Alibaba introduced the latest Qwen Glasses N1 lineup in Hangzhou on Tuesday, framing the launch as part of a broader push to put its artificial intelligence in consumers' hands. The company sees itself as China's end-to-end AI shop - from data centers and software to the gadgets you wear.
The N1 models bring upgraded 50-megapixel cameras and new sensors, with a Pro trim at 3,499 yuan that adds eye-tracking, according to Wu Jianjun, general manager for Qwen AI hardware products. Alibaba says a single charge delivers up to 25 hours on standby or 9 hours of music playback. Entry pricing lands at 2,999 yuan, or $450, before any discounts.
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Alibaba is following a familiar blueprint: make smart glasses the front door to its AI tools and agents. The new generation tightens the link with the Qwen assistant about a year after the first edition debuted in November. Users can talk to the AI via bone-conduction mics, and the glasses support shopping, payments and health tracking. Last month, Chief Executive Officer Eddie Wu reiterated that Alibaba wants to create a complete AI stack that ranges from large language models and consumer chatbot software all the way down to AI processors and physical hardware.
These glasses are not undercutting Meta's Ray-Ban line on price - Alibaba is leaning on features and build to make the case. Meta, for its part, widened its lineup last month with a simpler option that drops the camera and costs $349, built mainly to work with the new Muse AI assistant. For a lower-cost way into Qwen, Alibaba also began selling Qwen Clip AI earbuds created with Bose for 1,299 yuan.
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