ByteDance, parent of TikTok, is entering the smartphone market with the AI-focused Doubao phone. It is developing a second-generation model with ZTE for release in late 2026.
The first prototype, the ZTE Nubia M153, sold out quickly. Only 30,000 units were made. The phone used Doubao agentic AI to automate tasks across apps, such as booking travel and managing payments.
Some apps restricted Doubao due to privacy and data concerns. ByteDance used the prototype to gather feedback and improve AI performance and battery life.
The second-generation model will have better hardware and deeper AI integration. ByteDance aims to embed Doubao as a system-wide AI layer. Other phone makers could license the software for their devices.
ByteDance is not planning long-term phone manufacturing. Its goal is to make Doubao a cross-platform AI standard. Analysts say challenges include regulatory scrutiny, OEM adoption, and competition from Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
Success could give Doubao wide adoption, letting users automate tasks across apps and devices. The move highlights AI’s growing role in smartphones.
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