Car maker Nio unveils feature-rich Nio Phone 2 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 120 Hz OLED display
Nio, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has unveiled the Phone 2 as its latest smartphone. The new model comes on the heels of its predecessor, the original Nio Phone, highlighting Nio's ambitious expansion plans in the mobile device market as well as its commitment to annual product refresh strategy. The original Phone made its debut in September 2023, for reference.
The Nio Phone 2 resembles its predecessor strongly in visual design and its specifications are just as high-end as those of your average 2024 flagship phone. It's the enhanced integration with Nio's expanding fleet of electric vehicles that help this phone stand out. A dedicated button is present on the left side of the frame that's designed to make controlling the connected Nio car that bit easier. Building on the approach introduced with the original model, this button now offers customizable long-press function.
The device can be used as a car key thanks to the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth 5.3 technologies. The Phone 2 can be used to pinpoint the car's current location easily as well; parking location and spot number are recorded automatically. Naturally, NFC support is onboard, too.
The Nio Link, an innovative feature enabling one to interact with their phone through the car's infotainment system, has been expanded to support a wider range of applications. Gallery access, file browsing, various office applications and messaging apps are now fully supported.
On the hardware side of things, the Android phone features a 6.82-inch 2K display (3168 x 1440 pixels), 120 Hz refresh rate, and LTPO technology. This is a Samsung E7 OLED panel that supports Ultra HDR and offers 1,440 Hz PWM dimming at 0 to 800 nits. A peak brightness of 2,600 nits is available depending on the circumstances. The device is powered by Qualcomm's top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with up to 16 GB RAM and up to 1 TB storage. The USB-C port is a 3.2 Gen 1 spec port with DP support.
The camera system is equally high-grade, consisting of the 48 MP Sony LYT-T808 main sensor, the 48 MP Sony IMX882 sensor mated to ultrawide lens, and the 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor mated to 2.6x periscope telephoto lens. Additional features include an optical in-display fingerprint sensor and an advanced haptics motor for enhanced tactile feedback. The phone is equipped with a substantial 5,020 mAh battery, supporting 80 W wired and 50 W wireless charging. There's also support for 5.5G and Wi-Fi 7 here for ultra-high bandwidth combined with ultra-low latency.
Despite the robust feature set, the Nio Phone 2 is a relatively slim phone. The glass back version measures 8.6 mm (0.34 inch) in thickness and weighs 209 grams (7.37 oz), while the more premium ceramic variant is slightly thinner at 8.45 mm (0.33 inch) but heavier at 226 grams (7.97 oz). Nio offers the phone in multiple color options, including ones with leather back side finish. The smartphone also has an IP68 certification.
The Nio Phone 2 is competitively priced, starting at CNY 6,499 (approximately $896).
