Compact hatchback from BYD — Blade LFP, cute design, BYD's most affordable EV in Gulf.
⚡ Battery Electric9 commands12 apps5 Gulf tips4 quick tasks16 hacks1 quiz questionsSome estimatesModel 2025 · first launched 2023Reviewed 22 May 202617 min read
This is a model-family guide; the selected trim's figures come from its car record above. Technical content is temporarily inherited from BYD Dolphin; verify the model year and software build before using commands.
Overview
Young Gulf first-time EV buyers — great price, simple maintenance.
Blade LFP battery
Compact size for Gulf cities
V2L 3.3 kW
BYD's cheapest EV in Gulf
Watch the car
A quick EV Gulf promo built from verified car photography, plus any available official footage—all playable on-site and ready to share.
EV Gulf Video HubA dedicated video for every guide car
Estimate — actual range varies with driving style, AC, and weather.
Charging cost calculator
Compare your EV charging cost with petrol fuel.
Electricity rate: 0.002 KWD/kWh
10300
Your yearly cost
6.594 KWD
monthly: 0.542 KWD · daily: 0.018 KWD
If petrol instead
139.613 KWD
Savings
133.019 KWD/yr
−95%
665.095 KWD saved over 5 years — that's more than half a car in some cases.
Estimate — rates vary by tier and time. Public DC fast charging usually 2-3× home cost.
Voice Commands
Choose where your car came from
The same model can understand a completely different language depending on market and software build.
ARArabic· LimitedENEnglish· Documented
Wake word
“Hi BYD”
9 commands
A GCC BYD reference documents Arabic examples at platform level, but availability varies by model and software build, so Arabic remains marked limited until your exact car is verified.
Verify once — it unlocks member perks across the whole platform.
Apps & Software
Official companions, cockpit software, and tools every owner needs — with Gulf availability notes.
i99dash
FeaturedVerified
Third-party
Turn your BYD screen into a smart cockpit — Arabic AI voice assistant + Telegram remote control
•Conversational AI voice assistant (full Arabic + English): “set temp to 22”, “open the window”, “where’s my car?”
•Remote control via Telegram: lock/unlock, start AC, locate the car (car must be powered on)
•Thousands of global radio stations + live TV channels on the car screen
•Full comfort control: AC, seat heat/cool/massage, ambient lighting, fragrance system
•Mini-app store: Prayer Times, Quran, wallpapers — new free mini apps monthly
•Arabic, English and Russian · one-time ~5-min pairing, automatic OTA updates
Supports DiLink 5.0 (Song Plus/L, Han, Tang, Seal 07/06 GT, Sea Lion 06/07, Denza N7/N8/D9) and DiLink 5.1 (Han L, Tang L, Denza N9, Z9). Note: the international Atto 3 (DiLink 4) is not on the published compatibility list. Activate: scan the QR on the car screen, log in with Telegram.
Car ScreenTelegramFree tier · 48h trial of the ONE premium plan, then ~$50/yearWebsite
BYD App
Verified
Official
Official BYD companion — remote control, charging status, and car location
•Remote lock/unlock and AC start
•Battery state of charge + remaining range
•Remote seat ventilation and heating
•Find car (flash lights / honk)
Available in Gulf app stores for official-dealer cars. China imports may need a Chinese account — ask the dealer before buying.
iOSAndroidFree
Import Screen Toolkit
Verified
Third-party
The community-proven kit to get YouTube, Google Maps and an Arabic keyboard onto your imported car's screen
•GBox (free): runs Google services — YouTube, Google Maps, Netflix — in a sandbox on GMS-less screens
•Aurora Store (free, open source): download Play Store apps with no Google account, straight from the screen
•Gboard: Arabic/English typing replacing the Chinese-only factory keyboard on imports
•Google Maps or Waze on the factory screen — full Gulf coverage unlike the Chinese factory nav
•Install: ADB from a laptop (adb install -g) — the same path i99dash uses. On BYD install AppManager first to unlock installs
Proven by thousands of owners (XDA + Russian and Gulf communities). Verified caveats: BYD removed ADB in v1.7+ (newer units need a downgrade or an AI Box), OTA updates can wipe apps, and video on the driver screen while moving is illegal and unsafe. APKs must be arm64-v8a.
Adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to any Android car screen
•Full CarPlay + Android Auto, wired and wireless
•No wiring changes — plugs into USB, fully reversible
•Online firmware upgrades via the AutoKit app
Thousands of Amazon owner reviews — the standard in the head-unit scene. On newer locked BYD DiLink units owners use the AI Box hardware variant instead of the APK — warranty-safe and non-invasive.
Unlocks YouTube, IPTV, video and web browsing inside Android Auto — free and open source
•Local video, IPTV (m3u) and YouTube on the car screen via Android Auto
•Built-in web browser and screen mirroring
•Works without root on Android 14/15/16
Installs on your phone (not the head unit) and needs developer mode + Unknown sources in Android Auto settings. For cars with Android Auto. Video while driving is unsafe and illegal — passengers and parked use only.
•Works with any ELM327 Bluetooth adapter (~$10-30)
•Reads/clears fault codes on most brands
Used-buyer alert: true battery health (SOH) is NOT exposed via standard OBD on BYD — you get SoC and voltages only. For an authoritative report before buying a used BYD: dealer diagnostic (VDS) or a pro tool like the Foxwell NT710.
4.29m length = easier parking than KIA Soul. Great for old souqs + classic malls.
🧴
Coastal rust checks
If you live near the coast, inspect door sills and edges every 6 months for paint bubbles — rust starts inside-out and early treatment is far cheaper.
Summer Survival Mode
0/10 · 0%
Checklist to prep your EV for 50°C summers. Each item extends battery life and improves your daily drive.
Keys & Access
BYD App
Recommended
Bluetooth.
NFC card
Backup.
Driving Assist
ACC + Lane Keep
L2
Highway assist.
AEB
Auto Emergency Braking.
Safety
⭐
EuroNCAP 5 stars
5-star Euro NCAP rating (2023).
🔥
Blade LFP — doesn't ignite
Exceptional thermal safety.
🎈
6 airbags
Comprehensive.
Quick Tasks
How do I X — quick tasks every owner should know.
❄️
Pre-cool before driving
Open the car app
Climate → Pre-cool
Set timer (5-15 min)
Get in cooled
🌙
Schedule night charging
Plug in
Charge → Schedule
Set 23:00 - 06:00
Save — car charges automatically
🏕️
Camp Mode for sleeping
Park in P
Activate Camp Mode from menu
AC stays on without key
Uses ~1 kWh/hour
🔄
Software update
Connect to WiFi
Settings → Software → Check Update
Accept if available
Updates while parked (30-90 min)
Hacks & Secrets
Hidden features, easter eggs, and tricks you won't find in the manual — from real owners.
🌴Gulf-Specific
Pre-cool from the app at home
Open the car app 10 min before leaving. Cabin cools, battery pre-conditions for charging. Saves time, max comfort in 50° summers.
💰Money Saver
Schedule charging at off-peak rates
In countries with time-of-use rates (UAE Slab 1), schedule 23:00-06:00 to save 20-40% on your electricity bill.
🛋️Comfort
Camp Mode for sleeping or waiting
Park in P, enable Camp Mode from menu or voice command. AC stays on, screens dim. Uses only ~1 kWh/hour.
🚀Performance
Max regen for less brake wear
Set regen to highest (One-Pedal or High). Cuts brake wear 60%+ and adds 5-10% range in city traffic.
💰Money Saver
Bump tire pressure +0.2 bar in summer
A small bump (~0.2 bar above recommended) reduces rolling resistance and adds 3-5% range. Also a heat-safety win.
🔍Hidden Feature
Close all windows + sunroof from the key fob
Hold the lock button 3–5s to close all windows (and sunroof); holding unlock opens them to vent a hot cabin. Enable it first: Car Settings → Vehicle → Locks.
🔍Hidden Feature
Three-finger swipe controls the climate
Three-finger swipe up/down changes temperature, left/right changes fan speed — works on top of any running app. Documented on Atto 3, Seal, Seal U, Sealion and Dolphin.
💡Tip
Charge the Blade (LFP) to 100% — recommended, not harmful
Unlike NMC packs, the LFP Blade should hit 100% about weekly to recalibrate the SoC reading. Daily 70–80% is fine; parking over a week? Leave it at 40–60%.
🌴Gulf-Specific
Camping Mode: AC runs while the car is off
An OTA update added Camping Mode — AC keeps running with the car powered off while the battery is above 20%. Ideal in Gulf summers for waiting in the car or desert trips.
🔍Hidden Feature
V2L: your BYD is a 3.3 kW mobile outlet
With a V2L adapter in the charge port most BYDs output ~3.3 kW of 220–230V AC — kettle, cooktop and fridge at the kashta. Keep it dry and buy an IP44-rated adapter.
🥚Easter Egg
Built-in karaoke on the car screen
DiLink supports karaoke (OTA in many markets) with UHF wireless mics via USB — lyrics scroll on screen while parked. BYD even has an official 100,000-song karaoke app partnership.
🔍Hidden Feature
NFC card key: tap the driver's mirror
Models like Seal and Dolphin ship an NFC card — hold it within 2 cm of the driver's mirror mark for 1–2s to lock/unlock. Keep it in your wallet as backup if the fob battery dies.
🥚Easter Egg
Say “Hi BYD, rotate screen” — and more voice tricks
The rotating screen flips portrait/landscape by voice — no buttons. The same assistant opens the sunroof, all windows and adjusts AC; the screen also split-screens nav + music.
🔍Hidden Feature
Transparent chassis: see the road under the car
Inside the 360° camera app a “transparent” mode stitches feeds to show what's beneath and around the car — great for high curbs, off-road rocks and tight parking.
💡Tip
Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto came via free OTA
BYD's V1.8.0 OTA added wireless CarPlay to Atto 3, Seal and Dolphin (Android Auto came earlier). Check Settings → System Update — Gulf availability depends on your car's spec.
💰Money SaverAdvanced
Buying a used BYD? Here's how to check the battery properly
A cheap OBD dongle + Car Scanner shows SoC, cell voltages and temps (a great first screen) — but true SOH is NOT exposed via standard OBD on BYD. Before paying: get a dealer diagnostic report (VDS) or an independent shop with a pro tool like the Foxwell NT710.
Share a new hack in the community to get it added to this guide.
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1 / 1Score: 0
Dolphin vs Atto 3 price?
Agent & parts
Your agent & parts in Bahrain
Fakhro Motors
Long-standing sole BYD distributor; bydbahrain.com. Sales + workshop in Manama area.
Warranty: 6 yearsBattery: 8 years / 200,000 km (MEA policy)
