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STEPX Neo: The AI Phone That Talks Back, Starting at 3999 Yuan

STEPX Neo: The AI Phone That Talks Back, Starting at 3999 Yuan

Imagine a phone that doesn't just run apps, but understands you. That's the pitch from STEPX (Step Terminal), which took the stage in Shanghai to launch its first "large model-native" intelligent agent phone, the STEPX Neo. Priced at 3,999 yuan, it's a bold attempt to rethink what a phone can be by fusing hardware, operating system, and large model into one seamless package.

A Design That Nods to the Future and the Past

The Neo sports what STEPX calls a "retro-futuristic aesthetic." The back panel has a transparent, mechanical vibe, and five hidden Easter eggs pay homage to AI history. But the real story is the sensory hardware: a six-microphone array, a low-power audio perception chip, and the Whisper1.0 sound pickup algorithm work together as the phone's ears. Then there's the dual-screen setup—a main display plus an independent MiniLED dot-matrix back screen. That back screen isn't just for notifications; it's a dynamic expression space for your AI agent, letting it "emote" in real time.

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The Brain: Step AOS 1.0 and Terminal-Cloud Collaboration

Under the hood, the Neo runs Step AOS 1.0, the first agent-native operating system. It integrates long-term memory, task scheduling, and a security architecture that's "trustable, visible, controllable, and reversible." Memory is split into a "user domain" and an "agent domain," so your data and your AI's data stay separate.

For heavy lifting, the phone relies on the Step large model matrix with a terminal-cloud collaboration mechanism. Simple, offline commands are handled on-device, while complex planning and cross-app tasks get offloaded to the cloud. It's a smart way to balance speed, privacy, and power.

An Ecosystem That's Already Growing

STEPX isn't going it alone. They introduced Step Studio, a natural-language development tool that lets creators tap into the phone's sensors, back screen, and protocols. At the event, Bilibili creators showed off projects like a flight skateboard assistance system and a brain-computer interface that turns thoughts into speech.

Meanwhile, the Step Amoo intelligent agent has partnered with nearly 100 services, including Alipay, Tencent (WeChat Work, WeChat Reading), Xiaohongshu, Ctrip, Didi, Gaode, and Meituan. That means you can use AI payments, cross-agent collaborative editing, and other full-process services right out of the box.

Pricing and Availability: A Soft-Hard Bundle

The Neo comes in carbon black and silicon silver. The 3,999 yuan price tag includes 12 months of 10 billion tokens per month. And for the first 10,000 users who meet certain task criteria, STEPX is throwing in a "Starship Ticket"—the right to exchange your current model for a new STEPX terminal at zero cost within the next five years. Pre-sales started on the evening of October 13, with official sales beginning October 16.

Key Points

  • STEPX Neo is a large model-native phone priced at 3,999 yuan.
  • It features a six-microphone array, dual-screen design (main + MiniLED back screen), and runs Step AOS 1.0.
  • The phone uses terminal-cloud collaboration for tasks, with a focus on memory and security.
  • Ecosystem partners include Alipay, Tencent, Xiaohongshu, and more.
  • Pre-sales began October 13; official sale on October 16.
  • Early buyers get 10 billion tokens monthly for a year and a chance to upgrade for free within five years.