Alibaba's smart glasses feature swappable dual batteries for up to 24‑hour use
When Alibaba rolls out its new wearable, it lands in a space already jam-packed with gadgets that brag about a day’s battery life but often quit when you try to do more than check the time. Their prototype tries to fix that by ditching the usual single-cell setup and swapping in two removable packs that you can hot-swap while the glasses stay on. So, you could be charging one pack while the other keeps the device alive, which might stretch real-world use to a full 24-hour stretch.
The hardware talks to Alibaba’s own Qwen AI model and a companion app, letting you issue commands by voice or just a tap. By bundling those bits together, the company seems to be aiming for a smoother fit into daily routines, something that could give it an edge over rivals still stuck with bulkier batteries and clunky interaction methods. The specs that follow lay out exactly how the pieces click together.
Both have bone conduction microphones, built-in cameras, and a "swappable dual-battery system" that "delivers up to 24 hours of battery life." They're powered by Alibaba's AI model Qwen and a linked app, meaning they can be controlled via voice or touch. Alibaba said the glasses will be integrated with its apps like Alipay and Taobao, as well as music streaming platforms like QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music. They'll be able to provide services like on-the-go translation, instant price recognition, navigation support, and meeting transcription.
International models will be available next year, according to Bloomberg, but those markets haven't been identified. The glasses mark an effort to crack the market for AI-powered wearables tech companies bet could be the next big consumer gadget.
A removable battery could actually give you more juice, but it's hard to say how much. Alibaba's new Quark AI glasses come with two swappable cells that the company says can push usage to around 24 hours. Both the S1 and its sibling have bone-conduction mics, built-in cameras, and run on Alibaba's Qwen AI model, controlled through a companion app by voice or touch.
The promise of a full day sounds nice, yet no third-party tests have been published, so real-world endurance remains a guess. I also wonder how fast you can pop a battery out and whether the lenses stay calibrated after the swap. The app integration is advertised, but details on things like notification handling or support for other services are vague.
Specs are clear, but without performance numbers the practical benefit of the swappable design stays uncertain. In short, the Quark glasses try a fresh battery idea; whether it ends up being a real advantage for users is still to be proven.
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Common Questions Answered
How does Alibaba's swappable dual‑battery system enable up to 24‑hour usage in its smart glasses?
The glasses contain two removable battery packs that can be hot‑swapped without shutting down the device, allowing one pack to be charged while the other powers the glasses. This continuous power supply lets users theoretically achieve a full 24‑hour cycle of operation.
What AI model powers Alibaba’s Quark AI glasses and how can users interact with it?
The glasses are powered by Alibaba’s Qwen AI model, which works together with a companion app to process voice and touch commands. Users can control functions such as translation, music playback, and app integration through voice or touch inputs.
Which Alibaba services and third‑party platforms are integrated into the S1 and its sibling smart glasses?
The devices integrate Alibaba’s own services like Alipay and Taobao, as well as music streaming platforms QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music. These integrations enable payments, shopping, and media playback directly from the glasses.
What hardware features besides the dual‑battery system are included in Alibaba’s smart glasses?
Both the S1 and its sibling model include bone‑conduction microphones for hands‑free audio capture and built‑in cameras for visual recording. These components support functions such as on‑the‑go translation and real‑time video capture.