Polestar has launched a new smartphone.
An Android-based device, the new phone debuts with a sleek design and seamless car integration.
But there’s a (minor) catch.
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The line that divides tech companies and automakers is growing thinner.
Cars are defined by software these days, and this explains why so many tech companies – Xiaomi and Huawei for example – are now making cars.
Even Apple is still involved in the automotive world, despite canning their car project, with new automobile-related patents.
Polestar, a car brand part of the Geely group, is doing the opposite, becoming one of the first automakers to launch a smartphone.
Polestar started out as Volvo’s sports division, before evolving into a standalone brand under Geely’s stewardship.
Geely, for the record, also owns Volvo and Lotus.
Manufactured by smartphone maker Meizu, which is also part of the Geely group, the new phone comes with a sleek and slim design and is powered – according to rumors – by the Snapdragon 8 Gen chip.
More to the point, it’ll run on Android-based FlyME OS, which is the same software that Polestar cars use.
The goal is to create an ecosystem that allows owners to seamlessly pair their smartphone to their car.
It sounds great on paper, but there’s a catch.
The phone will initially only be available in China, and the company hasn’t confirmed (or denied) whether other markets will be included too.
Another thing that’s not mentioned is the price point.
These days, flagship Android-based smartphones range from anywhere between $500 to $1,500, depending on a variety of factors.
You’ve got budget options, such as the Nothing Phone 2a, but this phone almost certainly won’t be marketed as a ‘budget’ phone.
Due to its association with the Polestar name, technically a premium brand, it probably won’t be the cheapest phone in the market.
Still, it looks pretty great, right?
