By WU Yangyu
Moving very sharply against the current trend, EV startup Nio unveiled a smartphone, the Nio Phone, on Thursday.
At the launch, LI Bin, founder and CEO of Nio, said the company did not make phones “because the phone makers are making cars” (which they are) nor “to try to make some money, since selling EVs is not profitable,” (which it mostly isn't). Far from it. Li believes that: “Nio owners need a better phone, seamlessly integrated with their cars.”
The hardware configuration of the Nio Phone is on par with most premium smartphones. That means a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 leading edition. The storage options start at 12GB+512GB, with a maximum option of 16GB+1T. It features a 6.8-inch curved screen.
The main camera, ultra-wide-angle lens, and periscope telephoto lens are all 50-megapixels. As for battery life, the Nio Phone is equipped with a 5,200mAh battery and supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, and it is compatible with Nio's wireless car charger.
According to Li, Nio Phone can replace car keys and supports unlocking without power for up to 48 hours. A vehicle control button provides direct access to 30 functions, including "find my car" and remotely adjusting the air conditioning. These functions can be carried out even when the phone has no internet connection.
The phone can use the car's internal sensors to identify the user's position and present a different interface based on whether they are in the driver's seat, front passenger seat, or rear seat.
Nio Phone is priced from 6,499 yuan (US$889.6) and is now only available through the Nio app.
