Lenovo has released the AI Student Phone, a device built squarely around learning for children, in China. It drops games, web browsers, and social media, and instead puts an AI voice assistant for studying, GPS-based location tracking, and detailed parental management front and center. Priced at just 299 yuan (about 7,200 yen), it is less a conventional smartphone than a handset narrowed down to learning and staying in touch.
Hardware Focused on Learning and Communication
The design feels closer to a feature phone than a smartphone. The screen is a small 1.83-inch touchscreen protected by shatter-resistant Panda glass, and it supports handwriting input. The panel is a 720P LCD, and the front carries a 2-megapixel camera. Inside sits an 1,850mAh battery, and it connects over standard 4G networks. Because it does not require a dedicated IoT SIM, it can be set up quickly for ordinary voice calls and HD video calls, which is a welcome touch for families handing a child their first device.
The software is deliberately pared back. At its heart is a physical AI button that brings up the voice assistant only while it is held down. A child can press and hold the button to ask general questions or get help with homework. It also comes preloaded with study content covering math formulas and English vocabulary, so it works as a reference tool for schoolwork without granting open access to the wider internet.
Monitoring Features Parents Can Manage Directly
From a parent's point of view, the device works as a comprehensive monitoring tool. It supports real-time GPS location checks and geofencing, which sends a notification to the parent's smartphone when the child enters or leaves a preset area. Registering zones such as a school or the area around home makes it easier to notice changes in where the child goes.
Through a companion app, parents can manage the device remotely in detail. They can block calls from unknown numbers, set the times the phone powers on and off, and enable a "classroom mode" for use during lessons. When classroom mode is switched on during school hours, the phone is limited to showing the time and making emergency SOS calls, so it is less likely to disrupt studying.
For payments, a QR code-based mobile payment system is also included. Children can use it to buy things in stores, while parents can set spending limits and review transactions from the app. It is a well-considered answer to the need to let children handle payments while keeping their use in check.
Price and Color Options
The price is 299 yuan (about 7,200 yen), and it ships with a detachable lanyard for easy carrying. It comes in three colors: orange-white, pink, and blue. Despite the low price, it is clearly narrowed down to the roles of AI-assisted learning and monitoring, which should appeal to those looking for a child's first device.
*Converted at 1 yuan = about 23.9 yen (as of July 2, 2026)
Summary
Lenovo's AI Student Phone is a 299-yuan (about 7,200 yen) device for children that strips out games and social media to focus on learning support and monitoring. It combines a 1.83-inch Panda glass display, a physical AI button for the voice assistant, GPS location checks and geofencing, and parent-facing features such as classroom mode and QR payment spending limits, resulting in a design clearly aimed at families giving a child their first handset.
