China’s ZTE has introduced an experimental flagship, the Nubia M153 — a device in which the traditional touch interface becomes secondary. The smartphone includes the Doubao AI assistant (developed by ByteDance), integrated at the operating-system level and capable of performing any action through voice commands, from launching apps to making online purchases. This is the first time full voice control covers the entire Android system without limitations.

How the “Voice Brain” of the Nubia M153 Works

Doubao AI functions as a full digital assistant that can see the screen, understand context, and simulate touch gestures. A user can verbally request something like buying a train ticket to Shanghai for the following day, and the assistant will independently open the app, choose the date, fill in the details, and confirm payment. The user can interrupt the process or take manual control at any moment.

The assistant works with all elements of the system, including the keyboard, notifications, settings, and third-party applications. It also handles tasks such as photo editing, messaging, booking services, and price comparison.
A particularly emphasized use case is assistance for elderly users: the AI can guide them step-by-step through smartphone functions and carry out actions on request.

Technical Specifications of the Nubia M153

  • Display:78″ LTPO OLED, 1264 × 2800, 120 Hz
  • Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
  • Battery: 6000 mAh with wireless charging
  • Cameras: Four 50 MP modules
  • OS: Android 16 with deep Doubao AI integration

Only in China and Only for Enthusiasts

The Nubia M153 has been released in a limited batch as an “engineering sample” and is sold exclusively in Chinese online stores for 3499 yuan (about 500 USD). A global release is not planned for now, as the device serves primarily as a technology demonstration rather than a mass-market product.

In Brief

The ZTE Nubia M153 is the first smartphone where a voice-driven AI agent, Doubao, controls the entire Android system — from launching apps to making online purchases and editing photos. Technically, it is a full 2026 flagship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but its main purpose is to experiment with abandoning touch interaction. It is available only in China for 3499 yuan, but it already illustrates a possible future in which smartphone screens exist mainly for viewing results, not for input.