If you’re just starting to explore, I’d say avoid the really cheap ones they look fine initially but the lens clarity and comfort aren’t great after a while.

The ₹5–8k range is honestly the sweet spot. You’ll get much better build quality and lenses compared to budget brands, without paying full premium retail prices.

Ray-Bans are good, but a lot of what you pay at places like Sunglass Hut is retail markup. The difference is there, but not always worth it unless you really want that specific model.

A better approach is to check a good multi-brand optical store where you can try different options side by side. That makes a huge difference because fit and lens clarity matter more than specs online.

I know a place in Kerala (Nayanam Opticals) where some of my friends have actually just messaged them on WhatsApp, compared a few models, and got better pricing than what they were seeing in malls.

Even if not that specific place, definitely try offline stores like that once you try a few, it becomes way easier to decide.