ByteDance-ZTE AI Smartphone Prototype Sells Out in China

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has entered the smartphone market through a partnership with Chinese manufacturer ZTE, launching the Nubia M153 prototype handset powered by the company's Doubao AI assistant. The device, available for preorder online in limited quantities, sold out within hours of its debut on Monday in China, highlighting growing consumer interest in AI-integrated mobile technology.

Priced at 3,499 yuan, or about $495, the Nubia M153 features ByteDance's Doubao Mobile Assistant embedded at the operating-system level. This allows users to perform a range of tasks through voice commands, including editing photos, booking restaurant reservations, comparing product prices across platforms, and searching for content or tickets. Unlike traditional voice assistants that rely on server processing, Doubao uses a speech-to-speech system for more natural interactions, enabling users to interrupt the assistant mid-response and receive quicker replies with emotional nuances, according to demonstrations shared by the companies. The assistant also includes memory functions, storing details like meeting notes or preferences to generate reminders or personalized...