Meta Doubles Down on AR: Oakley Smart Glasses Let You Bet on Sports in Real-Time—$120B Market in Play
Meta just upped the ante in augmented reality—literally. Their new Oakley smart glasses aren’t just for scrolling through Instagram anymore. Now you can bet on live sports while pretending to check the weather. Talk about multitasking.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just another gadget. It’s Meta’s latest move to dominate the $120 billion AR market. Forget Zuckerberg’s metaverse avatars—real-world overlays with gambling? That’s where the money’s at (and where regulators will follow).
The Bottom Line
Meta’s playing 4D chess while everyone else sticks to NFTs. Whether this boosts AR adoption or just becomes a fancy way to lose money faster remains to be seen. But hey—at least the glasses look cool.
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Meta Targets the Action Sport Segment
Unlike the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which feature side-mounted cameras and a lifestyle focus, the Oakley version will include a center-mounted camera for better point-of-view recording. It is expected to offer similar features, such as voice commands, photo and video capture, and Meta’s AI assistant. However, the glasses will not include a display.
The new design targets the action sports segment, where Meta could compete with GoPro (GPRO) by offering lightweight, hands-free recording for cycling, running, and other high-movement activities.
The product continues Meta’s collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, which owns both Oakley and Ray-Ban. More than 2 million Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been sold, and the Oakley launch appears to be aimed at diversifying the lineup and extending its reach into athletic use cases.
Ties to Meta’s Broader Hardware Strategy
The Oakley release is part of a larger plan by Meta to lead in immersive hardware. Just days before the Oakley reveal, reports confirmed that Meta has been negotiating exclusive content deals with major Hollywood studios, including Disney (DIS) and A24, for its upcoming headset, codenamed “Loma.”
The Loma device will resemble oversized eyeglasses more than traditional VR headsets and will pair with a pocket-sized processor. It is expected to be priced below $1,000 and offer better visuals than Meta Quest. By investing in content, Meta hopes to attract a broader audience beyond gaming. The strategy contrasts with Apple’s (AAPL) Vision Pro launch, which offered limited exclusive content. Meta is aiming to bundle hardware and entertainment, making the platform more appealing.
Reality Labs, the division behind Meta’s wearables and AR/VR tech, lost $17.7 billion in 2024 on $2.1 billion in revenue. Despite the losses, Meta continues to build toward a future beyond smartphones, betting on smart glasses and immersive experiences as the next major computing shift. The Oakley glasses and the Loma headset represent different branches of the same tree.
Is META Stock a Buy?
The Street’s analysts see Meta Platforms as a Strong Buy, with an average META stock price target of $699.81. This implies a 0.33% downside.
