At MWC 2026, held on March 2 in Barcelona, Alibaba unveiled a new family of smart glasses under the Qwen brand, aimed at the consumer market. The product received the “Best Product” award at the exhibition.
For Alibaba, this is a logical outcome of years of work. The company has been consistently building its own AI stack: in 2019 it introduced the specialized Hanguang 800 chip, and in 2023 a large language model called Qwen. The models are open: by 2025, more than 78,000 derivative models had been created on Hugging Face based on them. Smart glasses are the natural next step—bringing Qwen’s capabilities into a wearable device integrated into users’ everyday lives.
The lineup includes two models: S1 and G1. The key difference is the presence of a display:
In terms of positioning, the S1 is closer to Meta Ray-Ban, while the G1 is comparable to Even Realities G2. For the G1, an additional sunglasses version with seven lens color options is available.
Technical specifications
The software is built on Qwen language models and integrated with the Alibaba ecosystem. Unlike competitors such as Meta and Apple, which use closed models, Qwen is open source: developers can build their own applications on top of the platform via the MCP (Model Context Protocol). For the IT community, this may be the key strategic advantage of the platform.
According to attendees of the presentation, the glasses are lightweight and comfortable. The S1 display remains readable even in bright sunlight.
The lineup includes two models: S1 and G1. The key difference is the presence of a display:
- S1 features two displays built into the lenses,
- G1 has no display.
In terms of positioning, the S1 is closer to Meta Ray-Ban, while the G1 is comparable to Even Realities G2. For the G1, an additional sunglasses version with seven lens color options is available.
Technical specifications
- Snapdragon AR1 processor (the same as in Meta Ray-Ban) with a BES2800 co-processor for power optimization
- Built-in storage: 32/64 GB depending on the version
- Sony IMX681 camera: 12 MP photos, 3K video with no time limit, 109° FOV
- 5 microphones + 1 bone-conduction mic (reads jawbone vibrations for clear voice recognition in noisy environments)
- Two replaceable 272 mAh batteries, placed at the ends of the temples; temple thickness — 8 mm
- Weight of the G1 model: about 40 g, comparable to regular glasses
The software is built on Qwen language models and integrated with the Alibaba ecosystem. Unlike competitors such as Meta and Apple, which use closed models, Qwen is open source: developers can build their own applications on top of the platform via the MCP (Model Context Protocol). For the IT community, this may be the key strategic advantage of the platform.
According to attendees of the presentation, the glasses are lightweight and comfortable. The S1 display remains readable even in bright sunlight.
Alibaba announced Qwen AI glasses at MWC 2026. Photo: Sabrina Ortiz
Integration with Taobao, Alipay, and Amap will ensure strong demand in the domestic market, while navigation and real-time translation features could become significant advantages for international users as well. Sales in China started on March 8. The G1 is available from $275, noticeably cheaper than the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 2 ($379). The price of the S1 has not yet been announced. An international launch is planned during 2026.