Are the New Oakley Smart Glasses Better than the Meta Ray-Bans?
Back in the '90s, if you asked me what I'd be geeking out over in the year 2025, I would have shouted "flying motorcycles" or "a VHS tape that lets you rewind real life." But nope. My futuristic obsession isn't a time machine nor a flying vehicle. It's glasses, smart glasses.
I get one question constantly: "What's your favorite gadget?" For a while, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses held that title. But the limited-edition Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses just dethroned them. Here's why.
- 3K video recording
- Sporty waterproof design
- Polarized lenses that cut glare
- Longer battery life
- Meta AI is still limited
- Polarizing design
Before I get into it, let me just say: I've long been obsessed with Ray-Ban's smart glasses. As a tech nerd, I started hyping them up years ago. I've been a fan since the first-gen pair launched in 2021, when Meta was still called Facebook and the glasses were known as "Ray-Ban Stories." Ray-Ban Stories could play music, capture photos, record video, take calls, and more. It was like fusing my AirPods, iPhone, and GoPro into one wearable.
Meta took it up a notch with the second-gen model that launched two years ago: the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. The 2023 shades featured improved cameras, audio, and microphones. Plus, Meta added an AI assistant for hands-free commands (e.g. "Hey Meta, call mom").
- Amazing music-playing quality
- Sleek, comfortable design
- Wireless charging case
- Hands-free AI commands
- Unimpressive battery life
- Meta AI is still limited
But then along came Oakley's Meta Smart Glasses this past June. Here's how they stack up to my Ray-Bans—and why I ultimately think the Oakleys are better. (Heads up: They're limited edition, so they won't be around forever.)
The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses shine in many ways, but their fatal flaw is battery life. With heavy usage—think consistent photo capturing or video recording, not to mention live-streaming—the Ray-Ban smart glasses only lasts about two hours. Lighter usage, like playing music during your commute, fortunately doubles that battery runtime to about four hours. On the other hand, Meta's new collaboration with Oakley—officially called the Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses—delivers extended battery life that far outpaces the Ray-Ban model.
Pushing the Oakley pair hard with photo, video, and calls gave me roughly four hours of juice. Scaling back to casual use, like Spotify during my commute, extended that to six hours, a noticeable leap from the Ray-Bans.
It's worth noting, though, that the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses ship with a charging case that lets you wirelessly top up your battery power. For example, after slipping my glasses into the case while on-the-go, the battery jumped from zero percent to 75 percent after 20 minutes of charging time. I prefer the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses' charging case to Oakley's. It's smaller, more compact, and collects far less fingerprints and grease. Smudges aside, though, the Oakley case does at least match the Ray-Ban's quick-charging performance.
I gave up on ear buds when I lost an AirPod that refused to stay put in my ear. For a short amount of time, the Sony WH-1000XM4 was my commute companion, but I wanted something less bulky. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have been my small miracle. I slip them on, launch a track via Spotify, and the audio still amazes me every single time. It's shockingly good. It's like I'm sitting front-row at the opera the way Andrea Bocelli sounds so clear. It's got me singing "Time to Say Goodbye" to my AirPods and Sony headphones every time.
The Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses didn't see an audio upgrade. Honestly, they didn't need one. They sound every bit as good as the Ray-Ban model. "Claire de Lune," performed by pianist Alexis Weissenberg, transported me straight into a Claude Debussy dreamscape while riding the A train on the New York City subway, where I'm always begging for a sonic escape.
Similar to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, I control audio via touch gestures: swiping the outer arms to adjust volume and tapping to play and pause.
I tested the Oakley and the Ray-Ban smart glasses' call quality on my partner and two friends while walking through Times Square—one of the loudest places in New York City. There was incessant honking, shouting vendors, and the faint hum of the massive LED billboards.
There was a consensus between all three: I sounded better on the Oakleys. I wondered if there was some sort of wind-reduction tech featured on the Oakleys that the Ray-Bans don't have, so I reached out to a Meta rep. I was told there's no real difference in the microphone hardware, which makes the Oakleys' clarity puzzling.
This isn't to say that I didn't sound good on the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. My trio of testers said that I still sounded decent on the spectacles; however, the Oakleys came out on top in terms of voice isolation and call quality. It remains a mystery why this is the case.
When I spot something eye-catching, the fastest way I capture the moment—sans smart glasses—is to whip out my iPhone 16 Pro Max and fire up the Camera app that's tied to the Action Button on the upper-left corner of the device. With both the Oakley and Ray-Ban models, I can just say, "Hey Meta, take a picture." A shutter sound plays, and seconds later, the photo is waiting for me in the Meta AI companion app. Interestingly, photo quality is the same on both models. They each have a 12MP camera, which makes photos look identical.
With that said, when I tested both in Midtown Manhattan, the Oakleys handled the vibrancy of the city lights far better. I also took them for a spin while exploring one of my favorite New York parks—a small slice of paradise amid the urban chaos. I had a blast recording breathtaking nature shots, with the Oakleys—once again—having the edge.
Where the Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses really pull ahead is video quality. If you're into biking, hiking, or jogging and stumble across a stunning view, they're top-notch for capturing hands-free videos. They capture in 3K, which means richer colors, more detail, and greater clarity. The Ray-Bans top out at 1080p—still decent, but they don't pack the same punch.
Here's how they're similar: You can record up to three minutes of video at a time on both the Oakley and Ray-Ban models. This means that once you've recorded a three-minute video, it will automatically stop. However, you can capture as many three-minute videos as you want until the battery dies.
You'll find the Meta AI assistant on both the Ray-Ban and Oakley models. It's excellent at handling hands-free commands such as "Hey Meta, call mom" and "Hey Meta, record a video." It's also decent at describing what's in front of you; say you're exploring a new city and spot a landmark you don't recognize. "Meta can tell you what this is."
However, Meta AI still has limitations. For example, I wanted to use Meta AI to translate text on a product I found inside a Korean supermarket. Unfortunately, Meta AI told me that it doesn't support the language I was trying to translate. Korean isn't exactly an obscure language, so that's concerning. At one point, standing in Times Square, I inquired about the weather. It told me about the temperature in Jakatar, Indonesia instead. Let's just say that Meta AI still isn't quite ready for prime time.
When I heard that Meta was teaming up with Oakley, I joked that the social media giant wanted me to morph into my dad. The man lives in his Oakleys. I'll admit I was wrong, and the Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses look better than expected. They're not wrap arounds for cops or baseball players. However, they're never going to top the Wayfarer shape on the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
I love the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses' design so much that I picked up two Wayfarer pairs: one with clear lenses and another with amber. Beyond the Wayfarer, the lineup includes the Headliner and Skylar. Both are in the same shape family with slight variations. Channeling Spike Lee? Headliner's your match. Craving something chic and cat-eyed? That's Skylar.
The Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses, on the other hand, are still built for that Oakley active crowd. That explains why Meta tapped athletes like Kylian Mbappé and Patrick Mahomes for its ad campaigns. The pair I tested happens to be one of the flashiest Oakley options: white frames with electric-yellow polarized lenses. They're excellent for cutting glare and even add water resistance, but the sporty styling just doesn't click with me. By contrast, the fashionable Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are more versatile, fitting seamlessly into work commutes, nights out with friends, or even international travel.
The Oakley Meta HTSN smart glasses are objectively better than the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. They last longer on a single charge, produce higher-quality videos, and allow you to take clearer calls. That's on top of all the highly praised features they adopted from the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, including smooth-and-honeyed music quality and hands-free Meta AI commands.
Yes, I'm indifferent to the design. For me, it's well below what the Ray-Ban frames look like. But we all have different tastes. You may actually dig the sporty thing. Plus, if you prefer a more subtle design, there are slick, all-black colorways available that are far more understated than the loud, colorful polarized lenses that define the Oakley signature style.
The Oakley Meta HTSN Smart Glasses are limited-edition spectacles. They won't last long. While they're the best smart glasses on the market, I recommend grabbing them while you can.
esquire
