• by Colin Kirkland , Yesterday

Building off the success of the tech giant's ongoing Ray-Ban wearables, Meta will begin selling its first pair of AR smart glasses with sports retailer Oakley, launching an ad campaign starring professional Team Oakley athletes.

Following its initial announcement in January, Meta says its newest pair of AR smart glasses is focused on performance, designed to provide consumers with “deeper insights” into their “physical capabilities.”

Like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, the “Oakley Meta HSTN” glasses (pronounced HOW-stuhn) feature a built-in camera, open-ear speakers, and Meta AI access, allowing users to pull up playlists, podcasts and more using voice commands.

However, the Oakley product contains advancements beyond Meta’s Ray-Ban catalog, including more battery stamina.

Meta says that the HSTN smart glasses can last up to eight hours of “typical use,” up to 19 hours on standby, and they can charge up to 50% within 20 minutes. The glasses come with a charging case that delivers up to 48 hours of charging on the go.

Meta has also added a higher resolution camera designed to capture users' activity, complete with 3K video quality.

Furthermore, the Oakley AR model touts functionality focused on physical activity and sports, allowing users to ask Meta AI how the wind will affect their drive on the golf course, or analyzing surf conditions. Meta says that “select pairs” of Oakley HSTN glasses also come with “Oakley PRIZM Lens” technology, which enhances vision across changing light and weather conditions.

To demonstrate the product’s performance-first capabilities, Team Oakley athletes -- including World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes -- are featured in the company’s global ad campaign.

The product, which will cost $499 and become available for preorder on July 11, comes in a variety of colors.

According to Rocco Basilico, Chief Wearables Officer at EssilorLuxottica, Meta’s Oakley smart glasses are “part of a broader multi-brand, multi-technology strategy that reflects the scale of our ambition: to build a connected eyewear category that spans lifestyles, communities, and use cases.”

With regard to AI-powered wearables, Basilico says that “there is far more to come.”

By extending its partnership with the global eyewear company, Meta has the chance to bring its AR technology to a new market, wich could include professional athletes. Due to EssilorLuxottica's ownership of dozens of other major eyewear brands, including Burberry, Chanel, Coach, and Jimmy Choo, Meta is setting itself up to be the leader in commercial smart glasses.