Meta debuted new Oakley Vanguard glasses at Meta Connect 2025 to join the Oakley HSTN glasses that launched earlier in 2025, and we know the big question on your mind is what’s the difference between these two specs?
Obviously, there’s an immediate design difference – Vanguard is a visor while the HSTN glasses look kinda like more angular Wayfarers – though there are some important hardware and feature differences you’ll need to be aware of before you buy the wrong pair for your needs.
We’ll provide a deeper analysis once we’ve had the chance to test the Vanguard glasses beyond the demos we’ve had so far, but for now, here’s an overview of the differences between the two Oakley smart glasses.
Fashion over function
The Oakley HSTN smart glasses are definitely for your more casual sporting escapades, while the Vanguard specs are positioning themselves as a must-have for athletes.
I have run in the HSTN glasses a couple of times, and with the PRIZM lenses, I think they’re pretty good. However, they also wouldn’t look out of place if I wore them to a golf course or just out and about while I’m wandering around my city.
The Vanguard glasses, or more accurately, a visor, wouldn’t really work for most people as casual specs. I’m sure someone could pull them off as their daily driver, but I assure you that person isn’t me, and it isn’t 99% of people.
They’ll be best for cyclists, skiers, marathon runners, and other folks who want to keep the dust out of their eyes as they fly down a road or slope.
This use case is amplified by the first technical upgrade that the Oakley Vanguards boast: louder speakers.
According to Meta, the Vanguards are 6dB louder than the HSTN specs, which should make them better at being heard over the sounds of wind, traffic, and other distractions while you’re trying to push for your next personal best.
Vanguard is also more water- and dust-resistant with an IP67 rating compared to the HSTN’s IPX4 rating – meaning the visors will be better at surviving harsher weather conditions, plus they might be more comfortable too.
That’s because the Vanguards come with three replaceable nose pads to create a more customized and secure fit compared to glasses like the HSTN specs. The latter aren’t as adjustable, but they are pretty comfy and have sat securely on my head while I’ve been testing them.
Lastly, on the design side. One easy-to-overlook advantage of the Vanguard specs is that Meta will be selling replacement lenses at $85 (regional pricing TBC).
This will allow you to swap to different lens options based on what best suits the sport or weather conditions, including changing out your polarized PRIZMs for the PRIZM Low Light lens that Meta says is “coming soon,” which will be ideal for the darker months we’re headed into in the US and UK.
The HSTN’s lenses aren’t interchangeable, or at least not intended to be interchangeable in the same way.
Fitness integrations
The other big upgrade coming to the Vanguard specs comes via the Meta AI app, which will allow the specs to pair with Garmin hardware and your Strava app, as well as access what Meta calls its Athletic Intelligence.
Compatible Garmin devices can be synced with your app so you can get real-time updates just by using your voice – so you focus on pushing yourself and not swiping through your phone or smart watch screens.
You can ask things like “Hey Meta, what’s my heartrate?” or “Hey Meta, how am I doing?” to get updates on your fitness stats in real time.
Plus, you can set your glasses up so that they automatically capture clips of your run as you hit certain milestones based on factors like distance, elevation, or heart rate. For example, you could automatically capture a clip at every mile of your next marathon, which you can then edit into a compilation to share with loved ones on social media.
You can also pair Meta AI with Garmin Connect, Apple Health, or Health Connect by Android so you can get health summaries in your Meta app to keep track of your progress over time, as well as app stats for the videos and photos you take on the move.
Currently, it doesn’t look like any of these integrations will be coming to Meta’s HSTN glasses, stripping another sport-focused tool from their arsenal compared to the new Vanguard specs.
Fit(ness) check
If you’re after fashion-first glasses, then the Oakley HSTN glasses are for you. If you want something that’s more athletics-focused, opt for the Vanguards instead, as they boast a design, hardware, and software better suited for fitness tracking.
Vanguard’s advantages come at a price, however. The HSTN glasses start at $399 / £399 / AU$629, with their most pricey pairs costing $479 / £479 / AU$719 (excluding the limited edition model). Vanguard glasses start at $499 / £499 (Australian pricing TBC).
And that’s everything you need to know about the differences between the HSTN and Vanguard smart glasses.
Which ones do you think are best for you? Let us know in our comments below.
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