Ant Group and TCL’s RayNeo have joined forces to develop AI-enabled smart glasses that enable mobile payments through augmented reality (AR) technology. The collaboration focuses on RayNeo’s X3 Pro AR glasses, launched in May 2025, which integrate with Ant Group’s Alipay payment ecosystem to enable hands-free transactions. The development builds upon Ant Group’s earlier success with AR-enabled payment solutions and marks a significant advancement in wearable payment technology.
The RayNeo X3 Pro AR glasses work with Alipay Tap!, a payment method introduced by Ant Group in China in 2024. Users can link their glasses to their Alipay account and enable voice verification to make payments. The payment process involves users giving voice commands such as “RayNeo, pay 10 RMB,” while the glasses scan the merchant’s Alipay QR code or Tap! terminal to complete the transaction. The integration leverages Alipay’s established voice biometric authentication capabilities, which have become increasingly prevalent in financial services.
The technology extends beyond payment functionality to include services such as unlocking delivery lockers and paying utility bills. Through Alipay+, Ant Group’s unified wallet gateway service, the payment capabilities will be available internationally, enabling cross-border transactions and global merchant acceptance. The expansion reflects Alipay’s strategic growth in international markets, where it has consistently worked to enhance its mobile payment infrastructure.
RayNeo plans to implement this payment technology across other AR glasses models, including the RayNeo V3 and V3 Slim. The expansion demonstrates broader industry efforts to integrate AR technology into everyday financial services, following a trend of increasing convergence between wearable technology and payment systems. The integration of biometric authentication with AR interfaces represents a significant step forward in secure, hands-free payment solutions.
Market adoption data indicates that Alipay Tap! has accumulated over 100 million users in China as of April 2025. The partnership between Ant Group and RayNeo combines AR technology with established payment infrastructure, beginning with in-store scenarios and expanding to various daily services. The development matches the growing trend of enhanced authentication methods being implemented across digital payment platforms.
Sources: Retail Tech Innovation Hub, Asian Banking & Finance, MarketScreener, Geek of Chic, AOL News
