ByteDance has partnered with ZTE (specifically its Nubia sub-brand) to release an
AI-powered smartphone prototype. The device, called the
Nubia M153, is the first to feature ByteDance's Doubao AI assistant integrated at the operating system level.
Key Details
- Product: The device is an "engineering prototype" or "developer preview" of the
Nubia M153 smartphone. - AI Integration: The core feature is the deep OS-level integration of ByteDance's popular Doubao AI assistant, which allows it to control the phone, use third-party apps, navigate interfaces, and perform multi-step agentic tasks (e.g., comparing prices across shopping apps and placing an order, booking restaurants, editing photos, or managing calls) through voice commands or a dedicated side button.
- Hardware: The Android device features a 6.78-inch display, a 50MP rear camera system, and runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.
- Availability: It was released as a limited pre-order in China, priced at 3,499 yuan (about $495 USD), and reportedly sold out quickly.
- Future Plans: ByteDance has clarified it has no plans to manufacture its own phones. Instead, the ZTE phone is the first collaboration, and ByteDance is in discussions with other smartphone makers to license and embed its Doubao AI system into their devices.
Strategic Context
This collaboration marks a significant move by ByteDance to lead in AI software for mobile devices, competing with other Chinese tech giants like Huawei and Xiaomi, which are developing their own proprietary AI agents. The strategy is to establish Doubao as the primary AI interaction layer across various hardware brands, rather than becoming a hardware manufacturer itself.
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