ByteDance AI phone hardware head Lin Xi leaves

Lin Xi, a core member of ByteDance's AI hardware team Ocean and product lead for Doubao phone hardware, has left the company. This is the first departure of a key hardware head since ByteDance launched its AI phone project in 2024. Lin previously worked at Huawei's terminal division and was the hardware product lead for the Pura X foldable phone. He joined Ocean in 2026 as ByteDance accelerated its AI phone project. ByteDance's AI assistant Doubao is partnering with ZTE to develop AI phones. A prototype of the Nubia M153 with Doubao's tech preview has been released in small quantities, offering AI interactions at the OS level based on Doubao's large model. ZTE says it's deepening cooperation with ByteDance and other partners to advance the next-gen Doubao AI phone.