The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, priced at $239, stand out as some of the most accessible and stylish smart glasses available today. The collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban has resulted in a product that merges functionality with iconic design. With features like a built-in camera, users can capture stunning photos, enjoy live translations, and listen to podcasts through high-quality onboard speakers.

As a tech enthusiast who receives many review units, it’s rare for me to make personal purchases, but I found myself investing in the Ray-Ban Meta. This decision ranks as one of my best tech purchases of the year, if not ever. Currently, they are available for $239, though this pricing applies to specific styles.

While these glasses come without prescription lenses, it’s easy to buy lenses separately and install them yourself. A great option for this is Lensabl, which offers affordable lenses compatible with the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer. The standout feature of these glasses is undoubtedly the camera.

Equipped with a 12-megapixel sensor, it excels at capturing photos and videos. Although the video quality is more square than ideal for traditional framing, the wide-angle lens allows for effective zooming and cropping. Recently, while in Bali for the OPPO Find X8 Global Launch, I snapped some incredible photos at Kelingking Beach and various other picturesque locations.

Beyond photography, these glasses also feature speakers positioned just above the ears, perfect for music streaming and phone calls. Additionally, they can interface with Meta AI for translating text in foreign languages or answering questions about the surroundings. Best of all, they maintain the classic look of regular Ray-Ban glasses, making them not only functional but fashionable as well.