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Oakley Meta HSTN Review: Sporty AI Glasses With a Confusing Game Plan

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No matter how long I spend writing and thinking about gadgets, there are some things that never cease to surprise me. One of those things is progress. Not just that progress happens, but the pace at which it happens. Case in point: smart glasses.

Just yesterday (not literally, but figuratively), Meta was selling one pair: its Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses (Gen 1), which lack a display, but come with a voice assistant, open audio capabilities, and an onboard camera. Now? Well, there’s not just multiple generations of those smart glasses, but a version called the Meta Ray-Ban Display with a screen inside. And that’s just one line of AI smart glasses; there’s a whole other line of sports-oriented Meta-made AI smart glasses designed in partnership with Oakley instead of EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Ray-Ban.

That variety provides more options for anyone interested in buying a pair of smart glasses, but it also means more to think about. Now, you have to decide not just whether you want smart glasses but also which smart glasses are right your lifestyle. As is the case with any gadget, it’s best to answer that question one pair at a time. We can start from the beginning—a new beginning, I guess.

Oakley Meta HSTN AI Glasses The Oakley Meta HSTN AI glasses record 3K video and have solid battery life, but aren't quite as advanced as Oakley and Meta's Vanguard glasses. 3 See at Amazon See at Best Buy Pros 3K video recording

Longer battery life than Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1

Great audio for calls and music playback Cons Tight fit may not be great for some

Style isn't as accessible as Ray-Bans

No 60 fps recording (yet)

Oakley Meta Vanguard have higher IP rating

Designed for action sports

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