- Flagship device brings multimodal AI into always-on wearable form
- Pricing starts at 3,499 yuan ($513) as competition intensifies with Apple, Meta and Huawei
Alibaba’s AI unit Qwen began open sales of its flagship S1 smart glasses on April 15, entering a rapidly heating global wearable market where Apple, Meta and Huawei are accelerating product development.
The S1, available across Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall platforms as well as JD.com and Douyin, starts at 3,499 yuan ($513) after promotions and state subsidies.
The launch comes weeks after Qwen’s earlier G1 model captured more than 70% of China’s online AI glasses segment in its first week on sale, market data show.
The S1 marks a shift toward what the company describes as an “always-on” AI interface, combining voice and visual inputs so users can query information based on what they see, with responses delivered directly into the user’s field of view.
Use cases highlighted by the company include real-time meeting transcription, AI-assisted interpretation and near-eye navigation, positioning the device for both workplace and mobility scenarios.
IDC estimates global AI glasses shipments reached 7.66 million units in 2025, up 401% year-on-year, underscoring the early-stage but fast-expanding nature of the category.
Technically, the S1 is built on Qualcomm’s first-generation Snapdragon AR1 platform, designed to balance on-device compute with power efficiency for wearable use cases.
Adjustable near-eye projection
It uses a dual-Micro LED binocular display system, with peak brightness reaching 4,000 nits—meaning the maximum luminance the display can emit—allowing visibility under strong outdoor light conditions, while enabling adjustable near-eye projection positioning.
The device includes a 12-megapixel camera supporting 3K video capture and enhanced low-light photography, alongside a swappable dual-battery system intended to support continuous use with a portable charging case.
Audio and input are handled through a five-microphone array, dual voice coils and bone-conduction components designed to improve clarity in noisy environments while maintaining private voice interaction.
The glasses also support prescription lens customization through a one-piece integrated lens design, enabling a clear field of view, Qwen says.
The launch arrives as global tech firms race to define the next generation of consumer hardware, with AI increasingly positioned as the core interface layer rather than a standalone application.
