How the Oakley Meta smart glasses beat my Ray-Bans on a 5-mile test walk

• The Oakley Meta Vanguards are the brand's latest fitness-centric smart glasses starting at $499.
• They support cross-platform fitness tracking and slow-motion video recording.
• Don't buy these if you were hoping for prescription support.

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Most sports can benefit from hands-free assistance -- which makes athletes among the biggest beneficiaries from smart glasses. Catering to this crowd, at Meta Connect in September, the company released the latest addition to its sporty AI smart glasses lineup: the Oakley Meta Vanguard.

The biggest difference between the Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses and their sibling, the Oakley Meta HSTN released back in June, lies in its aesthetic. With this pair, the company leans into the signature Oakley Sphaera look, combining the advanced specs of the HSTNs with the familiar visor design. 

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