Alibaba has started selling its new Qwen Glasses N1 smart glasses in China, at prices from 2,999 yuan ($450) before discounts, Bloomberg reported from a launch event in Hangzhou on Tuesday.
Several Chinese outlets put the starting price slightly lower, at 2,899 yuan. With state subsidies and launch offers, buyers can pay as little as 2,218 yuan, according to Yahoo Finance Hong Kong. The glasses are on sale on Taobao, Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin.
The N1 is no cheaper than Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which lead the market, Bloomberg noted. Like Meta, Alibaba wants glasses to become a way into its AI tools. Meta added a camera-free model to its range last month.
The N1 has a 50-megapixel camera and runs Alibaba’s Qwen AI assistant, which users talk to through bone-conduction microphones.
It can translate, take meeting notes, help with shopping and payments, and carry out tasks by voice.
A single charge gives 25 hours on standby or nine hours of music, according to Bloomberg, and Chinese reports said the battery can be swapped.
The N1 Pro, priced at 3,499 yuan, adds eye tracking. Wearers can look at an object to ask about it, and confirm payments with an iris scan.
The Pro also tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature, Chinese tech site PConline reported.
Alongside the glasses, Alibaba began selling Qwen Clip, its first AI earbuds. Made with Bose, they clip onto the ear and cost 1,299 yuan, according to Bloomberg. They also translate and take notes.
Alibaba first showed the N1 series and the earbuds at its Apsara conference in September, and opened pre-orders on September 22.
At the launch, Song Gang, a vice president in Alibaba’s Qwen business, described the glasses as a second pair of eyes and ears for users, Chinese site ZOL reported.
Glasses makers in China also have new guidance to follow. In September, China issued a voluntary code asking AI glasses to show a light when they record.