polestar to unveil first AI smartphone made of aerospace aluminum and crystal-polished glass

Polestar’s first-ever AI smartphone

Swedish automotive manufacturer Polestar is breaking through the handheld device field by introducing its first-ever AI smartphone made of aerospace-grade aluminum and crystal-polished glass. The unveiling is expected to take place on April 23rd, 2024 in China, along with the concept car dubbed Synergy, at an event called Polestar Brand Night. Before the full reveal, Polestar’s branch in China has already previewed the AI smartphone to its viewers, starting with the gleaming backside made of crystal-polished glass and four cameras.

images courtesy of Polestar, via Weibo

Shockproof AI smartphone with anti-deforming properties

On Weibo, Polestar posted a series of sneak peeks to entice its viewers with the anticipated AI smartphone. From what has been introduced so far, the device’s frame, rounded on the edge, is made of NP66 aerospace-grade aluminum, which can make the AI smartphone shockproof enough from breakage when it drops and give it anti-deforming properties. Flipping the phone, the backside is covered with glass, which Polestar says is polished with a soft-sand-made crystal. This can make the AI smartphone bounce the lights’ reflection when they hit the rear, letting the backside design appear clear and visible at all times.

Feel of a terrazzo stone with gold accents for design

Polestar also adds that the feel of its AI smartphone is similar to the texture and silky feel of a terrazzo stone, an intended design approach to evoke the presence of raw materials on the device. Glancing below the backside, the logos of Polestar and ‘Phone’ – which can signal its official name- are silkscreened onto the surface before the glass is placed. Accents of electroplated gold also spurt throughout the AI smartphone’s design, starting with the circular frame of the fourth rear camera. This shade of gold is also used for the ‘tray pin’ of the device, glinting once the light shines upon it, as well as the charging cable included with the AI smartphone.

Looking at the display, Polestar’s first-ever AI smartphone has a large screen with a ratio of 21:9 and 2K visual quality. The design team says that the screen-to-body ratio of the device sits at 91.5 percent at the moment, which means the borders and bezels of the device almost disappear. Its narrow body makes it easy for the user to hold the AI smartphone with one hand too. The AI support comes in through the device’s software. Polestar is yet to explain it, yet artificial intelligence is to be used for optimization assistance, which may mean the user might no longer need several touch commands to make apps and settings work or open.

The AI smartphone is designed by both Polestar’s global design team and Meizu, a smartphone and technology manufacturer that the Swedish car brand paired up with in 2023 to devise the operating system to be used in Polestar’s vehicles sold in China. On the Weibo post of Polestar, the gold accents found around the AI smartphone hint at the design elements of the seat belts and brakes of the upcoming Polestar 4 in the country. It seems that the idea is to have the AI smartphone be the buddy of the Polestar 4 and its intelligent cockpit once the car hits the market. The full details of Polestar’s AI smartphone are set for April 23rd’s Polestar Brand Night event in China.

the idea is to have the AI smartphone be the buddy of the Polestar 4 and its intelligent cockpit