Second-Generation Doubao AI Smart Agent Phone Teased: Nubia’s Flagship to Debut at WAIC 2026

The second-generation Doubao AI smart agent phone is inching closer to its official reveal. On July 9, a well-known Chinese consumer electronics blogger "Digital Chat Station" leaked details of Nubia’s "world’s first AI smart agent phone" on Weibo, highlighting features like an orange AI button, blue body, and the "nubia" logo on the back. Nubia later confirmed the phone will debut at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) opening on July 17, noting that blue was chosen as the color representing "smart agent thinking."

Ni Fei, Senior Vice President of ZTE Corporation, General Manager of ZTE Terminal Business Unit, and President of Nubia, stated on Weibo that this will be a mass-produced flagship device. Adding to the buzz, Step Stars, a large model company, also teased the launch of the world’s first AI smart agent phone at WAIC, fueling industry expectations for new AI phone forms and use cases.

While official hardware specs remain unconfirmed, industry leaks suggest the second-gen Doubao phone may feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, a BOE display (replacing the previous Tianma screen), a Desay battery management system, and ATL battery cells.

The biggest improvements lie in the software layer. Over the past 216 days, the Obric UI (co-developed by ByteDance and Nubia) has undergone over 10 updates, evolving from a "technical preview" to a more mature system. Key AI enhancements include:

• Enhanced Memory: The Doubao assistant now actively captures and stores user data from apps like Xiaohongshu, Dianping, and Amap, forming a retrievable personal information library. It can automatically call up saved details (e.g., home address) when users use natural language like "go home."
• Improved Task Execution: The assistant now provides real-time feedback during operations, showing steps and progress with visual animations, eliminating the "lost" feeling users had with earlier versions. It also offers interactive options (like tabs) for confirmations.
• Seamless Voice Interaction: A beta continuous dialogue feature allows users to chat without repeating the wake word "Doubao Doubao." Voice wake success rate has also improved, especially with accessories like headphones, thanks to the "accessory-enhanced voiceprint" function.

Beyond AI, Obric UI has补齐 traditional system features. The camera app, once basic, now includes live photos, macro shooting, and filters, with optimized focus switching and stability. These updates make the OS more suitable for mass-market users.

Sources

• Zhidongxi (July 10 report): https://www.163.com/dy/article/L1IFSE75051180F7.html
• Weibo post by "Digital Chat Station" (July 9 leak)
• Nubia official announcement (July 9)
• Weibo post by Ni Fei (July 8)
• Step Stars' WAIC launch teaser (July 9)