At the moment, Meta is in the lead when it comes to the best smart glasses. Not only does it have several models for sale, but they’re arguably the most approachable for consumers, as they all feature a respectable camera, decent battery life, and a responsive AI that lets you take full advantage of the glasses’ hardware.
But, Meta’s smart glasses aren’t cheap. The second-gen Ray-Ban Meta costs $379 to start. Meanwhile, the Meta Ray-Ban Display — the most advanced set of specs — cost $800, even before you add in tax. If you want to save some cash, Meta still sells the first-gen Ray-Ban Metas for $299, and they’re still quite good.
I’ve tested three of Meta’s newest smart glasses — the Ray-Ban Meta, the Oakley Meta Vanguard, and the Meta Ray-Ban Display — and have used all of them on a fairly regular basis. However, I keep returning to one pair over the others.
As someone who enjoys the outdoors a lot, the Meta Vanguards are my favorite pair of smart glasses. But the fact that they’re sports-forward in and of itself isn’t the main reason I like them; it’s that they’re hyper-focused on what they want to achieve, and succeed at meeting those goals.
Let’s start with the design. These sport-forward specs aren’t going to be for everyone, but they have a cool wrap-around shape, and come with removable lenses, so it’s easy to swap them out if they become damaged or you simply want a new look.
When it comes to the hardware, the Vanguards also have more powerful speakers, which Meta says can get up to 82.1dB, 6 dB louder than the Meta Ray-Bans. They also have longer battery life (up to 9 hours vs. 8 for the Ray-Bans) and their camera has a wider 122º field of view — not to mention three capture modes (Standard, Slow motion, and Hyperlapse).
But more than the hardware, Meta cleverly launched the Oakleys with a partnership with Garmin, so if you start recording a run, walk, or some other activity with your smart watch, the glasses will automatically stitch together a short video, and overlay it with your stats, such as how far you’ve run, your pace, and more. Even better, the glasses will also give you audio prompts during the activity, to let you know how you’re doing.
The videos I shot and the photos I took with the Meta Vanguards while skiing and sledding were also pretty good. While they’ll never replace a GoPro, they’re more than adequate if you want to share them on social media.
A focused experience
Try as I might, I just don’t see myself wearing smart glasses every waking hour of the day. There’s a lot they can do — but the more I wore the Meta Ray-Ban Displays, the more I became aware of their limitations.
While we’re a few generations in, smart glasses are still in their novelty phase. Companies are trying to figure out the best features to include, and we’re all still figuring out the best use cases.
That’s why I’m most enamored with the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses. Not only do they have a clear sense of purpose, but they have a design and features tailored to make the most out of that experience.
In a few years time (or maybe sooner), I’m sure there will be reasons you’ll want to wear smart glasses 24/7. We’re just not there yet.
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