The first app-free smartphone run by artificial intelligence agents

ZTE recently introduced a very unusual concept for a mobile device. This is the NaviX Ultra model, or the world's first smartphone with agent-based artificial intelligence. An interesting feature of this smartphone is that instead of the established network of icons, it offers the user only one smart assistant. This is launched using a dedicated orange button on the side of the case or with a simple voice command.

The basic idea of the system is that the Doubao voice assistant automatically breaks down a given task into several sequential steps and performs them at the user's request. Nubia representatives have already used the novelty live for photo processing, map creation and trip planning. They also confirmed that the device will be available in four colors (black, pink, white and blue) and that it has already received the prestigious SAIL 2026 award.

However, key technical details remain a mystery. The manufacturer has not disclosed the type of processor, the amount of RAM, the size of the local model, and details about how many operations are performed directly on the device and how many in the cloud. The final price also remains unknown.

The news reflects a broader trend in the Chinese market. Honor, a spin-off from Huawei, is also developing its own agents in collaboration with Alibaba, and analyst firm IDC estimates that AI-powered phones will account for more than half of the Chinese market by 2026. This is a notable departure from the strategy of Apple and Samsung, where assistants still act as a mere add-on to existing apps.

It is worth noting that the NaviX Ultra smartphone has only been demonstrated, not independently tested. Similar attempts to implement agent-centric devices in the West have previously encountered problems connecting to external services. The question remains how the system will respond when it needs to make a purchase or send a message through an application that is not supported by AI by default.