- Alipay+ and Meizu smart glasses can now make payments
- With QR and voice payments your face may be the new wallet
- Manufacturers say this is the first really smart glasses for transactions in the real world
The idea of leaving home without your phone and still being able to buy a cup of coffee can seem long -term, but that’s what Alipay+ and Meizu are promising.
Alipay+, a global wallet Gateway service run by Ant International, recently completed what it describes as the world’s first real e-wallet payment via an augmented reality glass.
The transaction was performed using Alipayhk and Meizu’s Starv Snap glasses in Hong Kong.
Smart glasses meet voice and QR technology
The smart glasses allow payments via QR scans or voting commands made possible by Alipay+’s AI features such as intention recognition, voice interface and voice printing.
Meizus Hardware supports these features with optical waving management display, noise reduction microphones and integrated cameras.
The system also supports NFC-based cards and QR payments via Alipay+’s wider technology suite.
“The offline payment feature of smart glasses launched abroad by Meizu and Alipay+has set a new technological benchmark for the industry,” said Peng Guo, general manager of the XR Division of Meizu.
“The innovation in the payment scenario has improved the practical and appeal of smart glasses and also promoted the progress and development of the AR glass industry. We hope this feature will bring more practical experiences to users.”
Yet, for all innovation, it is reasonable to ask who this is for, as while the technology could appeal to early adoptors and tech enthusiasts, it can be a harder sale for ordinary people.
Nevertheless, Jiangming Yang claims Chief Innovation Officer for Ant, “… Smart Glasses will quickly transform into the next general personal device as the mobile phone.”
It is a bold claim, especially considering that smart glasses have not yet found a place in the average consumer’s daily life.
The best secure smartphone or even the best smartphone for business match to combine convenience with data security.
Smart glasses add another layer of complexity, especially around public use, user interface and reliability.
That said, the paid glasses of the smart glasses may be more of a new feature than an essential feature, but it undoubtedly expands what portable tech can do, even if it is not quite ready to replace your phone yet.
Rollout to Alipay+ Global Partners is expected later in 2025.
