On the Fence About Meta Smart Glasses? How About an Oakley Version?

Meta is looking to build on the success of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses by teaming up with another familiar name in the eyewear space.

The company this week teased an upcoming partnership with Oakley, perhaps best known for selling sports sunglasses. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth posted a video that flashes both the Meta and Oakley logos. The frames themselves don’t appear. However, keep an eye out for more later this week. “The next evolution is coming on June 20,” Oakley posted on Instagram.

Meta launched its first smart glasses with Ray-Ban in 2021. Although the glasses didn’t feature any augmented reality, they did have built-in speakers and a camera, enabling you to take pictures that can be sent to your phone. 

Two years later, the company refreshed the product with a second-generation model that starts at $299. It’s designed with an improved camera, better sound, and an AI-powered digital assistant. So we’ll be interested to see what the Oakley model provides and whether it’s a third-generation model or just a repeat of the same specs but in a new frame.  

Ray-Ban and Oakley also share the same parent company, Italy-based Luxottica. In January, Bloomberg initially reported the Meta-Oakley partnership, saying the companies plan on embedding the smart tech into a pair of Sphaera glasses. The built-in camera will also be shifted to the center of the glasses, rather than on the side. 

Bloomberg adds that Meta is preparing to launch a more premium smart glasses model through Ray-Ban that’ll pack even more technology, including a built-in display. However, the product will arrive with a high price tag, ranging from $1,000 to $1,400. In addition, Meta is developing Project Orion, a true augmented reality glasses device, but it’s not expected to launch until 2027.

About Michael Kan

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I’ve been working as a journalist for over 15 years—I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017.

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