ByteDance Dives into Hardware Market with Launch of Ola Friend Earbuds in China

ByteDance, known for TikTok, ventures into hardware with Ola Friend earbuds. Ola Friend earbuds priced at US$170, exclusively available in China. Earbuds connect to ByteDance's AI assistant, Doubao, for various functionalities.

Credit: ByteDance

These earbuds are designed to connect with ByteDance's AI assistant, Doubao, which can be activated through voice commands.

Reported by the South China Morning Post, users of the Ola Friend earbuds can utilise them as a virtual tour guide during travels and for language learning, particularly English, once paired with the Doubao mobile app. Notably, Doubao boasts a significant user base, with over 47 million monthly active users in September, making it one of the most popular GAI apps in China.

The launch of Ola Friend comes on the heels of ByteDance's acquisition of Oladance, a company specialising in wearable audio devices. ByteDance's hardware portfolio also includes ownership of VR headset manufacturer Pico. The Ola Friend earbuds are offered in four stylish colours: purple, silver, black, and white.

Excitement surrounds the pre-orders for Ola Friend, which have commenced today. Customers can secure their pair, with shipping scheduled to begin on October 17.

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• ByteDance, known for TikTok, ventures into hardware with Ola Friend earbuds

• Ola Friend earbuds priced at US$170, exclusively available in China

• Earbuds connect to ByteDance's AI assistant, Doubao, for various functionalities

Source: ENGADGET