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OpenAI is the clearest AI-company name tied to a prospective smartphone, but the project has not been confirmed by the company. A report published by Reuters on April 27, 2026, attributed the plan to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Nothing’s CEO has also described an agent-led phone interface, but that is a software vision—not an announced handset. For now, Apple and Samsung remain the established phone makers in this comparison.

Is OpenAI making a phone?

It is possible, according to reporting based on analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s claims, but the cited coverage does not include an official OpenAI announcement. Reuters reported that Qualcomm and MediaTek were working together on a smartphone processor for the prospective device, with Luxshare named as its design and manufacturing partner. Reuters and TechCrunch said the companies had not commented on the report.

Those names describe reported prospective roles, not confirmed contracts or a finished product. The reports do not establish the phone’s specifications, price, supported countries, retail date, or whether it will ultimately ship. Reuters’ April 27, 2026 report, republished by Investing.com, and TechCrunch’s coverage of the same report both frame it as a reported plan rather than a company-confirmed product.

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What timing has been reported?

Reuters said mass production was likely in 2028, according to Kuo. TechCrunch reported that specifications and suppliers were expected to be finalized by the end of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027. These are analyst-linked forecasts, not dates OpenAI has committed to. There is no confirmed launch date.

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Why the report needs careful attribution

Earlier coverage described OpenAI’s planned hardware as a device that would not be a smartphone, while Sam Altman had discussed a “third core device” alongside phones and laptops. That history makes the April 2026 phone report notable, but does not resolve whether the reported project will become a product. Reuters’ account of the reported shift and MacRumors’ coverage provide that earlier context.

What other AI firms have said about phones

Nothing has described an AI-first interface, not a phone launch

Nothing co-founder and CEO Carl Pei has discussed a future in which people express what they want and AI agents handle tasks, reducing the need to navigate between apps. In a TechCrunch interview account, Pei said, “In terms of AI in software, I think people should understand that apps are going to disappear.” The same account makes clear that he does not expect apps to disappear in the near term. His comments describe a possible direction for software; they do not announce a new Nothing handset, launch date, or commercial plan. TechCrunch’s March 18, 2026 coverage discusses the vision.

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How a prospective AI phone would compare with Apple and Samsung

Apple and Samsung are established competitors, not new entrants in the reported AI-phone projects. Reuters said in 2026 that the two companies together commanded about 40% of the global smartphone market. That is Reuters’ reported figure for that year, not a freshly checked market-share estimate. A new entrant would need to compete against their existing devices, software ecosystems, and distribution.

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Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is a concrete example of an AI-enabled phone already introduced to buyers. The Associated Press reported in January 2025 that it could perform AI functions across apps and that Google AI was an important part of its software. At launch in the United States, the standard S25 started at $800, the Plus at $1,000, and the Ultra at $1,300; those are historical launch prices, not current prices. AP’s January 22, 2025 report covers the launch lineup and its AI features.

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What will make an AI phone meaningfully different?

Calling a device “AI-first” does not by itself explain how it will work. A useful comparison will depend on details that have not been established for the reported OpenAI phone:

  • How you use it: Does it mainly add AI features inside familiar apps, or can an agent carry out tasks across services?
  • Where AI runs: Which functions run on the phone and which require cloud processing?
  • System access and privacy: What can an agent read or do, how is permission requested, and what controls can users review or revoke?
  • App compatibility: Can users keep using familiar apps and services, and what happens when a task depends on an app the agent cannot access?
  • Supply and production: Are reported component and manufacturing partners confirmed, and can the device reach mass production?
  • Availability and cost: Which regions will get it, when, and at what price?

Until those details are public, claims about an agent-centered interface or proposed suppliers should not be mistaken for verified phone capabilities.

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What to watch for next

A confirmed announcement would answer basic questions that current reporting leaves open. Look for a statement from the company, a named product and specifications, and clear information about software support, privacy controls, price, regional availability, and release timing. Until then, the OpenAI phone is an analyst-reported possibility, Nothing’s comments remain a vision for software, and the Galaxy S25 is an existing AI-enabled comparison—not evidence that a new rival has launched.

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