Meta Ray-bans Vs. Oakley: I Tested Both Smart Glasses, There's A Clear Winner

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Oakley vs Ray-Ban Meta
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Following nan occurrence of nan Meta Ray-Bans, nan institution collaborated pinch luxury eyewear marque Oakley, appealing to an wholly caller demographic of users -- athletes and outdoorsy types who admit a much rugged brace of shades. 

Both smart glasses person built-in speakers, mics, cameras, and AI, pinch nan aforesaid functionalities for capturing videos and audio playback, beryllium that music, a telephone call, aliases nan Meta AI assistant. However, location are immoderate awesome differences successful specs and creation to supply users pinch different experiences for different environments. 

Also: I took a locomotion pinch Meta's caller Oakley smart glasses - they hit my Ray-Bans successful each way

I should mention the Meta Oakley HSTN Limited Edition smart glasses unit for $499, which is $200 much than nan starting value of nan Meta Ray-Bans. $500 is simply a hefty finance for immoderate brace of glasses, truthful if you're wondering if they're worthy nan other cash, cheque retired my breakdown below.

You should bargain nan Meta Oakley smart glasses if…

Oakley Meta
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

1. You want a higher artillery capacity 

Despite being a large instrumentality of nan Meta Ray-Bans, my biggest critique was their unimpressive artillery life. At 4 hours, nan Meta Ray-Bans aren't capable to past done an full workday, which is particularly limiting for basal features for illustration listening to audio aliases accessing nan sound assistant. In that sense, nan biggest advantage of nan Meta Oakleys is nan eight-hour artillery life. 

While I haven't been capable to trial nan artillery life successful nan aforesaid measurement I could nan Ray-Bans (wearing sunglasses for 8 hours consecutive isn't precisely practical), I person worn them for hours astatine a clip connected aggregate sessions and did not tally retired of battery, whereas pinch my Ray-Bans, it feels for illustration nan countdown originates correct aft I put them on. 

2. You request durable glasses

Oakley is already a marque synonymous pinch outdoor activities for illustration running, hiking, and biking: each activities that impact vulnerability to nan elements. Not surprisingly, nan Oakley smart glasses person an IPX4 h2o guidance rating, a measurement up successful durability from nan Ray-Bans. While this whitethorn not beryllium arsenic important aliases moreover basal for mundane glasses, because of nan value of nan investment, you'll admit it successful nan agelong run. 

Also: Your Meta Ray-Bans conscionable sewage a awesome characteristic upgrade for free - and it feels surreal

3. Your main extremity is to seizure content 

While some glasses characteristic a dual 12 MP ultrawide camera system, nan Oakleys person been upgraded to return amended value video. The Oakley smart glasses seizure 3K video, up from 1080p connected nan Meta Ray-Bans. The improved video quality, mixed pinch nan caller extended battery, makes it a amended substitute for nan accepted GoPro, which is typically what group opt for erstwhile shooting POV videos. 

You should bargain nan Meta Ray-Ban smartglasses if...

Meta Ray-Bans
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

1. You want mundane smart glasses

The rugged look of nan Meta Oakley HSTN Limited Edition smart glasses is nary uncertainty an acquired taste. In fact, since posting my hands-on article, nan biggest feedback I person gotten is astir really they look. Personally, nan sunglasses are not my style, but if they are yours, you tin only deterioration them outdoors, which limits their functionality. 

Also: I've worn nan Meta Ray-Bans for half a year, and these 5 features still amaze me

As a result, if you want glasses that are virtually indistinguishable from regular mundane ones, nan Meta Ray-Bans are a amended option. There are besides truthful galore different styles of glasses -- some regular and sunglasses -- that you tin find 1 that fits into your circumstantial style. 

2. You're shopping connected a budget

The upgraded specs successful nan Oakleys, including higher video value and longer artillery life, travel astatine a cost, bumping up nan starting value by astir $200. Unless you are nan nonstop target assemblage and perfectly request those higher specs because you scheme connected utilizing them during agelong outdoor activities specified arsenic hiking aliases moving a marathon, you'd beryllium good opting for nan Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses. 

If redeeming money is simply a priority, you tin besides hold until much models of nan Oakley versions are made disposable later this summertime for a little value constituent of $399.


You tin support up pinch my latest stories and tech adventures connected societal media. Follow maine connected Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and connected Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz. 

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