StepFun Unveils STEPX Neo: The World's First Large-Model-Native Agentic Smartphone

Shanghai, October 13, 2026 — StepFun (阶跃星辰), a leading Chinese AI unicorn, today officially launched the STEPX Neo, the world's first mass-market smartphone designed from the ground up for AI agents. The device was unveiled at the "Ready Builder One" launch event in Shanghai, marking a fundamental shift from app-centric smartphone design to agent-native architecture.

A New Paradigm: From Apps to Agents

Unlike conventional "AI phones" that bolt AI features onto existing operating systems, the STEPX Neo is built around Step AOS 1.0 , the world's first agent-native operating system. StepFun reconstructed the OS framework from scratch, embedding long-term memory, task scheduling, and security mechanisms directly into the system's foundation. The result is a device that autonomously completes complex, multi-step, end-to-end tasks without requiring users to navigate multiple apps or issue repeated prompts.

The phone ships with Amoo (阶跃 Amoo) , StepFun's next-generation personal AI agent. Amoo operates on an end-cloud collaborative architecture : simple commands like setting alarms or adjusting system settings are executed on-device, while complex queries and multi-app orchestration are planned and decomposed by cloud-based models before execution on the device. The system emphasizes a "trustworthy, visible, controllable, and reversible" design philosophy, allowing users to manage permissions, review memories, and monitor task progress.

Hardware Built for Agentic Interaction

The STEPX Neo features a dual-screen design with a distinctive MiniLED dot-matrix rear sub-screen that displays Amoo's operational status, enabling "at-a-glance awareness" of the agent's activities. The industrial design embraces a "retro-futuristic aesthetic," with five hidden design easter eggs on the back panel referencing milestones in AI history — from the number "42" and Turing Test binaries to Transformer architecture motifs.

A standout hardware feature is the agentic auditory enhancement system , comprising a six-microphone array , a low-power audio sensing chip, and the Whisper 1.0 pickup algorithm. This enables Amoo to accurately recognize user commands even in noisy environments. The dedicated low-power chip runs independently, consuming only 1.2% battery over 24 hours.

Full Specifications

Pricing and Availability

The STEPX Neo Pioneer Edition introduces a first-of-its-kind "software-hardware-model" full-stack pricing model . For 3,999 RMB , buyers receive the phone hardware, Step AOS, Step Studio development tools, and access to Step-series models as an integrated package. Purchasers also receive a 12-month STEPX Token Plan with 10 billion tokens per month.

The device is available for pre-order from 9:00 PM on October 13 , with official sales beginning at 10:13 AM on October 16 across JD.com, Tmall, Douyin, and other major e-commerce platforms. Under the "Amoo Growth Program," the first 10,000 users who complete qualifying tasks will receive a "Star Ticket," entitling them to a free replacement with any future STEPX device within five years.

Ecosystem and Developer Support

StepFun has secured partnerships with nearly 100 companies and products, including Alipay, Tencent, Ctrip, Didi, Jianying, Amap, and Meituan , enabling Amoo to directly invoke partner services across local life, travel, productivity, and content creation scenarios. Notably, Step 5 Preview has been integrated into Tencent WorkBuddy, bringing enhanced reasoning and agent capabilities to real-world office scenarios, autonomously handling deep research, data analysis, PPT generation, and multi-step complex tasks.

For developers, Step Studio supports natural-language generation of AI applications, games, agents, and skills, with open access to the camera, sensors, and dot-matrix rear screen. The platform supports MCP and A2A protocols, enabling broader ecosystem integration.