Polestar, the electric vehicle (EV) brand owned by Geely and Volvo, has seen its upcoming smartphone, developed in collaboration with Chinese tech company Meizu, listed on Google’s API website as compatible with the Play Store. The smartphone, touted to support drivers of Polestar’s new Polestar 4 crossover, has been making waves since its initial details and images were shared a few months ago.
Details about the Polestar Phone remain scarce, but it has been confirmed that the device will operate on the Android platform and will offer support for Google Play services. At a media event in China last fall, Polestar disclosed its intentions to join the likes of NIO in releasing a branded phone tailored to enhance the driving experience of its customers.
See also: Volvo Cars Ceases Funding for Polestar, Transfers Control to Geely Holding amid Struggles
Initial glimpses of the smartphone revealed a sleek white exterior with a flat metal frame, housing a triple-camera setup comprising a primary lens with a 23mm equivalent focal length and f/1.9 aperture, a telephoto lens with a 70mm focal length, and an ultra-wide-angle lens featuring an f/2.4 aperture.
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 processor, the Polestar Phone was collaboratively designed and built with Meizu, a fellow subsidiary under the Geely umbrella. With Meizu’s smartphones already running on the Android platform, the decision to adopt Android for the Polestar Phone comes as little surprise.
Despite utilizing Polestar’s custom OS, derived from Meizu’s Flyme OS, the device is set to integrate seamlessly with Google’s ecosystem, as confirmed by its compatibility with the Play Store.
Listed simply as the “Polestar Phone” without any numerical nomenclature, it is yet to be seen whether Polestar will adopt a yearly release strategy akin to NIO or if this will be a one-off venture.
Manufactured by Meizu, the Polestar Phone is initially slated for release in the Chinese market, with no confirmation yet regarding availability in other regions. However, considering Polestar’s global presence with the Polestar 4, there remains speculation on the possibility of a wider release.
The question lingers as to whether there exists a demand for an automotive-focused smartphone beyond China. With the Polestar Phone expected to hit the Chinese market next month, its reception and potential for international expansion remain to be seen.
