I wore the Oakley Meta Vanguard on a 5-mile walk - they beat my Ray-Bans in key ways

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

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

Most athletic activities 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. 

Also: I tested Meta Ray-Ban Display alternatives, and these ...