Latest news with #Ray-BanMeta
Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Meta deepens eyewear push with Oakley smart glasses launch
MENLO PARK, California: Meta is taking another swing at smart eyewear—this time with a sporty edge. The company announced a new partnership with Oakley to launch AI-powered glasses, broadening its footprint in the growing world of wearable technology. The launch follows Meta's recent success with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and deepens its collaboration with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of both Oakley and Ray-Ban. The first product from this expanded partnership is the Oakley Meta HSTN, a limited-edition smart glasses model that blends Oakley's athletic design with Meta's artificial intelligence. The glasses feature a hands-free high-resolution camera, open-ear speakers, water resistance, and Meta AI capabilities built into the frame. Meta said pre-orders for the HSTN glasses will open on July 11 and start at US$499. More models will roll out later this summer and begin at $399. The Oakley Meta HSTN will debut at several high-profile sports events this month, including UFC International Fight Week and Fanatics Fest, to target a fitness-focused audience. The product will initially be available in North America, Australia, and several European markets, with Mexico, India, and the United Arab Emirates set to follow by the end of the year. Since their launch, Meta has already sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, driven by rising interest in AI-enhanced accessories that blend fashion and function. With this new offering, Meta aims to cement its lead in the smart glasses space ahead of rivals like Snap, which said earlier this month that its Specs smart glasses will hit the consumer market in 2025. Other major tech players, including Google, are also exploring opportunities in the AI wearables space.
Fashion United
4 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Google buys stake in Gentle Monster as it eyes entry into fashionable wearables
Anyone thinking wearable technology was a trend gone by, Google just acquired a 4 percent stake in South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster, marking its most fashion-conscious foray yet into the smart glasses race. The deal, valued at approximately 107.3 million euros, positions the tech giant alongside Meta in vying for dominance in the nascent but increasingly promising augmented reality (AR) eyewear market. Gentle Monster, known for its sculptural, avant-garde eyewear and high-profile fashion collaborations with houses such as Maison Margiela and Mugler, represents an unexpected but telling partner for Google. The brand will lead design for a forthcoming line of XR (extended reality) glasses, slated for release in 2026, reported the Korea Economic Daily (KED), with Google's AI and Android XR systems embedded, developed in collaboration with Samsung and powered by Gemini, Google's AI suite. This isn't Google's first attempt to marry vision and technology. Its earlier iteration, Google Glass, failed to achieve mass appeal, crippled by privacy concerns, awkward aesthetics, and cultural resistance. What's changed now is the convergence of more sophisticated AR capabilities, improved miniaturisation, and, crucially, an understanding that wearables must seduce as much as they perform. The timing of this alliance reflects the maturation of the smart glasses market, which is moving from novelty to necessity in the eyes of major tech players, KED states. Meta's recent collaboration with EssilorLuxottica on Ray-Ban Meta frames demonstrated how meaningful the fusion of fashion and function has become. Google's deal with Gentle Monster aims to push that agenda even further, placing style at the forefront of product design. For Google, the partnership offers both technological potential and cultural cachet. For Gentle Monster, it's an elevation from niche fashion innovator to global tech collaborator, poised to reshape what smart eyewear can look and feel like.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Meta partners with sports eyewear brand Oakley to launch AI-powered glasses
Meta said on Friday it has teamed up with Oakley to release AI-powered smart glasses , expanding its push into wearable tech after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses . The social media company is expanding its partnership with Oakley and Ray-Ban-parent EssilorLuxottica amid growing consumer interest in AI-powered wearable devices. Meta has sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta glasses since their launch and said its " Oakley Meta HSTN " will feature a hands-free high-resolution camera , open-ear speakers, water resistance and Meta AI capabilities . The limited-edition product will be available for preorder starting July 11 at $499, with additional products starting at $399 launching later this summer. Meta said the product line would roll out in North America, Australia and several European countries, with plans to expand to Mexico, India and the United Arab Emirates by the year-end. The Oakley Meta HSTN will debut this month at several major sporting events including Fanatics Fest and UFC International Fight Week. Smaller rival Snap said earlier this month it would launch its smart glasses, called Specs, for consumers next year. Companies such as Google are also exploring similar investments.
Arabian Post
21-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Oakley Meta HSTN delivers AI eyewear edge for athletes
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Meta has unveiled the Oakley Meta HSTN, a new smart glasses model tailored for sports enthusiasts that introduces high-resolution video and extended battery life. Pre-orders open on 11 July for the premium $499 edition, with standard variants priced from $399 available later in the summer. Initial markets include the US, Canada, UK, select European countries, Australia, and later expansions slated for Mexico, India, and the UAE. Built on Oakley's performance-driven HSTN design, the glasses feature an ultrawide 12-megapixel camera capable of capturing 3K video—surpassing the previous Ray-Ban Meta's full-HD resolution—and eight-hour active battery life, doubling the endurance of its predecessor, with a charging case offering an additional 48 hours. The frames are IPX4 splash-resistant, making them sweat- and rain-ready, and incorporate open-ear speakers and dual microphones, supporting music playback, calls, and Meta AI interaction. ADVERTISEMENT Meta's chief wearable strategist, Alex Himel, explained that user data showed demand for more robust gear: athletes were using Ray-Ban Meta in high-intensity conditions, prompting this sports-grade iteration. Enhanced lens options such as Oakley's PRIZM treatments aid visual clarity, particularly useful in dynamic outdoor activities like cycling or surfing. Powered by integrated Meta AI, wearers can issue voice commands like 'Hey Meta' to record video, translate languages, query environmental conditions—such as wind speed on the golf green—or post content hands-free. Celebrity endorsements include Kylian Mabappé, Patrick Mahomes, and J.R. Smith, used to reinforce the performance narrative. The launch underscores Meta's broader strategy to diversify its wearable offerings through EssilorLuxottica partnerships, expanding the previously successful Ray-Ban Meta range which sold over two million units. The companies aim to reach 10 million smart glasses units annually by 2026, marking a substantial scaling effort. This product enters a competitive AI-wearables arena. Alphabet is partnering with Warby Parker on its own AI glasses, backed by a $150 million investment, while Snap continues to develop its Specs line for a 2026 release. Analysts view Meta's positioning of the Oakley Meta at the $399–$499 price point as striking a balance between premium features and wider market appeal, drawing comparisons to Apple's tactics in wearable pricing strategies. Critics note the relatively modest IPX4 rating—which protects from splashes but not submersion—indicates room for further durability improvements. Meta acknowledges future iterations will aim at higher standards, such as IP67, to match real-world athlete demands. Privacy advocates continue to monitor smart glasses for discreet recording capabilities, though these Oakley frames still feature a visible LED to indicate active recording. The Oakley Meta HSTN will make its public debut at sporting events including Fanatics Fest and UFC International Fight Week in late June, signalling Meta's intent to align the product with live athletic experiences.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Meta partners with sports eyewear brand Oakley to launch AI-powered glasses
Meta said on Friday it has teamed up with Oakley to release AI-powered smart glasses, expanding its push into wearable tech after the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The social media company is expanding its partnership with Oakley and Ray-Ban-parent EssilorLuxottica amid growing consumer interest in AI-powered wearable devices. Meta has sold millions of Ray-Ban Meta glasses since their launch and said its "Oakley Meta HSTN" will feature a hands-free high-resolution camera, open-ear speakers, water resistance and Meta AI capabilities. The limited-edition product will be available for preorder starting July 11 at $499, with additional products starting at $399 launching later this summer. Meta said the product line would roll out in North America, Australia and several European countries, with plans to expand to Mexico, India and the United Arab Emirates by the year-end. The Oakley Meta HSTN will debut this month at several major sporting events including Fanatics Fest and UFC International Fight Week. Smaller rival Snap said earlier this month it would launch its smart glasses, called Specs, for consumers next year. Companies such as Google are also exploring similar investments.
