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Step Star to Launch First AI Phone on July 13, Beating OpenAI to the Punch

The race to put AI in your pocket just got a new contender. Step Star, a Chinese large model company, announced it will hold a launch event on July 13 at 7 PM Beijing time, where it will reveal its first AI agent phone. The event, themed around "the true agent of the Agent Era," is expected to introduce a new generation of agent terminal products.

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According to a report by Science and Technology Daily, Step Star will launch an AI terminal brand, an agent system, and its first AI agent phone. This move puts Step Star ahead of OpenAI, which has publicly bet on next-generation AI terminals but plans to launch its own only in 2027. Step Star's early implementation makes it the first global large model manufacturer to take this step.

Deep Manufacturing Partnership with Huqin Technology

Step Star isn't just slapping its logo on an off-the-shelf phone. The company has partnered with Huqin Technology, a listed Chinese company and a leading ODM in smart hardware. Huqin's shipments of smartphones, laptops, and tablets account for over 10% of the global market. The partnership goes beyond simple OEM: Huqin had already made a strategic investment during Step Star's B+ round and increased its stake in the subsequent C round.

From Cloud to Edge: A Native Agent Phone

Step Star is trying to prove that the future of large model companies isn't just about selling APIs—it's about delivering end-to-end AI terminal experiences. By moving from cloud-based large models to edge-side hardware, the company aims to offer a "native agent phone" that integrates AI deeply into the user experience. The July 13 event may provide a glimpse into how Chinese large model companies envision the next generation of smartphones.

Key Points

  • Step Star will launch its first AI agent phone on July 13, 2026.
  • The device is manufactured in partnership with Huqin Technology, a global ODM leader.
  • Step Star beats OpenAI, which plans a similar terminal for 2027.
  • The phone aims to deliver a native AI experience from the edge, not just cloud-based services.