Alibaba is competing with Meta in the smart glasses market by focusing on high-end specs and biometric payment authentication rather than just engaging in a price war.
Qwen Glasses N1 launched in Hangzhou to rival Meta
50-megapixel camera and eye-tracking for payments
Qwen Clip earphones launched in collaboration with Bose
HK$80 billion investment and escalating Chinese competition
FAQs
Qwen Glasses N1 launched in Hangzhou to rival Meta
China’s Alibaba Group showcased a new generation of smart glasses on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during a tech event held in Hangzhou. The Qwen Glasses N1 series starts at 2,999 Chinese yuan, equivalent to about $450 USD before discounts, while the Pro edition equipped with eye-tracking technology is priced at 3,499 yuan.
Bloomberg noted that Alibaba’s glasses are priced comparably to the Ray-Ban smart glasses produced by global market leader Meta Platforms, clearly indicating that the Chinese giant aims to win the competition through high quality and advanced features rather than just lower prices.
This launch is part of Alibaba’s efforts to become a comprehensive and integrated AI provider in China, covering all technology layers ranging from data centers and language models to chips and consumer hardware that guide users to its smart assistant.
50-megapixel camera and eye-tracking for payments
Both models feature a high-end 50-megapixel camera capable of recording 4K video, alongside built-in Qwen apps for real-time translation and note-taking. The glasses can also operate proactively and independently, such as transcribing meetings or automatically sending travel reminders, according to Sina Tech and reported by Photo News. Users speak to the assistant via bone-conduction microphones, and the glasses support shopping, electronic payments, and health tracking, with swiable batteries providing 25 hours of standby time, 9 hours of music playback, or 8 hours of actual use for the Pro model.
The N1 Pro model adds eye-tracking features, iris authentication for secure financial payments, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels, and skin temperature measurement—features not found in the standard model.
Chinese media reported that actual launch prices drop after government subsidies and promotional offers to 2,218 yuan for the standard model and 2,600 yuan for the Pro model, with the glasses being sold across Taobao, Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin platforms according to The Next Web. Wu Jianguo, general manager of Qwen hardware products, presented the technical specifications, while Song Gang, vice president of the Qwen division, described the glasses as a second pair of eyes and ears for users, according to Chinese website ZOL.
Qwen Clip earphones launched in collaboration with Bose
Alongside the glasses, Alibaba Group began selling Qwen Clip earphones, the company’s first AI-powered wireless earbuds, offering a lower-cost way to access the smart assistant.
Global audio company Bose co-developed these earphones with Alibaba, priced at 1,299 Chinese yuan, offering real-time translation and voice note-taking features.
The N1 series follows about a year after the company’s first smart glasses, the Quark S1, which launched last November starting at 3,799 yuan. The new glasses and earphones were first previewed at the Apsara Conference in September, with pre-orders opening on September 22.
HK$80 billion investment and escalating Chinese competition
Last month, Alibaba Group CEO Eddie Wu reaffirmed the company’s plan to build AI across the full tech stack from language models to chips and hardware, emphasizing that the company will direct the entire proceeds of its August Hong Kong share offering—amounting to HK$80 billion—to support this effort.
Competition in this sector is escalating rapidly; last September, Meta added a simpler, camera-free model priced at $349 centered around its new Muse assistant.
Also in September, Chinese authorities issued a voluntary code of conduct requiring AI smart glasses manufacturers to display a clear warning light when the device is recording video to protect individuals’ privacy.
FAQs
Question: How much do Alibaba’s new Qwen Glasses N1 cost?
Answer: The official starting price is 2,999 yuan (about $450) for the standard model and 3,499 yuan for the Pro model, dropping after subsidies and promotions in China to 2,218 yuan and 2,600 yuan.
Question: What are the exclusive features in the Qwen Glasses N1 Pro model?
Answer: The Pro model adds eye-tracking technology, iris print authentication for electronic payments, and sensors to measure heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature.
Question: What are the Qwen Clip earphones launched by Alibaba?
Answer: They are Alibaba’s first AI earbuds, developed in collaboration with Bose at a price of 1,299 yuan, providing real-time translation and note-taking features.
Question: How is Alibaba funding its integrated AI ecosystem plan?
Answer: CEO Eddie Wu announced the allocation of all proceeds from the company’s August Hong Kong share sale, totaling HK$80 billion, to develop chips, models, and hardware.
