Honor’s Robot Phone Set to Launch This Year
▼ Summary
– Honor has revealed its “Robot Phone” at MWC 2026, confirming plans for a release in China in the second half of this year.
– The device is essentially a smartphone with a built-in, gimbal-stabilized camera arm featuring a 200-megapixel sensor and AI tracking modes.
– A working unit was demonstrated, showing it can unfold, hold an AI conversation, and fold back in, but its full capabilities were not shown.
– Honor also showcased a dancing humanoid robot on stage, but provided no details and did not confirm if its movements were autonomous or teleoperated.
– The author plans to see more demonstrations of both devices to better understand Honor’s robotics ambitions.
Honor has unveiled further details about its innovative Robot Phone at MWC 2026, showcasing a functional prototype alongside a dancing humanoid robot. The company confirmed plans for a commercial launch in the second half of this year, though initial availability is expected to be limited to the Chinese market. This device represents a bold step into integrating advanced robotics with everyday mobile technology.
While the name “Robot Phone” might suggest a fully autonomous device, it is essentially a smartphone featuring a sophisticated, built-in camera system. The core of this innovation is a 200-megapixel main camera sensor housed within what Honor claims is the industry’s smallest 4DoF gimbal system. This compact stabilization arm allows the camera to physically move and track subjects with impressive precision. Beyond photography, the phone incorporates various AI-powered tracking modes and interactive features, enabling it to nod, shake its head during conversations, and even perform simple dance movements to music.
During a crowded demonstration, a working unit was seen unfolding its camera apparatus, engaging in a basic AI-driven conversation, and then retracting smoothly back into the phone’s body. This confirmed the mechanical functionality, though a full assessment of its capabilities awaits further hands-on time. The prototype on display was largely inactive, with Honor’s primary showcase being a chat application featuring animated, interactive eyes on the screen.
The smartphone was presented on stage with a small, agile humanoid robot that performed backflips and danced. Honor provided no specifications for this companion robot but has previously indicated ambitions for a commercial robotics product. The robot’s movements on stage raised questions about whether it was operating autonomously or via remote control; the company did not clarify. Later, in a demo area, it was observed waving and shaking hands with members of the press, albeit with some hesitation and inconsistency that suggested a degree of autonomous operation rather than direct teleoperation.
It remains unclear if Honor is collaborating with an established robotics firm to develop this humanoid platform. Observers noted the robot would occasionally respond to gestures, such as waving back, but often required multiple prompts before reacting. Further exploration of both the Robot Phone and the humanoid companion is planned on the MWC show floor, which should provide clearer insights into the practical applications and readiness of Honor’s ambitious robotics ventures.
(Source: The Verge)
