STEPX Neo Is an AI Phone That Wants to Replace App Controls

Chinese company Step Terminal (阶跃终端) has unveiled its first smartphone, the STEPX Neo. The device is officially called the STEPX Neo 先行版, which can be loosely translated as the “Pioneer Edition.”

Step Terminal describes it as its first phone with a built-in AI agent. Rather than working as a standalone chatbot, the Amoo assistant is integrated into the system and is designed to handle tasks across different apps.

Pre-orders opened on October 13, 2026, at 9 PM China time. The first sales event is scheduled for October 16 at 10:13 AM. The phone will initially be sold in China through platforms including JD.com, Tmall, and Douyin.

The STEPX Neo starts at 3,999 yuan, or approximately $560. This is a rough currency conversion, not an official international price.

The package includes a Snapdragon 8-series chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Buyers also get StepAOS, the Step Studio tool, and access to Step's AI models.

The price also covers 12 months of the STEPX Token Plan, which provides 100 billion tokens per month. Step Terminal calls this a “full-stack price,” meaning the hardware, software, and AI access are bundled together.

The company has not clearly explained what happens when the first year ends or whether users will have to pay extra to keep using the AI features.

The phone runs Step AOS 1.0, an operating system built around AI agents. It supports long-term memory and task planning, allowing the assistant to retain information and work through requests.

A separate MiniLED display on the back shows the status of Amoo. The system also offers two ways to call up the assistant, including while using other apps.

Voice control relies on six microphones, a low-power audio chip, and the Whisper 1.0 algorithm. Step Terminal says this setup helps Amoo recognize the user's voice in noisy environments.

According to the company, the dedicated chip consumes just 1.2% of the battery over 24 hours of continuous operation. This figure has not been independently verified.

Step Terminal describes the phone's design as “retro-futuristic.” Its transparent back reveals mechanical-looking components, while the company says the design includes five references to the history of artificial intelligence.

The first 10,000 customers who meet the requirements of the Amoo Growth Plan will reportedly be able to exchange their STEPX Neo for any new phone from the brand over the next five years.

The exact rules, including the tasks customers must complete and the conditions for exchanging the device, should be checked in the official program terms.

Around 100 partners are reportedly involved in the project, including Alipay and Tencent.

Step Terminal has clear ambitions for the STEPX Neo, but its success will depend on more than the number of AI features it offers. The Amoo assistant will need to handle everyday tasks reliably across apps, while protecting user data and keeping running costs reasonable.

The long-term cost of using the AI features is another open question. Until Step Terminal explains what happens after the first year of included access, it is difficult to judge the phone's overall value.