TMTPOST — ByteDance and ZTE’s Nubia are preparing to release multiple models of the Doubao AI Agent Phone in 2026, with the first device scheduled to debut during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. The initial production run targets roughly 200,000 units overall, with the first batch limited to under 100,000 devices. The collaboration aims to integrate ByteDance’s Doubao AI capabilities deeply into a smartphone form factor. Chinese smartphone makers are racing to embed advanced AI agents as hardware differentiation becomes harder amid slowing shipment growth. By combining ByteDance’s strong consumer AI ecosystem with Nubia’s device expertise, the new Doubao AI Agent Phone reflects a broader industry push toward purpose-built intelligent hardware that moves beyond traditional cloud-dependent assistants. Success in this segment could influence how other major internet platforms approach consumer-facing embodied AI.