Latest news with #AlexHimel
Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Meta launches $399 Oakley AI Glasses with 3K video recording
Meta Platforms Inc. is going up-market with its surprise hit smart glasses, rolling out new models with Oakley that are aimed at athletes and include improved video recording. The company on Friday launched new models based on Oakley's HSTN design, marking the company's first expansion away from Ray-Ban for its display-free glasses. Like the original models, the Oakley versions can make and take phone calls, play music, take pictures and video and use Meta's artificial intelligence to answer questions about the surrounding environment. The new versions, which start at $399 and go up to $499 for a limited edition model with gold-colored accents, include about double the battery life, video-recording at 3K resolution and water resistance. 'We are increasingly seeing performance use cases with the Ray-Bans like people wearing them on roller coasters, cycling and being around water, so we're trying to lean into that,' says Alex Himel, the company's vice president in charge of wearables, in an interview. Arriving at its second glasses brand was far from a sure thing. Meta's first glasses, the Ray-Ban Stories, flopped in 2021. But its follow-up version in 2023 was a massive success, giving the social networking giant a real potential hardware stronghold in the artificial intelligence race. 'It was crazy. Popularity caught us by surprise a bit,' Himel said. The Ray-Bans were 'going to be the last display-less pair of glasses. We said we'll take two swings at it, and if it doesn't work we'll go all-in on augmented reality.' Instead, beyond the latest Oakley model, the company has a multi-year road map for the display-less category and is planning a follow-up pair of Oakley glasses based on the Sphera design for later this year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That pair will be aimed at cyclists and have a centered camera. Friday's model has a camera positioned in the upper corner like the Ray-Ban version. The display-free glasses are one component of the overall Meta AI hardware strategy. The company is planning to introduce higher-end glasses with a display to view notifications and the camera view finder later this year, Bloomberg News has reported. In 2027, it aims to roll out its first true augmented reality glasses, which will blend digital apps with the real world. Meta's form-factor has caught on, with several other technology companies working on competitors. Apple Inc. is planning to introduce its first glasses product at the end of 2026, Bloomberg News has reported. That device will operate similarly to the Meta product but better synchronize with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Inc. also sells glasses, but their current models lack cameras. Himel, who said Meta has sold millions of glasses and has a 'nice, increasing multiple' of purchases on a year-over-year basis each week, attributed the increased popularity to the Ray-Bans improving across a large number of 'small things.' He said the audio quality and microphones started to surpass standalone earbuds, while the camera and AI quality also improved. Still, Himel said battery life remains the 'number one complaint' about the Ray-Ban versions. The new Oakley models can run for 8 hours on a single charge, with the charging case holding 48 hours of juice. 'You should expect a 40% bump with these' he says, attributing the improvement to new battery chemistry and software optimizations — not larger battery packs. Like Ray-Ban, Oakley is owned by EssilorLuxottica SA, which calls Oakley its second most popular brand after Ray-Ban. Himel said Meta will roll out new brands under the EssilorLuxottica portfolio 'as fast as we can. 'We're going to have to move very quickly because in the world of fashion, stuff moves very quickly,' he says. 'The stuff that is a hit right now might not be a year from now. We need to be fast to hit all the brands that we'd like to.' The first Oakley model, becoming available for pre-order on July 11, will be the $499 limited edition pair. The $399 versions — which come in grey, black, brown and clear colors — will be released in the coming months. There will be versions with clear, transition and polarized lenses. Like with the Ray-Bans, users can swap the lenses for prescription optics. The glasses will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, according to Meta. (Updated with availability of new smart glasses in several countries. A previous version corrected the name of Meta executive Alex Himel.) Gurman writes for Bloomberg.
Hypebeast
10 hours ago
- Business
- Hypebeast
Meta and Oakley Unveil All-New AI-Powered 'Oakley Meta HSTN' Glasses
Summary After teasing a mysterious new Instagram account –@oakleymeta– earlier this week,MetaandOakleytoday unveiled theOakley Meta HSTN, the first product from a new long-term partnership that introduces what they call 'a new category of Performance AI glasses.' Pronounced'HOW-stuhn', the new Oakley Meta glasses build on the success of its Meta'sRay-Bancollaboration and combine 'bold aesthetics with cutting-edge tech' to deliver a high resolution first-person perspective that can be controlled hands-free. They have a built-in 3K camera and a battery large enough to last up to eight hours with continuous use, as well as a charging case that holds an additional 48 hours of juice for peace of mind while on-the-go. They glasses also feature powerful open-ear speakers on both sides that are 'seamlessly integrated into the frames,' allowing users to listen to music with clarity while working out, and have an IPX4 rating for water and sweat-resistance. AIhas been worked into and throughout the core of the Oakley Meta HSTN, which include Meta AI – described by the tech giant as 'your personal AI assistant' – that can be used to plan your workout, answer questions, and even prompted to start filming. Oakley and Meta are releasing six options in their new Oakley Meta HSTN and three of these including Oakley's 'PRIZM' lens technology, described as 'one of the most advanced innovations in lens design' and said to help decode 'how the brain and eye process light.' Launching first, theLimited Edition Oakley Meta HSTNwill feature 24K PRIZM polarized lenses together with gold accents to commemorate Oakley's 50th anniversary this year. It's clear that Meta sees smart – or AI – glasses as the future. Last fall, it announced itsOrionglasses, and its move into sports-focused frames is not surprising. Alex Himel, VP of Wearables at Meta, said that Meta and Oakley's 'teams have been working together for years to understand the unique needs of athletes,' adding that 'glasses have emerged as the ideal tool for people to listen to music, capture videos.' Like Ray-Ban, Oakley is owned byLuxottica, and according to Rocco Basilico, its Chief Wearables Officer, this new partnership with Meta marks 'a bold new chapter' for the brand and sets 'a new standard for the industry.' Basilico added that Oakley Meta is '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.' The limited-edition debut Oakley Meta HSTN glasses will be available to pre-order from July 11 priced at £499 GBP / $499 USD / €549 EUR. The rest of the Rx-ready collection – listed below – drops later this summer, with prices starting at £399 GBP / $399 USD / €439 EUR. Oakley Meta HSTN Warm Grey with PRIZM™ Ruby LensesOakley Meta HSTN Black with PRIZM™ Polar Black LensesOakley Meta HSTN Brown Smoke with PRIZM™ Polar Deep Water LensesOakley Meta HSTN Black with Transitions® Amethyst LensesOakley Meta HSTN Clear with Transitions® Grey LensesOakley Meta HSTN Black with Clear Lenses
Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Meta Oakley glasses: Kylian Mbappe stars as Meta confirms $499 new smart glasses, find out launch date and full details
Meta has announced its first pair of smart glasses in partnership with Oakley, marking a new step in its ambition to lead the wearable tech space. The limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN model, announced by Meta, debuts at $499, with a broader release of Oakley-branded models starting at $399 later this summer. The glasses come equipped with a front-facing 3K camera — an upgrade from the 1080p resolution found in Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses — and boast a battery life of up to eight hours. Introducing Oakley Meta Glasses: Amplifying Human Potential — Reality Labs at Meta (@RealityLabs) June 20, 2025 A companion charging case can provide an additional 48 hours of power. Meta says the glasses are tailored for active lifestyles, supported by their IPX4 water resistance rating and sport-focused Oakley frame designs. Like Meta's previous smart glasses, the Oakley HSTN includes open-ear speakers, built-in microphones, and integration with Meta AI, which allows users to capture photos and videos, play music, conduct hands-free calls, and receive real-time information about their surroundings. The glasses also offer translation capabilities and can answer queries based on what the wearer sees — blending AI with everyday functionality. Meta is positioning the Oakley line as its entry into the performance and athletics category, diverging from the more lifestyle-focused Ray-Ban series. To further demonstrate its focus on athletics, Meta recruited French football star Kylian Mbappé as part of its launch campaign. Five colour and lens combinations are available, including prescription-compatible options. The premium model, available for preorder starting 11 July, features gold detailing and Oakley's signature PRIZM lenses. The launch follows Meta's extended partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of both Ray-Ban and Oakley. Over two million Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses have been sold to date, and the companies now aim to reach 10 million annual smart glasses sales by 2026. While Meta leads the current market, competition is mounting. Google has showcased XR glasses with built-in displays, and Apple is widely believed to be developing similar wearable tech. Still, Meta hopes to stay ahead by embedding AI into daily experiences. 'This is our first step into the performance category,' said Alex Himel, Meta's head of wearables. 'There's more to come.'
WIRED
12 hours ago
- Business
- WIRED
Meta's Oakley Smart Glasses Have 3K Video—Watch Out, Ray-Ban
The new Oakley Meta glasses outshine the Ray-Ban Meta with a big jump in battery life and video quality. And there's supposedly even more to come. When Meta launched the second generation of its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in late 2023, few predicted the success that lay ahead for the collaboration—perhaps not even Meta itself. But now, with more than two million sales under its belt, Meta has been looking for a way to widen its partnership with eyewear giant and Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica and keep up the momentum. The answer it seems was staring them in the face: a collaboration with the company's second largest brand, Oakley. 'We launched our second generation of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses at [Meta] Connect a year and a half ago, and they've taken off faster than we expected,' Alex Himel, VP of wearables at Meta tells WIRED. 'But they were never meant to be the one and only thing we did with EssilorLuxottica.' 'We've found people leaning into different active use cases with [Ray-Ban Meta]. And so Oakley, which is a brand that has represented both performance and technical innovation, felt like the most natural next step for our collaboration.' Oakley Meta specs have a higher resolution camera, offering 3K video, up from full HD in the Ray-Ban Metas. Photograph: Oakley Like Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta will be a full smart glasses range, with a number of styles to choose from as the line expands. However, it's the popular Oakley HSTN frames (pronounced HOW-stuhn) that are the first to get the Meta makeover, with all of the same Meta AI functionality as Ray-Ban Metas, but with improved features aimed at a performance market. This includes a 50 percent longer battery life, with a fully charged pair of Oakley Meta HSTN lasting up to eight hours of typical use compared with four hours on the Ray-Ban Meta. The Oakley Meta's charging case also gets a boost, with up to 48 hours of charging time on the go, versus 36 hours in the Ray-Ban Meta. That's perhaps all the more surprising when you hear that the Oakley Meta also have a higher resolution camera, allowing you to share video in 3K video, up from full HD in the Ray-Ban Metas. This is a down to a new physical battery plus software improvements, Himel says, but can Ray-Ban Meta owners expect similar improvements in the future? Oakley Meta glasses have 50 percent more battery life, with a fully charged pair lasting up to eight hours versus four on the Ray-Ban iteration. Photograph: Oakley 'One thing that's cool about Ray-Ban Meta is that every month we've been shipping software updates that make the products better. And so owners should already be noticing that the image quality is getting better—but yes of course, we'll have hardware updates at some point for the Ray-Ban Meta, too.' With a target market that is likely looking to throw themselves down mountains, over hills and along roads, durability has been given due consideration. The Oakley Meta HSTN use the same proprietary frame materials as the analog HSTN, including Oakley's O-Matter, which promises to be 25 percent lighter and twice as strong as traditional acetate. Of course, there are some differences in overall weight compared with the analog versions, but it has been something that Meta says it has worked closely with Oakley to find the balance that stays true to the brand and what its users want from a pair of its glasses. 'I'm learning a lot. I have a software background, and so it's easy for me to focus on making sure this integrates well with Instagram or the image quality is really good,' says Himel. 'But then when I speak to Matteo or Rocco from EssilorLuxottica, we have to consider all these subtle dimensions that keep the glasses authentic to the brand. 'We've done a lot of research to make sure the flexible hinges fit just right, and that the extra weight is balanced out so that if you're doing something active, they stay on your face, and that they're comfortable to wear all day.' Some of the frames also come with Oakley's PRIZM lenses, which enhance color and contrast for detail enhancement that can help all the more during active use, and there's an IPX4 waterproofing rating that matches Ray-Ban Meta, though Himel admits as this means the glasses are merely splash proof, more needs to be done for future versions. 'I surf pretty actively, and one of the top use cases I've wanted is to have a pair of glasses that I can wear surfing. IPX4 can withstand getting wet, but not getting submerged—that needs an IP67 rating. That's something we're working on for future glasses, but if you're getting splashed, if it's raining, if you're sweating—you don't need to worry about that. The Oakley Meta HSTN work great for this.' The Oakley Meta HSTN will be available in six different finishes, but the range kicks off with a limited edition Oakley Meta, featuring gold accents and gold 24K PRIZM Polar lenses. They will cost $499 and are available for preorder from July 11, with others in the collection costing $399. But what's next for Meta's collaboration with EssilorLuxottica—which has licenses for brands including Chanel, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana—considering the latter announced it would be ramping up production of Meta glasses to 10 million a year by 2026? 'We're continuing to work closely together,' says Himel. "Glasses are a very personal choice. Different people pick different things, different brands, to represent who they are. So we will continue to launch more brands and more styles. 'We have already learned how to scale much more quickly, but there are still a good set of technical and operational problems to solve before we get there. But that's something we're excited to do, and so this is definitely a step in that direction.'
CNET
12 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
Meta's New Oakley Smart Glasses Coming In July Boost Battery Life And Camera
Meta's newest revamp of their surprisingly popular smart glasses have arrived, but under another fashion label. Oakey Meta HSTN is a new line of AI-enabled glasses joining Meta Ray-Bans, but they're coming with some notable improvements to go with their new design and slightly higher price. Oakley, like Ray-Ban, is part of glasses-maker EssilorLuxottica's portfolio. According to Meta's head of wearable tech, Alex Himel, they're just one part of a lineup of Oakley products to come. And, judging by questions I asked, sports and fitness features could be on their way soon. "The number one complaint we get about the glasses right now is battery life," Himel says of the existing Meta Ray-Bans, but is optimistic that the new Oakleys will be better. "We're offering a pretty substantial boost, 40% better with both the hardware and software improvements." The $499 limited edition version of the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses are being sold first, with more models coming later in the summer. Meta Camera and battery boosts The new round-framed glasses look sharp at first glance, and they should also bring some welcome performance boosts. Battery life according to Meta can last up to eight hours on a charge now, instead of the 3-4 hours I normally get on Ray-Bans. The onboard camera, still shifted off to the side, can shoot higher-res wide-angle video, at 3K resolution this time. The glasses will be available to pre-order July 11 starting with a $499 special limited-edition version, following up "later in the summer" with prices that range $399 and up for other models, with a variety of light-filtering lens options. According to Himel, the new glasses use the same Qualcomm chipset as the one-and-a-half-year-old Meta Ray-Bans (not Qualcomm's upcoming chipset), but can do more thanks to camera and battery improvements and optimizations, including a new set of batteries in the arms. Session-based live AI, currently limited to half an hour or so on current Ray-Bans, could see a boost on these new Oakley models. Himel also told me that the glasses are capable of a lower-power camera mode that could work at lower resolutions for longer AI-enabled sessions, although when that feature might be unlocked is unclear. The bumped-up 3K video resolution (at an unusual 2203x2938, in portrait mode) should make for clearer on-the-fly videos, and Himel sees a lot of use for sports or other extreme activities, although the IPX4 water resistance still isn't meant for water immersion. I asked about possibilities for zoom functions, something I'd like in camera glasses. Sadly, there are no plans for that now, but Himel sees other ideas in the works. "I think you'll see us launch a number of features at the intersection of taking photos and videos and AI, which I think will be great." Himel also sees promise in iOS 26 support for auto-aware Wi-Fi and background processing modes that could possibly help glasses share photos and videos better with iPhones. A clear pair in their charge case, which should give about 48 hours of additional battery life. Meta Sports and fitness functions to come? One missing piece, to me, still lies in how Meta's increasingly sports and fitness lifestyle-targeted glasses don't work directly with fitness apps on phones and watches. Himel sees a lot of possibilities to come. "I really strongly believe that in the next generation of wearables, which is glasses and novel form factors, health and wellness will still be a focus -- but in a new version of that. When we talk about AI, what might be possible, the potential is huge." How soon could fitness features like this arrive? "I think you should look forward to Connect," Himel says, referring to Meta's September-timed AR/VR developer conference where Meta's glasses and headset updates tend to arrive…and when Meta is expected to launch a more advanced version of display-enabled glasses, too. The fashion landscape for smart glasses is already ramping up fast: Ray-Ban and Oakley for Meta, and Warby Parker, Gentle Monster and Kering Eyewear for Google in 2026. The AI-enabled glasses space is already getting real, but these glasses could also be paving the way for display and AR-enabled glasses coming after that. And, with the battery life gains Meta's promising for Oakleys, we may be getting closer to glasses that can actually handle more intensive always-on AI features next for periods longer than half an hour, with more connected functions on deck.
