Follow zdnet: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Meta Ray-Bans have often been very hard to find in stock at both retailers and online stores for the past two years—and they rarely go on sale.
But one of the best ways to not only get a 20% discount but also find some of the styles that are discontinued or rarely in stock is to take advantage of the little-known Meta Refurbished AI Glasses online store in the area.
I recently ordered a pair of Meta Ray-Bans in the Skylar style with a glossy caramel finish with polar brown lenses. If you’ve been following Meta Ray-Bans, then you’ve probably seen them before, as they’ve been in a lot of Meta’s promotional material. The frames themselves are semi-transparent, so you can see a lot of the technology. And the lenses have that amber tint that’s popular with a lot of sunglasses because it gives the world a little bit of a warm orange glow.
I was able to get them for $263, even though they normally retail for $329. Other configurations, like Black with Blue Transition Lenses, were as low as $76. As of this writing, the Meta Refurbished Store was selling Wayfarer, Headliner, and Skyler styles. The Wayfarer is the most common style, while the Headliner and Skyler can be harder to find.
Also: 5 Meta Ray-Ban Innovations I Want to See on September 17th
When my transparent brown meta ray-bans arrived, they were in the original box and unopened, and the perforated pull tag is still in perfect condition—it was no different from the original black meta ray-bans box I bought when the product was first released two years ago.
When I opened the box, everything was in perfect order, just like a new pair. All the accessories, booklets, polishing cloth, and even the paper protectors over the arms of the glasses were exactly as they are on a brand new pair of meta ray spacers that you would buy at retail or online.
Also: I tried out Matt’s new Oakley smart glasses in his production studio – my verdict as a content creator
I pulled the little protective tab inside the case to activate charging and plugged the case into USB. After about 30 minutes, I opened the Meta AI app, tapped the glasses button in the far right corner, hit the plus sign in the top right corner, and tapped the radiation-ban | Meta button.
The software immediately recognized that there was a pair of glasses in the nearby case. I accepted the prompt and used the menus.
I took the glasses out of the case and checked them and they were in perfect condition. I put them on and immediately started using them just like the other pairs of meta ray-bans I have tested and used over the past couple of years.
What does renewal actually mean for a technology product?
So if they’re like new and sold at a discount, what does that mean when you buy a refurbished tech product? Typically, these are products that have been lightly used and the customer has returned or traded in for another product, or had minor defects to begin with. They go back to the manufacturer for inspection, cleaning, repair (if necessary), and another round of quality assurance.
Also: I tried smart glasses with a built-in display, and they beat my meta Ray-Bans in key ways
They are then repackaged, often in the same original packaging as new products. However, both the US and the European Union have regulations that require refurbished products to be labeled and sold as refurbished and cannot be passed off as new products. As a result, they are usually discarded, even though in many cases they are as good as new.
In the case of refurbished meta ray-bans, when you buy through Meta refurbished AI glasses online store then Meta offers a 30-day return policy and a 1-year warranty. Based on my experience, I have no problem recommending buying a refurbished pair of these smart glasses if one of the styles you like is available.
ZDNET Buying Advice
Keep in mind that Meta is likely to unveil its next-generation Ray-Bans-like smart glasses, the Meta Connect , on September 17th . They could have new features like longer battery life and better cameras — two items on my wish list. It’s unclear whether they’ll be more expensive, but it seems likely if they integrate better technology, and there’s also the uncertain U.S. tariff situation that could affect component costs.
The recently released Oakley Meta Smart Glasses feature some nice tech upgrades and retail for $400 to $500. That could be an indication of where the prices of the new Meta Ray-Bans are going to land. If that’s the case, the deal on these refurbished Meta Ray-Bans could look even better.
