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

In a bold move that blurs the line between phone and wearable, China Unicom and Meizu have introduced the "Xiaomo Fang," an AI-native terminal that weighs a mere 99 grams. The device, which runs on the Yunzhi OS, features a 4-inch square screen and is designed around full voice interaction. It's a clear departure from the slab-like smartphones we're used to, offering a glimpse into a future where our devices are less intrusive and more intuitive.

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A Pocket-Sized Assistant with Big Ambitions

The Xiaomo Fang isn't just about being small; it's about being smart. With its AI-native Yunzhi OS, it can handle everyday tasks like ordering a coffee or controlling smart home devices—all through voice commands. But it goes further. Thanks to an edge-side camera and large model capabilities, the device supports "AI See the World," a feature that lets it identify objects in your surroundings and provide relevant information. Imagine pointing it at a landmark and getting its history, or at a plant and learning how to care for it.

Seamless Communication with AI-Powered Calling

One of the standout aspects of the Xiaomo Fang is its deep integration with China Unicom's intelligent new calling service. This isn't just about making calls; it's about making them smarter. The device offers real-time AI translation between Chinese and English, which could be a game-changer for travelers or international business folks. After a call, AI note-taking can generate summaries and to-do lists, so you never miss a detail. For those with hearing impairments, accessibility calls provide real-time voice-to-text and text-to-voice conversion, making communication more inclusive.

Local and Cloud: The Best of Both Worlds

The Xiaomo Fang also tackles the age-old problem of storage and processing power. It can switch between local phone and cloud phone identities, allowing for seamless collaboration between terminal and cloud applications. With 2TB of cloud storage, you can offload large files and run resource-intensive apps in the cloud, freeing up the device's limited local resources. This hybrid approach could be the key to keeping such a compact device powerful and versatile.

A Glimpse into the Future of AI Devices

This isn't Meizu's first foray into the world of AI square blocks. Back in January, at the Meizu Friends Spring Festival event, the company teased the "AI Square Block" (Meizu 22 Next), which shares many similarities with the Xiaomo Fang. That device was expected to feature the Zhiyuan T8200 chip, a 4-inch screen, and a glossy polycarbonate shell, running on Flyme AIOS. More recently, at Tencent's WorkBuddy ecosystem launch, Meizu showcased the concept 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 slated for mass production and will hit the market soon. This suggests that the Xiaomo Fang might be just the beginning of a new category of AI-first devices that prioritize voice and cloud over traditional form factors.

Key Points

  • Lightweight Design: Weighing only 99 grams, the Xiaomo Fang is incredibly portable.
  • Voice-Centric Interaction: Full voice control for tasks like ordering coffee and controlling smart home devices.
  • AI-Powered Features: Includes AI translation, note-taking, and object recognition.
  • Cloud Integration: Offers 2TB of cloud storage and the ability to switch between local and cloud identities.
  • Future Outlook: Meizu's similar AI Square Block is expected to launch soon, signaling a trend toward compact AI devices.