Alibaba has officially entered the wearables market with the launch of its Quark AI Glasses, featuring the company’s AI model Qwen. This development marks a significant move for the Chinese retail and technology giant, as it aims to establish a foothold in the rapidly evolving smart glasses sector.
As interest in AI-powered wearables intensifies, the Quark AI Glasses have been made available for purchase in China this week, alongside reports indicating that the global wearables market is on an upward trajectory. An October report from IDC noted that 136.5 million wearable units were shipped in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting an almost 10% year-on-year increase. With approximately 50 million of those units shipped in China, the nation remains the largest market for wearables.
The competition in the smart glasses arena has intensified recently, especially with tech giants like Apple making strides in the field. Reports suggest that Apple has paused the development of a more affordable and lighter version of its Vision Pro headset, shifting focus toward smart glasses that could rival those from Meta. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, stated last year, “Glasses are going to be the next major computing platform,” predicting that such technology could eventually replace smartphones by the 2030s. Meta has been actively developing smart glasses, releasing the Ray-Ban Stories in 2021 and the Ray-Ban Meta in 2023, with the latest iteration priced at $799 and equipped with AI capabilities.
Alibaba’s Quark AI Glasses are already available on major Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Tmall, JD.com, and Douyin, with a rollout planned across 604 partner optical stores in 82 cities. This venture represents Alibaba’s first foray into consumer tech hardware, as the company bets on the integration of AI into smart glasses.
The Quark AI Glasses S1 is priced at ¥3,799 (approximately $540) and boasts dual micro-OLED displays, dual chips, and advanced voice pickup using bone conduction technology. Notably, Alibaba has introduced what it claims is the “industry-first swappable dual-battery system,” which provides up to 24 hours of battery life. In contrast, the display-free G1 model, equipped with the same hardware, starts at ¥1,899 ($270).
Wu Jia, vice-president of Alibaba Group, emphasized the potential of AI glasses, stating, “AI glasses are a uniquely powerful wearable as they consist of everything we envision for an AI assistant.” He further noted that the Quark AI Glasses, deeply integrated with Qwen, provide users with the ability to access the AI “anytime, anywhere,” promising a seamless interaction between the digital and physical worlds.
While the prospect of smart glasses overtaking smartphones remains speculative, Alibaba’s Quark AI Glasses offer a glimpse into a potentially transformative future. Their lightweight design and advanced features suggest a shift towards more practical wearable technology. As the wearables landscape evolves, the success of these devices may hinge on user adoption and technological advancements that enhance their functionality.
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