Meta’s back at it again—the tech giant recently launched its latest smart glasses, which it dubs the Oakley Meta “HSTN” (which is apparently pronounced “HOW-stuhn”). As you can probably tell from the name, the new glasses have been made in collaboration with eyewear veteran Oakley, and Meta says that the new model comes with significant upgrades. They’re also designed for athletes and people who prefer a more active approach to their lifestyle.
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Building on the success of the previous Ray-Ban Meta model, Meta adds that the HSTN offers enhanced video capabilities, as well as longer battery life, and better audio. For video, users will now be able to record first-person view videos at a much sharper 3K resolution, a a big jump from the 1080p video capture on the older model.
The Oakley Meta HSTN also includes five microphones for improved voice pickup, as well as integrated Bluetooth speakers for a more immersive listening experience when playing back media. The glasses are also designed to be used hands-free, and users can interact with built-in Meta AI for voice commands with several tasks, including camera recordings, music playback, phone calls, send messages, and even answer questions over the internet.
For privacy purposes, the HSTN comes with an integrated LED on the right corner illuminates when video recording is active. In addition to voice controls, users can also interact with the glasses via physical controls, which include a touchpad on the right temple and a physical capture button. The glasses also come with an IPX4 rating (similar to most wireless earbuds), so they’ll be mostly safe from light rain and sweat—this also makes them ideal for most outdoor running situations.
For battery, Meta has also added some improvements, and the HSTN can now last for up to eight hours on a single charge, which is twice what the Ray-Ban model is capable of. There’s also a bundled charging case, which you can use for top ups to extend the overall battery life to a rather impressive 48 hours; a quick 20-minute charge can provide 50% battery. For software connectivity, users can manage settings, photos, and videos through the dedicated Meta AI app, which will be available for Android and iOS devices.
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The Oakley Meta HSTN will be available in Warm Grey, Black, Brown Smoke, and Clear, with five lens combinations, all compatible with prescription lenses. Pre-orders for the limited edition Oakley Meta HSTN begin July 11, priced at $499. Meta plans to expand the Oakley smart glasses lineup later this summer with additional models starting at $399.
