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STEPX Neo: The AI Phone That Talks Back for 3,999 Yuan

STEPX Neo: The AI Phone That Talks Back for 3,999 Yuan

Imagine a phone that doesn't just run apps but actually understands you—and shows it. That's the pitch behind STEPX Neo, unveiled at a Shanghai event by STEPX (Step Terminal). Priced at 3,999 yuan, it's the company's first "large model-native" phone, blending hardware, OS, and AI into one package.

A Phone That Looks Back

The Neo rocks a "retro-futuristic" vibe: a transparent mechanical back panel with five Easter eggs nodding to AI history. But the real head-turner is the dual-screen setup. Besides the main display, there's a MiniLED dot-matrix back screen that acts as the AI agent's face—a dynamic space for expressions. It's like giving your phone a personality.

Hearing and Speaking

Hardware-wise, the Neo packs a six-microphone array, a low-power audio chip, and the Whisper1.0 algorithm—together forming an "auditory system." So it's built to listen, not just hear.

The Brain Behind the Beauty

Under the hood runs Step AOS 1.0, an agent-native OS with long-term memory, task scheduling, and a security architecture that's "trustable, visible, controllable, reversible." It splits memory into "user domain" and "agent domain" to keep things private. The AI brain relies on the Step model matrix, using a terminal-cloud collaboration: on-device for simple commands and offline tasks, cloud for complex planning and cross-app work.

A Growing Ecosystem

Developers get Step Studio, a natural-language tool for building AI-native experiences. At the event, Bilibili creators showed off projects like a flight skateboard assistant and a brain-computer interface that turns thoughts into speech. Meanwhile, the Step Amoo agent has teamed up with nearly 100 partners—Alipay, Tencent (WeChat Work, WeChat Reading), Xiaohongshu, Ctrip, Didi, Gaode, Meituan—enabling AI payments and cross-agent collaboration.

Price and Availability

The Neo comes in carbon black and silicon silver for 3,999 yuan. Buyers get 12 months of 10 billion tokens per month, and the first 10,000 eligible users receive "Starship Tickets"—a chance to swap for a new STEPX device within five years at no cost. Pre-sales began October 13, with official sales starting October 16.

Key Points

  • Large model-native phone: STEPX Neo integrates hardware, OS, and AI for a new terminal experience.
  • Unique design: Retro-futuristic look with a transparent back and a MiniLED dot-matrix screen for AI expressions.
  • Advanced sensing: Six-mic array and Whisper1.0 algorithm create an auditory system.
  • Powerful AI: Step AOS 1.0 with dual-domain memory and terminal-cloud collaboration.
  • Developer-friendly: Step Studio and open capabilities spur innovation.
  • Ecosystem integration: Partnerships with major apps enable AI payments and cross-agent tasks.
  • Pricing: 3,999 yuan, with token bonuses and a loyalty program for early adopters.