Meta has launched a little-known refurbished Ray-Ban smart glasses store offering discounts up to $76 off retail prices, with products arriving in original packaging and pristine condition. The hidden marketplace provides access to discontinued styles and hard-to-find configurations that have been largely out of stock at traditional retailers for the past two years.
What you should know: Meta’s refurbished smart glasses are essentially new products sold at 20% discounts through a dedicated online store.
• ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Jason Hiner purchased Skylar-style glasses with Shiny Caramel frames for $263, down from the $329 retail price, with some configurations discounted by as much as $76.
• The refurbished glasses arrive in unopened original packaging with all accessories, protective materials, and documentation intact.
• Available styles currently include Wayfarer, Headliner, and Skyler configurations, with the latter two being particularly difficult to find elsewhere.
How the refurbished process works: These products are typically lightly used returns or items with minor original defects that undergo manufacturer inspection and quality assurance.
• Items are cleaned, repaired if necessary, and repacked in original packaging before being sold at discounted prices.
• Both US and European Union regulations require refurbished products to be clearly marked and sold as such, even when they’re functionally equivalent to new items.
• Meta offers a 30-day return policy and 1-year warranty on refurbished Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Why timing matters: Meta is expected to unveil next-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses on September 17 at its Meta Connect event.
• The new models could feature improved battery life and better cameras, potentially at higher price points.
• Recent Oakley Meta Smart Glasses retail for $400-$500, suggesting future Ray-Ban pricing could increase significantly.
• Uncertain US tariff situations could also impact component costs and final pricing for new models.
The bigger picture: Meta Ray-Bans have maintained strong demand despite limited availability, rarely going on sale through traditional retail channels.
• The refurbished store provides one of the few opportunities to access discontinued styles and secure meaningful discounts on the popular smart glasses.
• Current market conditions and upcoming product launches make refurbished options particularly attractive for consumers seeking Meta’s AI-powered eyewear technology.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...