Alibaba Enters the Smart Glasses Race with Removable Battery

Alibaba unveiled its Quark smart glasses in China on Thursday, entering the race for AI-powered wearable eyewear. A standout feature is its swappable battery system designed to last all day—a distinction from many competitors.

The company announced two models: the flagship S1 and the more lifestyle-focused G1, both available in multiple colors and lens options. Pricing starts at RMB 3,799 (approximately USD 537) for the S1 and RMB 1,899 (around USD 268) for the G1. The key difference lies in the display—only the S1 features a transparent micro-OLED screen.

Both versions come equipped with bone-conduction microphones, an integrated camera, and a dual-swappable battery system that delivers up to 24 hours of usage. Powered by Alibaba’s Qwen AI model and a companion mobile app, the glasses support voice and touch-based controls.

Alibaba says the Quark glasses will integrate with its ecosystem, including Alipay and Taobao, as well as music streaming services like QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music. Additional AI-driven features include real-time translation, instant price recognition, navigation assistance, and meeting transcription.

According to Bloomberg, international versions are expected to launch next year, though specific markets have not yet been confirmed.

This release underscores tech giants’ growing push into AI-enhanced wearables, widely seen as the next frontier in consumer electronics. Meta currently leads the segment with its Ray-Ban smart glasses, but rivals—including Apple and a rumored collaboration between Sam Altman and Jony Ive—are racing to catch up.