Nio, a Chinese car manufacturer, just announced its first smartphone. The aptly named Nio Phone comes with high-end specs, but more than that, it has deep integration with the brand’s vehicles.
The new Nio Phone can be used as a car key to the brand’s line of vehicles. The feature works even when the device is off. It also has an ultra-wideband (UWB) that can detect the owner’s proximity to the car to automatically lock/unlock the vehicle.
There’s a built-in app called Nio Link that gives you control over the many components of the car. You can control the air conditioning, music, seat adjustments, and more, as well as show important information like battery capacity and range.
Since Nio designed the phone themselves, it will fit snuggly in a special area inside the new Nio ES8 SUV. Once docked, the screen will automatically show controls for music, ambient light, and more. You can also pre-set a destination to a dedicated mobile app, which will then automatically move to the car’s infotainment system once you’re inside. You can also be video-calling on the smartphone, dock it on the car, and continue the call with the built-in camera on the dashboard.
You can also use the vehicle’s infotainment as a secondary screen of your smartphone if the passenger wants to multitask. You can even ask it to park the car for you or have it move forward in case you can’t access the doors in tight parking spaces. All these special features are also made possible by Sky UI.
To keep you and your vehicle safe, the smartphone has robust security features for better data protection and to fight malware.
As for the specs, the Nio Phone is powered by a flagship Snapdragon 888 processor, which you can pair with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. There’s also an enormous 6.81-inch LTPO OLED screen with a high 120Hz refresh rate and 1800 nits of peak brightness.
It then has a relatively large 5,200mAh battery, 66W wired charging, 50W wireless, and an IP68 rating for durability. For the cameras, we have a 50-megapixel IMX707 main shooter, an ultra-wide lens, and even a periscope-style telephoto shooter and a ring flash.
The company really went all out on its first smartphone as it even comes with seven different colors — that’s even more than what prominent brands offer. The Nio Phone has a price of CNY6,499 (~Php50,600), CNY6,899 (~Php53,700), and CNY7,499 (~Php58,400) for the 12GB/512GB, 12GB/1TB, and 16GB/1TB versions.
Nio Phone Specs
- Android 13, Sky UI
- Dual SIM, Dual standby
- 6.81-inch LTPO OLED display, 3088 x 1440 pixel resolution, 500ppi
- 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1800-nits peak brightness
- 3.36GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 octa-core processor
- 12GB RAM
- Adreno 740 GPU
- 512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 internal storage, non-expandable
- ?-megapixel front camera
- 50-megapixel (PDAF, OIS) + 50-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 50-megapixel (periscope, PDAF, OIS) rear cameras, LED flash
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- IP68 dust and water resistant
- HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
- WiFi 6, dual-band
- Bluetooth
- dual-bang GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
- Ultra-wideband
- USB Type-C
- Colors: Gray, Black, Pink, Gold, Green, Blue, Dark Blue
- 5,200mAh non-removable battery, 66W wired, 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless charging