In keeping with unique reporting by AI Emergence, ByteDance’s Doubao smartphone initiative has entered a reset section following setbacks confronted by its first-generation product in December 2025, when a number of main cell apps restricted entry to key AI-related features.
By late 2025, ByteDance had quietly launched the event of a second-generation machine underneath the inner identify “Doubao Telephone Assistant.” The brand new mannequin is predicted to debut within the second half of Q2 2026, with {hardware} improvement persevering with in partnership with ZTE Nubia.
To keep away from a repeat of earlier obstacles, the Doubao staff is actively negotiating with main web platforms and has reportedly secured partial permissions from choose apps, together with ride-hailing, meals supply, and ticketing providers.
ByteDance can also be pursuing a dual-track partnership technique with smartphone producers. For main distributors equivalent to OPPO, vivo, and Honor, cooperation is proscribed to modular choices, together with mannequin API entry or standalone merchandise just like the Doubao AI Keyboard. In distinction, with smaller or area of interest producers—equivalent to Transsion, Meizu, and Lenovo—ByteDance is exploring deeper integrations, together with pre-installed Doubao AI entry factors on the system degree, in alternate for know-how licensing and subscription charges.
Past smartphones, ByteDance continues to put a number of bets on AI {hardware}. Its sensible glasses roadmap consists of two merchandise: a non-display AI glasses mannequin anticipated shortly after the 2026 Lunar New 12 months, and a display-enabled model deliberate for This autumn 2026. The corporate can also be growing AI-powered earbuds with cameras, aiming to construct a broader {hardware} ecosystem round Doubao as a next-generation human–laptop interplay gateway.
Supply : AI Emergence
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