AI Hardware Rush to the Back of Smartphones
Over the past year, AI hardware startups have converged on the MagSafe area at the back of smartphones. Plaud’s AI recording card has shipped over 1 million units, with its annual recurring revenue (ARR) reaching $100 million in June 2026 and serving over 2.5 million global users. Meanwhile, creators of magnetic e-paper screens have completed nearly RMB 50 million in Series A funding, and Jizhi Technology’s e-ink phone case XTREM has sold over 140,000 units, with 80% going overseas. New players continue emerging: Flowtica unveiled Verso—integrating recording, e-paper display, and meeting task management—at IFA; NOOKLAB plans Moonphase Flip, a 54g AI screen supporting continuous voice capture; Jizhi will launch Sloth with OLED, microphone, and virtual pet.
Key specifications:
- Plaud: ARR $100M, 2.5M+ users, 1M+ units shipped
- Magnetic e-screen creators: RMB 50M Series A+, investors include Sequoia, Jingyan, Bohui, Xiaohongshu
- Jizhi: XTREM 140K+ units, 80% overseas sales
- Flowtica Verso: $299, Q4 2026 delivery
- NOOKLAB Moonphase Flip: 54g, continuous voice capture
- Huaqiangbei white-label: RMB 120-150
Convergence of Two Technical Paths
Recording cards and e-paper screens originally represented divergent paths. Plaud solved the portability issue—users need not carry a separate device, recording instantly via MagSafe attachment, reviewing AI transcripts later in-app. Its ARR grew 100x in two years, proving paid adoption of standalone AI hardware.
Yueling Tong and Jizhi explored display-centric approaches. Yueling Tong’s 4.3" magnetic e-paper reader saw monthly sales grow over 10x within six months, with overseas sales breaking 10,000 units in the first month. Jizhi’s XTREM, priced $59-79, maintains 4.8 manual image updates per day post-purchase. A surprising constraint: Global e-ink film supply is dominated by E Ink Holdings (over 90%), and its new RMB 11B factory won’t量产 until 2028, making supply chain access critical.
As competition intensifies, the two paths converge. Verso and Moonphase Flip integrate both audio capture and display—Verso for meeting summaries and action items; Moonphase Flip emphasizing “low-interruption” design: AI filters conversations, displaying only essential items. Yueling Tong also plans AI capabilities via cloud collaboration.
Physical Constraints of Fusion
Fusion enhances functionality but adds weight. Plaud Note Pro: 30g, 50-hour battery; Flowtica Verso: 98g with screen and mic array, 72-hour battery. Weight and charging frequency directly impact user willingness to keep the device attached.
Pricing tiers are forming: sub-$50 phone cases attract novelty-seekers; $59-79 e-ink cases serve light display needs; $299 fusion devices must prove they replace phone usage. Giants accelerate: DingTalk A1 Pro added color touch screen; Honor, Insta360, OPPO, and Hisense launched magnetic副屏, detachable e-paper screens, selfie screens.
Magnetic Back AI Hardware Comparison
| Product | Type | Weight | Core Features | Price (USD/RMB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaud Note Pro | Audio Card | ~30g | AI Recording + Transcription + Summary | Not disclosed | Up to 50h recording |
| Yueling Tong 4.3" | E-Paper Screen | ~75g | Magnetic Reading | Not disclosed | 10x growth within six months |
| Flowtica Verso | Audio + Screen | ~98g | Meeting Recording + Page Display | $299 | Q4 2026 delivery |
| NOOKLAB Moonphase Flip | AI Screen | ~54g | Continuous Audio + Task Logging | Not disclosed | Low-interruption |
| Jizhi XTREM | E-Ink Case | Not disclosed | NFC-refreshed Images | $59-79 | 80% overseas sales |
| Huaqiangbei white-label | Audio Card | Not disclosed | Basic Recording + Transcription | RMB 120-150 | Price war example |
Who Should Buy Now?
Buy immediately if: You attend frequent meetings (lawyer, consultant, journalist), are an overseas tech enthusiast (XTREM’s proven usage habits), or have consistent e-ink reading needs.
Wait longer if: You prioritize minimal portability (fusion devices ~100g+), only need light information display (phone cases suffice), or have budget under RMB 500 (fusion products typically premium-priced).
Final Thoughts
The smartphone back is evolving from decorative accessory to AI hardware’s independent entry point—but adoption hinges on achieving balance between “invisible” and “indispensable,” requiring both hardware polish and AI maturity.