Alibaba Launches Qwen Glasses N1 to Rival Meta

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. unveiled the Qwen Glasses N1 series of smart glasses during an event in Hangzhou on Tuesday. The devices are priced starting at 2,999 yuan, or approximately $450, before discounts.

Alibaba positioned the product to compete with Meta Platforms Inc.’s Ray-Ban smart glasses based on quality and features rather than price. The launch represents a strategic move by the company to establish itself as a full-stack AI provider.

By introducing the N1 series, the company is extending its AI capabilities beyond data centers and software into the consumer electronics and end-user product markets.