This Is the Polestar Phone: Everything You Must Know About the $1,000 Android Phone

Polestar has just pushed the battle to a new level with its own Android smartphone.

The Polestar Phone was announced in China, and if you couldn't wait and have already clicked the photos in the gallery, I know what you think. If you believe you've seen the design elsewhere, it's because you have. The Polestar Phone is based on the Meizu 21 Pro, but it's not a blatant rip-off.

Polestar worked with Meizu to make the device happen as part of a partnership powered by the company that owns both. Geely is the name that brought Polestar and Meizu together.

The design of the phone looks familiar but remains an impressive job. The Polestar Phone looks premium, and I find it impressive, mainly thanks to its simplicity. The clean back exhibits the Polestar logo and the Polestar Phone moniker at the bottom of the case, albeit the first thing you'll notice is the camera setup.

I'm certain most people will believe the Polestar Phone is a four-camera setup. These people wouldn't be wrong, as the phone does sport four cameras, albeit the back is the home of only three. The fourth ring on the back is the flash, so only the top three rings are cameras. The Polestar Phone sports a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x zoom. The fourth camera resides on the front-facing part of the phone and sports a 32-megapixel lens. It's integrated into the punch-hole cutout, as expected on a premium device.

Polestar wanted its first-ever phone to be a premium model on all fronts, so the hardware department includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. It's the top choice in the chip market today and is paired with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.

The 6.79-inch screen (the Polestar Phone isn't the typical mobile device that you can carry in your pocket because it's kind of huge; however, if you already own a Samsung Galaxy Ultra or an iPhone 15 Pro Max, you won't have any problem using the Polestar Phone) sports 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 1,850 nits.

The device is powered by a 5,050 mAh battery, and while no estimates were offered, the Polestar Phone should get you through the day easily. However, considering most people already charge their mobile phones daily, I don't think the battery should be a concern for potential buyers. The charging speeds are impressive, with Polestar promising 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. The device also supports 10W reverse wireless charging.

Here's a surprise: at a time when everybody gives up on chargers and only shipping their new phones with a cable, essentially forcing you to pay extra, the Polestar Phone includes a charger in the box. That's right, you also get a charger, along with a case designed by Polestar.

Like most Android phones, the Polestar Phone comes with a fingerprint scanner. If you're addicted to Face ID on an iPhone, this could be considered a downgrade, but Polestar used a modern ultrasonic fingerprint scanner integrated into the screen a la Samsung's premium phones.

The phone runs a custom Android ROM called Polestar OS, albeit based on Android 14, and comes with a dedicated theme that Polestar owners will immediately recognize. It's a familiar design language that Polestar also used in its mobile companion app.

The Polestar Phone was built as a companion device for Polestar EVs so that the device can double as a digital car key. It'll also offer infotainment connectivity options, albeit it's unclear if the entire feature package will be enabled on older Polestar models or be exclusive to the Polestar 4. The device seamlessly syncs with the vehicle, as Polestar wants to offer more consistency and a smooth transition from the mobile device to the infotainment display in the car.

If you liked what you've so far, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the chances are that you won't be able to buy the Polestar Phone. The device is exclusive to China and is being sold in the country as part of a partnership with Meizu. Customers can order it from the mobile app, and there's no suggestion that the Swedish carmaker plans to release it in other markets, such as the United States.

Meanwhile, the Polestar Phone is a premium phone with a premium price tag. The top-of-the-range hardware, despite being packed into a design Chinese buyers might find familiar, increases the cost of the device. Buyers will have to pay 7,388 yuan, which means the device costs more than $1,000.