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ZDNET's key takeaways

• You can buy refurbished Meta Ray-Bans for as little as $197.
• Options include Wayfarer, Headliner, and Skyler, all first-generation.
• Includes a one-year limited warranty, with an extra warranty for $40.

It's a great time to buy refurbished Meta Ray-Bans, with prices as low as $197. The new version of these smart glasses usually sits between $250 and $300, but Meta's selling legitimately refurbished Ray-Bans for a solid deal right now.

Also: These RayNeo XR glasses effectively replaced my TV with HDR support - and they're on sale

The refurbished Ray-Bans include only first-generation models, but you can choose from Wayfarer, Headliner, and Skyler styles, and you can even select lens and frame color while they're available.

The catch? They're selling out quickly. Meta advertised the deal this morning, featuring prices as low as $179 for refurbished glasses, but only one $197 option remains. However, this still saves you between $80 and $120.

The Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses have attracted plenty of attention since their 2023 launch, both positive and negative. These first-generation smart glasses feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor, two 12MP cameras, a microphone, open-ear speakers, and a voice interface with Meta AI.

Also: I compared the 3 best XR display glasses right now - the winner was not the most expensive

However, users complained that this first-generation model felt a bit too much like an early adopter device, with a low battery life that renders one to three hours of heavy use. Privacy issues surrounding the use of Meta smart glasses to record others have also gained media attention in recent months.

Should I buy refurbished smart glasses?

Refurbished smart glasses can be a smart buy, as long as you're getting your pair from a reputable seller. In this case, the refurbished Ray-Bans are available for purchase from Meta's website and include a limited one-year warranty, so you can trust that it's a legitimate deal.

Buying refurbished directly from Meta means you're getting smart glasses that have been cleaned, tested, and reset to factory standards. This poses a lower risk of hidden issues compared to buying from third-party, individual, or unknown sellers.

The decision to purchase refurbished devices, including smart glasses, comes down to price, risk, and how much use you'll get out of them.