These discounted Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are my favorite Prime Day deal so far

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

I don't think anyone -- not even Meta -- expected last year's Ray-Ban smart glasses to be as big of a hit as they have been. However, baking a number of useful features into a widely accepted form factor has made them one of the most successful tech gadgets in recent years. Since reviewing them last October, I still wear mine whenever I work and travel.

That's why, ahead of October Prime Day, I'm spotlighting an unofficial deal on the smart glasses. When you shop refurbished models on Amazon and the Meta store, you can save upwards of $60, bringing the starting price down to $239.

I won't get into the nitty-gritty of the Meta Ray-Bans, but their core features include a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens for capturing photos and videos, Bluetooth audio playing, and Meta AI for conversing and asking questions. I've found the camera capability ideal for when I'm recording footage of me testing and demoing products at briefings, conventions, and trade shows. It's also handy when driving, and I want a shot of my scenic views.

Since publishing my review, Meta has rolled out several updates to the glasses that have made them even more worth the investment. These include the ability to record up to three minutes (instead of one minute), remember things for you thanks to its multimodal AI, and even translate conversations (though it's limited to Spanish for now). There are more features to come, of course.

Review: Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses: The best AI-powered glasses to buy right now

What does buying refurbished from Meta entail? The company states the following on its website:

Rigorously inspected by Meta to function and look like new Reduces environmental impact by extending product life High-quality products at an affordable price Backed by a one-year limited warranty Covered by a 30-day return policy

If you're open to those terms, then I'd advise picking up a pair ahead of October Prime Day. Currently, there's a good mix of styles, frames, and sizes available across the Meta store and Amazon. But if you want the best value, there are glasses selling for as little as $239 at the Meta store. That's a $60 discount on one of my favorite tech gadgets in recent memory.