Meta may release new Oakley-branded smart glasses later this year, according to a new bloomberg Report.
Oakley-branded glasses, internally called “Supernova 2”, will be based on the brand Sphere Glasses. The Supernova 2 will move the camera to the center of the frame instead of placing it on the edge. The idea is to attract cyclists and other outdoor athletes. The report does not detail any other possible features, although the Oakley glasses will have similar features to the current Ray-Ban Meta Glasses,
Oakley, like Ray-Ban, is a subsidiary of eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica. The move to extend Meta's technology to other brands under the umbrella of EssilorLuxottica makes a wise move. While the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are good for discreet, everyday wear, they're a bit heavy for endurance sports and lack some features like polarized lenses for better visibility. Oakleys are also considered stylish and popular among professional athletes. Conceptually, they are similar to the now discontinued Bose Frames TempoWhich allowed athletes to listen to audio with open ears with polarized lenses in a relatively light form. That said, if the goal is to attract athletes, Meta and Oakley will likely need to pay attention to factors like weight, sweat resistance, and battery life.
The report also says Meta plans to launch a higher-end version of its current Ray-Ban glasses that include a display capable of delivering notifications, running simple apps, and previewing photos.