Nubia has confirmed that it will unveil a new AI-powered smartphone during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 in Shanghai later this month. Company president Ni Fei says the upcoming handset will be the world’s first mass-produced AI agent smartphone, featuring deep system-level AI integration capable of completing complex tasks across multiple apps. While the company has not revealed the device’s official name, reports suggest it could succeed the Nubia M153 AI phone.
Nubia Confirms AI Smartphone Debut at WAIC 2026
Nubia has officially announced plans to introduce its next-generation AI smartphone at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026, which will take place in Shanghai from July 17 to July 20.
The announcement came from Ni Fei, President of Nubia and Senior Vice President of ZTE. According to the executive, the upcoming handset will be the world’s first mass-produced AI agent smartphone, marking a significant step beyond today’s AI-enabled devices.
Unlike current smartphones that mainly use AI for writing, photography, or voice commands, Nubia’s new device aims to make artificial intelligence a core part of the operating system.
AI Agent Will Work Across the Entire System
The biggest highlight of the upcoming smartphone is its system-level AI agent.
According to Nubia, the AI will understand natural language requests and complete complex tasks without requiring users to switch between multiple apps manually.
For example, users may be able to ask the phone to compare hotel prices, book tickets, order food, or schedule appointments through a single voice or text command. The AI agent will then carry out each step automatically by interacting with different applications on the user’s behalf.
This approach moves beyond traditional AI assistants that simply answer questions or generate text.
Successor to the Nubia M153 Could Be on the Way
Although Nubia has not revealed the official name of the smartphone, industry sources believe it could be the successor to the Nubia M153, an AI-native smartphone that debuted earlier.
The original Nubia M153 introduced deep integration with ByteDance’s Doubao AI assistant, allowing users to perform advanced tasks using natural language. Reports suggest Nubia has improved the new model by refining AI performance and expanding system-level integration with third-party platforms.
The company has not confirmed whether the upcoming device will continue using the M153 branding.
Expected Features
Nubia has yet to publish the full specifications, but early reports point to several AI-focused upgrades.
Advanced AI Agent
The smartphone is expected to feature an upgraded AI agent capable of handling multi-step requests across different applications.
Deep Operating System Integration
Unlike many current AI features that operate inside individual apps, Nubia’s solution is expected to work directly within the operating system for a smoother user experience.
Improved Productivity
The AI could assist with travel planning, shopping, scheduling, messaging, and other daily tasks by completing actions instead of only providing suggestions.
Additional hardware specifications, including the processor, display, cameras, battery capacity, and charging speeds, are expected to be announced during the launch event.
Expected Launch Date
Nubia has officially confirmed that the smartphone will debut during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026, scheduled to take place in Shanghai from July 17 to July 20, 2026. The company is expected to reveal the device, its specifications, and software capabilities during the event.
Expected Price
Nubia has not announced the pricing of its upcoming AI-powered smartphone.
The final price will likely depend on the hardware configuration and market availability. More details are expected during the official unveiling later this month.
Availability
The smartphone is expected to launch first in China following its official announcement.
Nubia has not confirmed whether the device will receive a global release. The company may share international availability plans after the Chinese launch.
Why This Launch Matters
Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest areas of competition in the smartphone industry. Most manufacturers currently use AI to improve photography, writing, translations, or voice assistants.
Nubia is taking a different approach by making AI a system-level feature that can perform actions instead of simply responding to requests. If the company delivers on its promises, users may spend less time switching between apps and more time letting the phone complete routine tasks automatically.
The launch also reflects a growing trend toward AI agent smartphones, where artificial intelligence acts as a digital assistant capable of understanding context and carrying out complex workflows. Several smartphone brands are investing heavily in this technology, making Nubia’s announcement an important development in the evolution of mobile AI.
With the official unveiling only days away, the event should provide a clearer picture of how Nubia plans to compete in the rapidly expanding AI smartphone market.
FAQs
When will Nubia launch its new AI-powered smartphone?
Nubia has confirmed that the smartphone will debut during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026, which runs from July 17 to July 20 in Shanghai.
What makes Nubia’s upcoming smartphone different?
The company says it will feature a system-level AI agent capable of understanding natural language and completing complex tasks across multiple apps automatically.
Has Nubia revealed the phone’s name?
No. Nubia has not announced the official name of the device, although reports suggest it could be the successor to the Nubia M153 AI smartphone.