Smart Glasses Showdown: Ray-Ban Meta vs. Oakley Meta

SMART GLASSES SHOWDOWN

RAY-BAN META vs OAKLEY META

You could ask AI to help you choose.

Or you could just read this.

Let’s just get this out of the way first – this isn’t 100% an either-or situation. Despite the title, the intention here isn’t to pit these two iconic eyewear brands against each other per se, as it is to help you make an informed decision before entering the emerging new world of Meta smart glasses.

In a sense, taking the technical leap here is more than likely going to come down to personal preference, lifestyle, and a strong degree of brand loyalty. Want to keep a low-profile appearance while retaining that timeless style? Ray-Ban will win out. More interested in capturing the intensity of your next base jumping or big-wave surf session from your unique POV? It’s Oakley all the way.

With that said -- let’s get ready to rumble.

ROUND ONE | CAMERAS

Remember when it was a big deal when smartphones could capture video in HD? Now if you have a phone that isn’t equipped with a capable camera, you’re pretty much living in a primordial era. Ray-Ban and Oakley have taken it a step further. Inside the Meta models from each brand, you’ll find easily accessible 12 MP ultrawide front-facing cameras carefully built into the frames.

Now here’s where things get interesting. Previously, Ray-Ban Meta was only able to shoot HD photos at 3024x4032 pixels and video at 1440x1929 pixels at 30 frames per second. Despite being the #1 selling AI glasses in the world, Ray-Ban's first collection was quickly out-teched by Oakley, which had the capability to capture video at 3K.

Now that Ray-Ban has officially released their second generation, they’ve evened up the playing field by introducing 3k video with their newest models. With the latest updates, wearers will also be able to access hands-free Hyperlapse and Slow-Mo modes.

WINNER: DRAW

ROUND TWO | META AI INTEGRATION

“Hey Meta...” By now, you’ve seen the commercials and know the drill. Puttin the ‘smart’ in smart glasses, both options use Meta AI as its voice assistant. What this means is that you can use your voice to fire off a variety of hands-free commands from recording videos and making calls to receiving live translations and setting up voice reminders.

However, it must be noted that Oakley Meta is a performance-based line. Think runners, cyclists, and indoor (and outdoor) rock climbers when you consider the target market. As such, they’ve fine-tuned its AI integration to be more receptive towards athletic pursuits. So, it’s more primed to tell you the elevation of a certain ski run or how the wind will impact your golf shot, Oakley may be better suited for you.

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

RAY-BAN

OAKLEY

ROUND THREE | BATTERY LIFE

Because once these things go dead, it’s a little like when Tony Stark takes off the suit. Ray-Ban has vastly enhanced battery life in the latest generation, doubling the number of hours of usage from 4 to 8 at full charge.

Oakley is also rated for 8 hours of use, while the charging cases for each can add up to 48 hours of on-the-go charge. It’ll also take you about 20 minutes to charge a pair of Ray-Bans to 50%, while Oakley is roughly the same. For Oakley, recent testing has shown that as of now, continual use of the video record feature tends to drain the battery faster than the competition.

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

ROUND FOUR | DURABILITY

Now this may elicit a “no s---” response but bear with me here. Yes, Oakley (any model) is typically manufactured to survive whatever you throw at them. So, it should come as no surprise that the Meta editions live up to that same standard. With a secure frame, dust-tight and splash-resistant design, you should have the confidence to live your best active life without worrying about destroying your investment. It also fits damn good under a helmet.

On the other side, Ray-Ban is no slouch in this department either. The Wayfarer for example, weighs in with the traditional toughness and long-lasting reputation of the original specs. While the new generation is still be tested, the first batch was heralded for its sturdiness and solid design.

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

RAY-BAN

OAKLEY

ROUND FIVE | STYLE

This is where personal preferences play a huge role. I, myself, can appreciate Oakley for its innovative designs and future-forward line-up. However, I tend to lean more towards being a Ray-Ban guy for the history, style, and overall aesthetics. This mindset has carried over and stayed true to the Meta additions.

To break it down further, Ray-Ban has continued to lean into its classic design, making it feel more familiar. They’ve got the name, the build, and now they have the enhancements. In my opinion too, that also helps make them appear a bit more discreet than Oakley, as the tech is literally less in your face.

Oakley Meta is way less subtle. We’re looking at you, Meta Vanguard. Coming with a little extra flash, it’s decidedly sportier look with the rugged edge you’d come to expect from the maker of the Sutro and Radar EV.

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND | AUDIO

Lately, I’ve had this nasty habit of having my right AirPod drop out of my ear at the most inconvenient of times. This has happened during early evening jogs, weightlifting sessions, and even randomly at work while typing away. I’m not sure if it’s a technical thing or an oversized ear cavity thing, but that alone has me willing to consider becoming a full-time Meta shades guy.

Why you ask? Because these smart glasses feature open-ear speakers embedded into the arms of the frames. With similarities across the board including a 5-mic array, exemplary audio quality and clarity, and exceptional voice pick-up, the differences are slight and pretty much limited to Ray-Ban using Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity over Oakley’s 5.3.

WINNER: DRAW