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Meta Unveils Oakley Meta Vanguard: Next-Gen Athletic Smart Glasses at Meta Connect 2025

In a strategic display of innovation, Meta revealed its latest Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses at Meta Connect 2025. Targeting athletes such as runners and cyclists, these state-of-the-art glasses are priced at $499 with an official launch scheduled for October 21, underscoring Meta’s determination to expand its influence in the wearable technology market.

Revolutionary Design and Enhanced Imaging

The Oakley Meta Vanguard departs from conventional smart eyewear designs by featuring a large unified front lens, replacing the dual-camera setup found in earlier models like the Oakley Meta HSTN. This breakthrough design enables superior 3K video capture and is equipped with a 12-megapixel camera complemented by a 122-degree wide-angle lens, setting new standards for visual connectivity and content creation.

Intelligent Functionality Tailored for Athletes

Engineered with the active user in mind, these smart glasses incorporate a programmable button that activates custom AI prompts via the Meta AI app. Thoughtfully positioned beneath the frame, the controls ensure compatibility with helmets, providing uninterrupted functionality during vigorous activities. The device promises up to nine hours of battery life, six hours of continuous music playback, and an accompanying charging case that extends usage by an additional 36 hours, with a rapid charge reaching 50% in just 20 minutes.

Superior Audio Experience and Connectivity

Meta has elevated the audio performance of the Oakley Meta Vanguard by integrating powerful open-ear speakers that outperform previous models by six decibels. A sophisticated five-microphone array, optimized to suppress wind noise, supports clear voice interactions, whether for calls or commands via Meta AI. The glasses boast an IP67 rating, ensuring robust dust and water resistance essential for intense physical activities.

Integration With Fitness Ecosystems

This new release also highlights seamless integration with established fitness platforms. Compatibility with Garmin smartwatches allows users to access key metrics such as heart rate and pace in real time, while Strava integration enables the graphical overlay of performance data onto captured images and videos. Available in four distinct color and lens options, the Oakley Meta Vanguard combines high-performance functionality with refined aesthetics.

Expanding Global Footprint

Initially offered in the United States, Canada, U.K., Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, Meta plans to broaden its market presence later this year with launches in Mexico, India, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates. This rollout follows Meta’s recent unveiling of the Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses, which marked its first foray into athletic smart eyewear.

In addition to the Oakley collection, Meta introduced new Ray-Ban branded smart glasses featuring a built-in display for apps, photos, and navigation, alongside the Ray-Ban Meta 2 upgrade boasting double the battery life and 3K Ultra HD video capabilities. These moves collectively signal Meta’s expanding role in the convergence of digital technology and lifestyle, setting the stage for a new era of connected wearables.

Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

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