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ByteDance Launches Doubao AI Phone Amid High Demand

12/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

ByteDance's Doubao AI phone, developed with ZTE's Nubia brand, launched in early December amid high demand.
The device costs 3,499 yuan (US$497) and is marketed as a 'technology preview edition' for industry users, with no assurance of full functionality.
ZTE's online store briefly reopened applications for a 'friend code' to prioritize buyers.
The Doubao team releases software updates every two weeks to improve the user interface and natural-language understanding.

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Story summary

ByteDance's Doubao AI phone, developed with ZTE's Nubia brand, launched in early December amid high demand.
The device costs 3,499 yuan (US$497) and is marketed as a 'technology preview edition' for industry users, with no assurance of full functionality.
ZTE's online store briefly reopened applications for a 'friend code' to prioritize buyers.
The Doubao team releases software updates every two weeks to improve the user interface and natural-language understanding.