StepX Unveils STEPX Neo: The First Phone Built for AI Agents

At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, StepX pulled back the curtain on a device that's turning heads: the STEPX Neo prototype. Billed as the world's first smartphone designed natively for large language models, it's a bold attempt to rethink how AI agents live in our pockets.

A Fresh Take on Design

The prototype sports a striking orange finish, a clear departure from the sea of black and silver slabs. But the real difference is under the hood—or rather, on the screen. The system interface is built around modules like "Aquatic Market," "Workshop," "Soul Settings," and "User Identity." According to StepX staff, the Aquatic Market will eventually offer a curated selection of third-party agent apps, giving users access to smarter services. How exactly you'll pair the phone with these agents? That's coming later.

Meet Amoo, Your AI Sidekick

The STEPX Neo runs on Step AOS, a custom operating system built from the ground up for agents. At its heart is Amoo, an AI assistant that's more like a proactive buddy than a passive tool. Amoo can handle everything from office tasks to entertainment, and it learns as you go—remembering your preferences, your contacts, even your quirks. During a live demo, Amoo showed off by searching for concert tickets and then hopping over to Ctrip to book a hotel, all without the user lifting a finger. It's a glimpse of a future where your phone doesn't just answer questions—it gets things done.

More Than a Gimmick?

StepX is quick to point out that what we saw is still a prototype. The final product, they say, will pack even more features. But the message is clear: as large language models get more powerful, phones are evolving from simple voice assistants into full-blown agent platforms. They're gaining the ability to plan tasks, call on other apps, and remember context over the long haul. The STEPX Neo is a peek at that shift—a device that treats AI not as an add-on, but as the core experience.

Key Points

First of its kind: The STEPX Neo is the first smartphone designed specifically for large model-native AI agents.
Custom OS: It runs Step AOS, with the Amoo agent at the center, capable of learning user habits and executing tasks autonomously.
Live demo: Amoo demonstrated real-world utility by booking a hotel and finding concert info in one seamless flow.
Still a prototype: StepX promises more features and a final design to be revealed later.
Industry shift: The phone represents a move from voice assistants to proactive, memory-enabled agent platforms.

StepX Unveils STEPX Neo: The First Phone Built for AI Agents