- The new devices combine AI assistance, translation and first-person imaging, with sales set to begin October 13
- Alibaba is expanding Qwen beyond smartphones, building on earlier AI glasses launches under its Qwen and Quark brands
Alibaba’s Qwen AI brand showcased its first AI earbuds alongside its new N1-series smart glasses at the NBA China Games in Macau on October 9, marking the first time its AI hardware has been demonstrated to the public at a major sporting event.
The ear-clip earbuds combine Bose audio tuning with Qwen’s AI assistant, supporting face-to-face translation, AI-powered note-taking and voice-controlled tasks.
The N1 smart glasses offer first-person photography and object recognition. The higher-end N1 Pro adds eye tracking and iris-based identity verification for payments.
When users look at an object and ask a question, the glasses can use gaze information to help the AI identify what they mean.
Smarter glasses
The N1 series features a 50-megapixel sensor and a three-chip architecture combining Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1, Bestechnic’s BES2800 and a low-power sensing chip. Its detachable temple batteries can be swapped without powering down the glasses.
The new earbuds and glasses are available for reservation through Qwen’s official online flagship store, with the products scheduled to launch and go on sale on October 13.
Alibaba’s push into AI hardware predates the latest launch. In March 2026, Qwen unveiled its own AI glasses at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, following Alibaba’s launch of Quark AI glasses in China in November 2025.
The Quark glasses were powered by Qwen, and the two product lines share the same underlying hardware and software teams, according to Chinese media reports.
The expansion reflects Alibaba’s effort to bring its AI assistant beyond smartphones and into wearable devices.
Header image credit: Qwen
