Expert Reviews95
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.
Oakley Meta Vanguard
12 expert reviews
Image: Oakley8/12critics
recommend
recommend
Best for athletes who want camera and audio glasses
Critics’ consensus
12 professional reviewers tested the Oakley Meta Vanguard, and 8 recommend it. Most praised: camera and design. Most common complaint: battery life.
Reviewed by Expert Reviews, Android Central, Engadget and 9 more
The catch: Battery life is short and they fit tightly under helmets.
Broad agreement
Scores run from 70 to 959 printed scores, 3 estimated · printed scores only: 80
Check price at Amazon
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes a score.
What do critics say about the Oakley Meta Vanguard?
Android Central90
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.
Engadget82
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.
WIRED80
A convenient mix of sunglasses, headphones and action camera that suits outdoor athletes and social-media fitness fans.
Tom's Guide80
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.
The Verge80
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.
Trusted Reviews70
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.
PCMag70
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.
BikeRadar70
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.
Outside Online89est.
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.
DC Rainmaker89est.
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.
Wareable77est.
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.
Scores are converted to 0–100. "est." means the outlet gave no number, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
What critics praise most
Camera6 of 12
Design3 of 12
Ease of use2 of 12
What critics dislike most
Battery life4 of 12
Price4 of 12
Software3 of 12
Common questions
Is the Oakley Meta Vanguard worth it?
Critics are divided: 8 of 12 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 (Trusted Reviews) to 95 (Expert Reviews), a spread of 25 points across 12 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Oakley Meta Vanguard?
Battery life (4 of 12 reviews), Price (4 of 12 reviews), Software (3 of 12 reviews).