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China Unicom and Meizu Unveil 99g AI Phone with 4-Inch Screen

China Unicom and Meizu have joined forces to introduce a new AI-native device called the 'Xiaomo Fang.' This compact gadget, weighing a mere 99 grams, features a 4-inch square screen and runs on the Yunzhi OS. It's designed to be controlled primarily through voice, with a suite of AI-powered services that aim to simplify daily tasks.

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A Voice-First Assistant

The Xiaomo Fang is built around the idea of hands-free, voice-driven interaction. It can handle everyday chores like ordering coffee or adjusting smart home devices. But it goes further: thanks to an edge-side camera and large model capabilities, it supports an 'AI See the World' feature. Point the camera at something, and the device can identify it and offer relevant information—like recognizing a landmark or a plant.

Smart Calling and Translation

One of the standout aspects is its deep integration with China Unicom's intelligent calling service. The phone offers real-time AI translation between Chinese and English, which could be a game-changer for cross-language conversations. After a call, AI note-taking can generate summaries and to-do lists, so you don't have to scramble for a pen. There's also support for accessibility calls, converting voice to text and vice versa in real time, and even emotion recognition to gauge the mood of the conversation.

Cloud and Local Flexibility

The Xiaomo Fang lets users switch between a local phone identity and a cloud phone identity. This means you can run applications and store large files in the cloud, with a generous 2TB of storage space. The idea is to enable seamless collaboration between the device and the cloud, whether it's for data, apps, or computing power.

A Glimpse into Meizu's AI Ambitions

This isn't Meizu's first foray into the world of AI-powered devices. Back in January, at the Meizu Friends Spring Festival event, the company teased an 'AI Square Block' concept, known as the Meizu 22 Next. That device was expected to feature a 4-inch screen, a glossy polycarbonate shell, and the Flyme AIOS. More recently, at Tencent's WorkBuddy ecosystem launch on September 2nd, the concept was shown again, this time highlighting deep integration with WorkBuddy's cloud-based AI workspace for collaborative work.

According to blogger @Experience more, the Meizu AI Square Block is set to go into mass production and will be available on the market. The Xiaomo Fang appears to be a collaborative effort that brings some of these ideas to life, with China Unicom's network and AI services playing a central role.

Key Points

  • Compact Design: The Xiaomo Fang weighs only 99 grams and has a 4-inch square screen, making it highly portable.
  • Voice-Centric AI: It focuses on full voice control, capable of tasks like ordering coffee and controlling smart home devices.
  • AI See the World: Uses a camera and large models to identify objects and provide information.
  • Smart Calling Features: Includes AI translation, note-taking, call summaries, and emotion recognition.
  • Cloud Integration: Offers 2TB of cloud storage and the ability to switch between local and cloud phone identities.
  • Collaboration with Meizu: Co-developed with Meizu, and shares similarities with the upcoming Meizu AI Square Block.