Oakley Meta HSTN Review: Still the Sport Pick, No Longer the Spec Leader

On paper, very little. Meta's comparison page gives both the same 12 MP camera, 3K video at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 60, the same open-ear speakers and the same prescription range. Gen 3 is rated for up to nine hours against the HSTN's eight, uses a six-microphone array where the HSTN has five, and adds a customizable action button. The HSTN keeps a dedicated capture button and costs less to start.

What separates them is the frame. The HSTN takes Oakley's Prizm lenses, which Meta lists in plain, polarized and Transitions versions, and its straight arms and high bridge are shaped to stay put during a workout. That fit cuts both ways. Gizmodo found the HSTN snugger at the temples and nose than Ray-Ban's frames and less comfortable over a long day, and also noticeably louder, which it put down to the tighter fit pressing the speakers closer to the ear. Best Buy's summary of its owner reviews leads with the build quality.

For someone who wears glasses all day at a desk, Gen 3 is the better pair, and anyone who only wants the speakers can skip the camera entirely with Ray-Ban Meta Audio. For two hours on a golf course or a bike, the Oakley frame is the reason to buy.

The ultra-wide 12 MP camera sits in the left front corner, and a capture LED in the right corner lights up while it records. Meta's FAQ says the camera will not work if the LED is covered. Video goes up to 3K at 30 frames per second, or 1080p at 60, and Gizmodo found the 3K footage noticeably sharper than the 1080p of earlier Meta glasses when cropped in. Clips and photos move to the phone through the Meta AI app, which Meta says is required for the glasses. Our guide to visual data storage on Meta glasses covers the setting worth changing on day one.

For sport, the camera's position matters: it records from beside your left eye, not the center of your face. The Oakley Meta Vanguard, built for cycling and running, moves it to the center with a wider field of view. If filming your own runs is the main reason to buy, that is the model to compare.

Meta rates the HSTN at up to five hours of continuous audio, eight hours of typical use and up to 19 hours on standby, and the case holds up to 48 more hours of charging. In the case, they recharge to half in 22 minutes and to most of the way in 45.

Gizmodo's pair lost about a third of its charge in two hours that mixed a podcast, a short call and some 3K clips, and it found audio drains Meta's glasses fastest. That pace points to a long afternoon out of the case, not a full day of music. A runner who listens the whole way will lean on that 22-minute top-up. The case itself is not water-resistant, so it stays in the bag in the rain.

The HSTN carries an IPX4 rating: splashes, rain and sweat, not submersion. Gizmodo expected more from a sport frame, and the Vanguard is the model Meta built for harder use. Prescription lenses are available from -12.00 to +6.00 in Prizm, Prizm Polarized, clear and Transitions versions, which covers a wide range of prescriptions.

The glasses work with an iPhone running iOS 15.2 or later or an Android phone on Android 10 or later, through the Meta AI app. Many functions work offline, and Meta AI answers need an internet connection. Meta notes that some Meta AI features are available only in select countries and languages, so check before buying outside the US.