Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses: The Perfect Companion for Athletes

The Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses, announced at Meta Connect 2025, are a revolutionary addition for athletes seeking the latest technology to support their performance in a variety of sports, including running, cycling, and skiing. These advanced glasses offer integrated artificial intelligence features and seamlessly sync with Garmin devices to collect vital performance statistics instantly and directly, allowing users to receive data hands-free. For example, athletes can ask vocally: "Hey Meta, what's my heart rate?" or "Hey Meta, what's my cadence?". The device can also automatically sync and capture sports achievements for easy sharing on social media platforms, including Strava.

To fully utilize these advanced features, the glasses must be connected to compatible Garmin devices. Here is a comprehensive list of compatible devices:

Compatible Smartwatches

• D2 Mach 1, D2 Mach 1 Pro
• Enduro 2, Enduro 3
• Epix Gen 2, Epix Pro Gen 2
• Fenix 7, Fenix 7S Pro, Fenix 7X Pro, Fenix 8, Fenix 8 Pro, Fenix E
• Forerunner 165, Forerunner 265, Forerunner 265S, Forerunner 570, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 970
• Marq (Gen 2) Adventurer, Marq (Gen 2) Athlete, Marq (Gen 2) Aviator, Marq (Gen 2) Captain, Marq (Gen 2) Carbon Edition, Marq (Gen 2) Commander, Marq (Gen 2) Golfer
• Quatix 7, Quatix 7 Pro, Quatix 7X
• Tactic 7, Tactix 8, Tactix 8 Solar
• Venu 3, Venu 3S, Venu 4, Venu X1
• Vivoactive 6, Vivoactive 6

Compatible Bike Computers

• Edge 540, Edge 550, Edge 840, Edge 850, Edge 1040, Edge 1050, Edge MTB

This information comes directly from the Meta AI application. Some sources, such as Garmin and Oakley websites, may indicate compatibility of other Garmin devices with the new Oakley glasses, but this compatibility is often limited to recording health and fitness data in the Garmin Connect app for later photo customization with statistics. For real-time updates and automatic data capture – which are the core features of these glasses – you must ensure you own one of the devices listed above, or a newer Garmin model that supports third-party software downloads, specifically one capable of installing the Meta AI Connect IQ application.

If you don't own a Garmin watch and are considering purchasing one to complement your Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses, here are some expert recommendations:

Garmin Smartwatch Recommendations

The Garmin Venu X1 is considered the optimal and top choice in the best Garmin smartwatches guide. This watch received a four-and-a-half-star rating and tops the list for its excellence in both fitness tracking and modern daily use, making it an excellent companion for serious athletes or enthusiasts who run occasionally.

If you're looking for something more premium and with superior performance, the Garmin Fenix 8 is the ideal choice. Despite its high price, it comes with many distinctive features that serve professional athletes, including advanced GPS, a new and sophisticated heart rate sensor, up to 16 days of battery life, and even a dedicated diving mode. The Fenix 8 Pro had not been tested at the time of writing this article, but it features some noteworthy upgrades thanks to new tools like LTE connectivity and satellite communication, though at a higher price.

At the lower end of the price spectrum, there is the Garmin Forerunner 165, our preferred Garmin watch for limited budgets, and it is supported by the new Meta AI application. While it doesn't boast all the advanced features seasoned athletes look for, it still offers a lot of potential, especially for its reasonable price, making it an excellent option for beginners or those seeking basic sports tracking.

Features and Details of Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses

The Oakley Meta Vanguard Smart Glasses are available starting at $499 USD (as of their announcement in September 2025). These glasses come with interchangeable Prizm™ lenses, known for their ability to enhance contrast and visual detail in various sports environments, providing an improved visual experience for athletes. WIRED

These glasses feature a 3K front camera that provides high-quality photos and videos, ideal for capturing sports performance moments. They also include open-ear audio, allowing users to hear their surroundings while listening to music or making calls. The glasses offer 32 GB of internal storage, enough to store over 1000 photos or 100 short videos, ensuring no important moment is missed during training or competitions. Oakley and Road to VR