMs for the PRIZM Low Light lens that Meta says is coming soon, which will be ideal for the darker months were headed into in the US and UK.

The HSTNs lenses arent interchangeable, or at least not intended to be interchangeable in the same way. (Image credit: Oakley / Meta) Fitness integrations

The other big upgrade coming to the Vanguard specs comes via the Meta AI app, which will allow the specs to pair with Garmin hardware and your Strava app, as well as access what Meta calls its Athletic Intelligence.

Compatible Garmin devices can be synced with your app so you can get
real-time updates just by using your voice so you focus on pushing yourself and not swiping through your phone or smart watch screens.

You can ask things like Hey Meta, whats my heartrate? or Hey Meta, how am I doing? to get updates on your fitness stats in real time.

Plus, you can set your glasses up so that they automatically capture clips of your run as you hit certain milestones based on factors like distance, elevation, or heart rate. For example, you could automatically capture a clip at every mile of your next marathon, which you can then edit into a compilation to share with loved ones on social media. (Image credit: Meta)

You can also pair Meta AI with Garmin Connect, Apple Health, or Health
Connect by Android so you can get health summaries in your Meta app to keep track of your progress over time, as well as app stats for the videos and photos you take on the move.

Currently, it doesnt look like any of these integrations will be coming to Metas HSTN glasses, stripping another sport-focused tool from their arsenal compared to the new Vanguard specs. (Image credit: Meta) Fit(ness) check

If youre after fashion-first glasses, then the Oakley HSTN glasses are for you. If you want something thats more athletics-focused, opt for the
Vanguards instead, as they boast a design, hardware, and software better suited for fitness tracking.

Vanguards advantages come at a price, however. The HSTN glasses start at $399 / 399 / AU$629, with their most pricey pairs costing $479 / 479 / AU$719 (excluding the limited edition model). Vanguard glasses start at $499 / 499 (Australian pricing TBC).

And thats everything you need to know about the differences between the HSTN and Vanguard smart glasses.

Which ones do you think are best for you? Let us know in our comments below. You might also like Watch out, Meta Snap just gave its AR glasses a big upgrade The best smart glasses 2025: the top AI and AR glasses you can find Smart glasses might soon be everywhere, and based on what Ive tried thats no bad thing



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/meta-ann ounces-new-oakley-vanguard-smart-glasses-heres-how-theyre-better-than-the-hstn -glasses-for-athletes


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