Oakley Meta Vanguard
Exact average 81.3 · 9 printed, 4 estimated · printed scores only: 80
Image: Oakley13 professional reviewers tested the Oakley Meta Vanguard, and 9 recommend it. Most praised: camera and design. Most common complaint: price.
Reviewed by Expert Reviews, Android Central, Engadget and 10 more
The catch: Battery life is short and they fit tightly under helmets.
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What 13 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 95Expert Reviews
Heartily recommended for active outdoor users: great sunglasses with strong photo, video and microphone quality, held back by short battery life and a wide fit.
Read Expert Reviews review - 90Android Central
A sports-tailored take on Meta glasses with great stabilized capture, loud speakers and promising Garmin features; weight and poor low-light shots are the drawbacks.
Read Android Central review - 82Engadget
Wraparound looks won't suit everyone, but the louder speakers, better battery, centered camera and fitness integrations make these a strong companion for active people.
Read Engadget review - 80WIRED
A convenient mix of sunglasses, headphones and action camera that suits outdoor athletes and social-media fitness fans.
Read WIRED review - 80Tom's Guide
Reviewer likes what they can do so far, especially Garmin highlight reels and decent open-ear audio, though a standalone action camera is better for serious footage and the price is steep.
Read Tom's Guide review - 80The Verge
Looks silly but the feature set is well suited to outdoor gadget fans, with solid water resistance and a worthy replacement for older sports audio glasses.
Read The Verge review - 70BikeRadar
Convenient camera and social integration make them a useful content tool, but they need a Meta account, work with few Garmin devices, lack a clear lens and have limited coverage.
Read BikeRadar review - 70Trusted Reviews
Well-judged upgrades for sport use, but niche looks, high price, short battery and middling camera low-light performance make it hard to recommend widely.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 70PCMag
A solid, rugged and sporty pair with loud speakers and useful features, but expensive with unimpressive battery, and the cheaper HSTN glasses suit most buyers better.
Read PCMag review - 89est.Outside Online
The writer, a busy parent who runs and hikes, ended up loving these glasses for hands-free photos, safe open-ear listening and simple reminders, finding them useful well beyond elite athletes.
Read Outside Online review - 89est.DC Rainmaker
The reviewer was won over, calling these the first smart glasses that truly work for sport and buying a pair himself; quirks like the touchpad and masked traffic noise are not dealbreakers.
Read DC Rainmaker review - 85est.The Run Testers
The Oakley Meta Vanguard is a well-integrated, high-performing piece of wearable tech that excels at capturing social media content while running.
Read The Run Testers review - 77est.Wareable
A fun, capable sports camera and audio eyewear pairing that serious athletes will enjoy, but the high price, lack of prescription support and heavy single-size frame make it a luxury for most people.
Read Wareable review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
Watch a video review
- The Run Testers on YouTube ↗Counted in the score: 85
- DC Rainmaker on YouTube ↗Not counted in the score (its written review counts instead)
From YouTube channels we vetted by hand. Videos paid for by the brand are never listed.
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Common questions
Is the Oakley Meta Vanguard worth it?
Critics are divided: 9 of 13 recommend it. Battery life is short and they fit tightly under helmets.
Do critics agree about the Oakley Meta Vanguard?
Broad agreement: scores range from 70 (BikeRadar) to 95 (Expert Reviews), a spread of 25 points across 13 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Oakley Meta Vanguard?
Price (5 of 13 reviews), Battery life (4 of 13 reviews), Software (3 of 13 reviews).