Meta x Oakley’s $399 AI Smart Glasses pack 3K Video Camera and 8-hour Battery in an IPx4 Design

If you told me a few years ago that Meta would be coming for the action camera market, I might have laughed. They’ve tried hard to make cameras cool (remember their Portal device that bombed so badly because of impending backlash from the Cambridge Analytica scandal?), but somehow it never worked. Two years ago, something sort of clicked with their collaboration with Ray-Ban and set us on this new collision course. Here we are now, with Meta’s new Oakley Meta HSTN AI smart glasses gunning for the GoPros, Insta360s, and DJI Actions currently rocked by sportspeople and adrenaline-junkies.

These things are real, they start at $399, and they are gunning for more than just your face – they want to take a bite out of the action camera market, too. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses were Meta’s tentative foot in the door. The Oakley Meta HSTN kicks that door off its hinges. The company has already sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta units, proving that consumer appetite for smart eyewear exists. Now they’re doubling down with hardware specifically engineered for athletes, weekend warriors, and content creators who need hands-free recording during high-intensity activities. The newly debuted HSTN boasts 3K Ultra HD video capture, packs eight hours of battery life, and comes wrapped in Oakley’s unmistakably athletic DNA.
Designers: Meta & Oakley

The incremental upgrade from the Gen 2 Ray-Bans is absolutely obvious. With the HSTN, Meta wants to put the action in action camera and probably sprinkle a bit of AI secret sauce too. The design, internals, and target audience are vastly different compared to the Ray-Bans, even though the broader intent is the same. The Oakley Meta HSTN is designed for sweat, speed, and spectacle. Mbappé is their poster child (among other world-class athletes), because if you want to sell performance, you tap a World Cup winner, not a coffeehouse poet. The message is loud: these glasses were made for people who move, not just people who pose.

Let’s get nerdy with the hardware. The Oakley Meta HSTN packs a 3K Ultra HD camera right into the bridge of the frame. It’s a huge leap over the Ray-Ban Gen 2’s 1080p shooter, making this the first mainstream smart glass product with specs that could keep up with action cams from DJI, Insta360, and GoPro. You get up to 8 hours of battery on a single charge, with a quick-charge feature that juices you up to 50 percent in 20 minutes. The included case isn’t just a glorified pouch; it’ll provide up to 48 hours of additional charging. Water resistance? IPX4 rated, so you can sweat, sprint, or get caught in the rain without babying your tech. Open-ear speakers are stealthily nestled in the arms, serving up playlists, podcasts, or play-by-play, with enough volume to cut through the noise at a game or on a run.

Meta’s AI is baked in, granting hands-free access to voice commands, contextual info, and smart capture. You want to ask your glasses about the weather, get training tips, or even analyze your splits mid-run? That’s the pitch. There’s a multi-mic array to keep your commands crisp and clear, even when you’re surrounded by shouting fans or roaring engines. The glasses connect to the Meta AI app, and require a Meta account, with AI and voice features rolling out to more countries as the product line expands. For creators, athletes, and anyone who wants to shoot unique POV content, these specs mean you can finally leave the chest rig and headband at home without sacrificing quality.

Compared to the Ray-Ban Meta, the Oakley Meta HSTN is a different animal. The Ray-Bans are about stealth, elegance, and everyday wear; the Oakleys are built for performance and presence. The battery is beefier, the camera is sharper, and the durability is much higher. While Ray-Bans are for brunch and city walks, Oakleys are for the gym, the trail, the field, and the skate park. The HSTN model even has a limited edition with gold accents for $499, because if you’re going to flex, you might as well sparkle. Standard models start at $399, which undercuts some high-end action cams and puts pressure on the traditional wearable market. Meta isn’t just challenging Snap Spectacles here; they’re poking the bear in GoPro’s den.

The timing could not be more perfect. The action camera market is hungry for innovation, and Meta knows it. DJI, Insta360, GoPro – pay attention. Meta and Oakley are coming straight for your users with a product that is lighter, more discreet, and, crucially, wearable all day. If Meta can deliver on video quality, stabilization, and ease of sharing, this could mark the first time a face-worn device genuinely competes with a chest-mounted GoPro for active creators.

The design has real presence. Oakley’s HSTN frame is unmistakable, bold, and built for movement. The open-ear audio means you don’t sacrifice awareness for music. The 3K camera means your highlight reel will actually look good on a big screen, not just a phone. The IPX4 water resistance means you can train hard without flinching. Add in Meta’s relentless AI push and you have a product that’s more than a stunt: it’s a shot across the bow for every company still stuck in the “wearable for the living room” mindset.

The global rollout strategy reveals Meta’s serious commitment to this product category. Initial availability across North America, Australia, and several European countries, followed by expansion to Mexico, India, and the UAE by year-end, demonstrates significant manufacturing and distribution investment. The debut at major sporting events like Fanatics Fest and UFC International Fight Week positions the glasses directly within performance culture rather than general consumer electronics. Meta understands that authentic adoption by athletes and sports influencers will drive broader market acceptance more effectively than traditional tech marketing approaches.

The post Meta x Oakley’s $399 AI Smart Glasses pack 3K Video Camera and 8-hour Battery in an IPx4 Design first appeared on Yanko Design.