OPPO is leaning into proactive intelligence as a core inflection point for AI smartphones, presenting Xiaobu Next as a differentiator amid declining global shipments and intensifying AI competition.

The Xiaobu Next system deploys a team of expert Agents across lifestyle, office, health, finance, hobbies, and parenting with on-device memory, and users can customize Agents for 24/7 specialist support directly on the phone.

Beta eligibility is limited to the OPPO Find X8/X9 series and select OnePlus models, with a limited number of slots and application through Settings - Help & Feedback - Co-creation, followed by review.

OPPO announces Xiaobu Next, an on-device Multi-Agent collaborative system, with beta launching in Shenzhen on July 27, 2026.

Xiaobu Next integrates over 100 system-level capabilities and supports third-party agents and services such as Luckin Coffee, Yinxiang Biji, Fliggy Skills, and Meituan MCP for cross-scenario collaboration in job hunting, studying, and office work.

Illustrative use cases include personalized book recommendations from notes and history, proactive material prep for urgent emails, and context-aware reminders using time, location, weather, schedule, and device status.

OPPO’s strategic realignment shifts Realme toward overseas markets while OnePlus focuses on China, Europe, and North America with emphasis on gaming and performance, signaling concentration of resources on AI breakthroughs.

Analysts see two growth paths in a stagnant market: brand premiumization (limited for OPPO in the near term) versus launching innovative AI products; Xiaobu Next is positioned as a key move toward the latter.

The on-device all-domain memory framework learns user habits with consent to deliver proactive, personalized services, prioritizing on-device processing and using cloud models only when necessary.

OPPO aims to avoid past missteps from its in-house chip push by pursuing on-device AI as a differentiator in the early AI smartphone era.

Industry context shows smartphone shipments declining in Q2 2026, with an AI smartphone race featuring Doubao, StepFun’s AI Agent phone, and Honor’s ROBOT Phone, while regulators signal broader OEM activity in on-device AI.