Honor Unveils Innovative 'Robot Phone' Concept with AI-Powered Pop-Up Camera

I Need Honor's Outlandish Robot Phone With a Self-Aware, Pop-Up Camera to Be Real

Katie is a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor Swift correspondent. You can also find her writing about tech for good, ethics and human rights, the climate crisis, robots, travel and digital culture. She was once described a "living synth" by London's Evening Standard for having a microchip injected into her hand. What do you get if you cross an AI-powered phone with a DJI Osmo camera? The answer is something akin to the Robot Phone, which Chinese tech company Honor is developing. The phone-maker teased the concept device in a video it released on Wednesday, promising more to come at MWC in March. I was immediately intrigued by this phone design, which appears to include a self-aware robotic camera. The less said about the video itself, the better. But if you can overlook the fact that it's very obviously AI-generated with stock music that sounds lifted from a Netflix Christmas sequel, it's worth a watch simply to get your head around the concept. The design features a pop-up camera that swings out from the rear of the phone, perched atop a gimbal-like robotic arm. This is no mere selfie camera. The video shows the camera nodding in approval at an outfit the person holding it is trying on, and playing peekaboo with a baby when the phone is face down on a desk. Honor says in a press release that it wants to transform phones into devices that function as "emotional companions that sense, adapt, and grow with their users." Already, we're seeing phones evolve, with the addition of AI agents, into all-knowing digital personal assistants. What Honor is envisaging is a step beyond this, introducing robotics into the mix to create a next-generation device that can respond physically to people and its environment. The idea is compelling and not unwelcome amid a landscape of generic phone design. Yet whether the engineering can deliver on the AI-generated vision remains to be seen. I'll be at the MWC in Barcelona next year, and I'm already excited to know if the company can show me tangible proof that the Robot Phone is more than just a concept. In the meantime, the company has also unveiled the Magic 8 series in China. Honor bills this latest flagship device as "the first self-evolving AI smartphone," one that will continue to get smarter through AI-driven learning. It comes equipped with a dedicated AI button to activate Honor's YOYO AI agent, which it says can execute tasks across 3,000 different scenarios. This might include ordering your phone to delete all your blurry screenshots, or summarizing a month of expenses and sending them to your manager. The Magic 8 will be one of the first phones to feature Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, alongside a 7,200-mAh silicon-carbon battery with 120-watt SuperCharge and an AI-driven telephoto camera system. It should be noted, though, that this version of the phone will only be available in China, so the specs may be different for its European launch later this year.

Honor is making a smartphone with a fold-out camera

Device maker Honor has revealed that one of its upcoming smartphones will offer an unusual design choice. While many manufacturers push to have more numerous and powerful cameras in their products, the Chinese company will put the camera for its new phone on a pop-out mechanical arm. According to CNBC, the design of this so-called "robot phone" is meant to showcase Honor's AI capabilities as the company makes a $10 billion investment in artificial intelligence over the next five years. Honor hasn't shared too much about this product, but will likely have more details during next year's Mobile World Congress.

Honor reveals a new smartphone with a fold-out robotic camera arm

BEIJING -- Chinese smartphone company Honor on Wednesday announced it is developing a smartphone with a camera that folds out of the device using a robotic arm. The company said it plans to share more details at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona early next year. The new device would be the latest Chinese consumer electronics product to shake up a decades-old hardware design in an attempt to integrate AI. Earlier this year, Beijing-based Roborock started selling a robot vacuum cleaner with an arm that folds out from the top, and combines AI with sensors to detect obstructions for the arm to remove. Honor is calling the product a "robot phone" and said it will incorporate artificial intelligence, but did not provide specific details. The company said it is rolling out AI tools that help its smartphone users scan Chinese e-commerce sites for personalized shopping deals, quickly hail a taxi or get tips on how to better position the camera for a photo. The move is part of Honor's plan to spend $10 billion over the next five years for a transformation into an AI device company.

World's first Robot Phone by Honor moves and emotes like 'Wall-E'

Honor described the device as one that "will integrate AI-powered multi-modal intelligence, robotic functionality, and advanced handheld imaging capabilities." The company added that "as a new species of AI device, the Honor Robot Phone will redefine future human-machine interaction and coexistence." The teaser video that followed showed a device straight out of a sci-fi film, something between Wall-E and BB-8, with a camera that giggles and swivels on command. The Robot Phone is not an incremental upgrade or new model. Honor claims it represents an entirely new category of device, one that "positions Honor at the forefront of AI device innovation." The company even described it as an "emotional companion" that "senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users' lives with love, joy, and wisdom." In the CGI video, the phone's main feature is a gimbal-mounted camera that pops out from the rear. The motorized arm allows it to move freely and capture photos or videos from nearly any angle. The camera can even look around when the phone is placed face down, giving the impression that it's aware of its surroundings.

Honor's new Robot Phone concept is giving DJI Pocket fans something to look forward to

There's no shortage of concept phones. Every single year, especially around CES, we see a deluge of devices with novel screens, new folding concepts, snap on cameras, smartphones that might one day wrap around your wrist like a wearable, rollable devices with horizontally extendable screens, and a lot more. In a saturated 'market' of concepts, a Chinese smartphone giant has managed to show off a cool idea that genuinely feels different from the rest. The Chinese giant we're talking about is Honor, and the concept in reference is its latest "Robot Phone." Honor highlighted the new concept in a YouTube video, and it honestly looks like a lovechild between a modern smartphone and one of those DJI gimbals with a camera attached. The company describes the concept phone as a "revolutionary AI device that fuses multi-modal intelligence, advanced robotics, and next-generation imaging." A concept that might actually graduate to tangible hardware At first glance, it looks like a regular modern smartphone with a huge screen, thin bezels, under display front shooters, and a beefy rear camera module. It's only when the rear camera springs out that you realize something is entirely different about the device. The rear camera, attached to an arm, springs up above the device's top lip, giving the phone a wide-eyed Wall-E-like look. The arm, and in turn, the camera, appear to be capable of full autonomous movement, essentially being able to shoot photos and videos regardless of the phone's orientation. A large part of Honor's announcement video highlighted the concept device at a desk, facing down, with the rear gimbal-like contraption popping up and over. The concept video does a great job of highlighting the concept hardware, but it does an equally good job of hinting at the device's mechanical camera being intelligent. It's AI-enabled nature will allow the device to autonomously frame shots, even capturing moments that you might want to look back on. The Chinese tech giant, in an email to Android Police, confirmed that it will have "more details about this ROBOT PHONE at MWC 2026 in Barcelona," which might suggest that the device might just actually graduate from a fantastical CGI concept to an actual piece of hardware that users might be able to buy in the near future.

Honor managed to rip off Apple and Sony in strange 'Robot Phone' teaser video

Honor is going all in on its "Alpha Plan" in a strange yet terrifying teaser video of its in-progress AI phone, the "Robot Phone." In the process, the company makes design choices that bear striking resemblances to existing IPs. Alongside the Magic 8 series, Honor teased a new phone currently in the works. It's built on AI, and it isn't subtle. The teaser video shows a device that "will redefine future human-machine interaction and coexistence." The video starts with a quick snippet of text that immediately reads "iPhone." The company is alluding to a next-gen device that takes current flagships further. That text transitions to "AiPhone" in a "or so you thought" moment. The next scene showcases what looks like the Honor Magic 8 but soon transitions into something that looks all too familiar. It isn't exactly the same, but Honor's Robot Phone looks a lot like the iPhone 17 Pro. It's a passing resemblance, and the design is making its way through Chinese manufacturers as the new norm. Apple homage aside, the next shot shows another very familiar piece of IP. It might not be exact, but it looks like the back of the Robot Phone bears something very similar to the Sony Alpha logo, which the company uses on its mirrorless camera lineup. Even further, Honor touts the Robot Phone as the next step in its "Alpha Plan," which aims to bridge the gap between user value and AI models. The rest of the video remains weird. A gimbal camera emerges from the back of the Robot Phone with the infantile curiosity of a puppy, complete with head-tilts and audible noises of wonder. Honor seems to be trying to convey the autonomous nature of the unreleased device. The gimbal and the underlying AI model appear to be able to pan and tilt without command. Several scenes in the video highlight AI-generated scenarios in which the Robot Phone captures content on its own while the user nearby simply takes it in. The concept is neat, though the logistics of a compact gimbal tightly folded underneath a portion of the rear camera array present its own challenges. It is a teaser video, after all, but Honor seems confident in its arrival. Honor notes that more information will become clear at MWC 2026, where the company plans to release more details about the AI phone.

This upcoming 'Robot Phone' with a fold-out gimbal is an absurd look at what's next for smartphones

You've not seen anything like the Honor Robot Phone before, but we can't tell yet if that's a good thing. Honor just announced its new concept phone at a Beijing event, but the device won't get a full debut until MWC 2026 in Barcelona. In essence, it's a phone with a camera gimbal that slots into the back of the phone under a sliding panel, but can rotate all the way out to the front when needed. The gimbal will be the key to enabling "AI-powered multi-modal intelligence, robotic functionality, and advanced handheld imaging capabilities," as Honor describes them. It also identifies this phone as "an emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users' lives with love, joy, and wisdom." The YouTube video above shows how this might work, although we can't say how much creative license Honor has taken when showing what this phone can do. Between the family animation-style music and little voice lines given to the "robot", it's definitely focused more on painting us a picture than explaining concrete features and hardware. The page on Honor's global website doesn't explain much more. There's also a dedicated r/HONORROBOTPHONES subreddit you can join, except at the time of writing, the community's currently banned for an unknown reason. Honor calls the Robot Phone a key future part of its "Alpha Plan," the company's outline for evolving into a more AI-focused company. And the Magic8 Pro, which debuted at the same event, is similarly trained on this vision. The Magic8 Pro looks like a more standard flagship Android phone but is according to Honor a "Self-Evolving AI Smartphone", thanks to a YOYO Agent promising to automate thousands of tasks. While it's not clear whether these capabilities will make it to the global version of the phone, we will still hopefully benefit from the Magic8Pro's 200MP telephoto camera and large 7,200 mAh battery with 120W charging. Hopefully, Honor will keep us informed about the Robot Phone and its actual features between now and March 2026, but if the Barcelona conference is the first place everything gets shown off, we'll be there to tell you all about it. Whether this is a genuine future direction for phones, or a weird evolutionary dead end, we're excited to see what unfolds.

Honor's 'Robot Phone' Has a Pop Out Gimbal Camera

Honor has announced that it is developing a smartphone with a camera that extends from the device using a robotic arm. For now, there's only a bizarre, mostly AI-generated video of the phone but the company says it will share additional details at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next year. Honor is calling it the "Robot Phone", and it features an AI-enabled, gimbal-mounted camera that unfolds from the rear of the phone and can capture photos and video from multiple directions. In the CGI teaser video, the phone appears as a slightly thicker model with a split camera module and an alpha symbol replacing the traditional Honor logo, representing the company's "Alpha Plan" vision. The video shows the camera arm unfolding with a playful giggle before moving into various positions, suggesting that it can operate autonomously. Honor describes the concept by saying, "With the Robot Phone, Honor envisions the future phone as more than just a tool. It becomes an emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users' lives with love, joy, and wisdom," per The Verge. The company says the project is part of a broader effort to integrate artificial intelligence into its products. It is currently rolling out AI tools that can help users scan e-commerce sites for shopping deals, hail taxis, or even dish out photography tips. The initiative forms part of Honor's plan to invest $10 billion over the next five years to transform into an AI-driven device company. The phone has only been shown in CGI form so far, with no working prototype revealed. Honor is expected to present more information and possibly live hardware at Mobile World Congress next spring. This Robot Phone announcement followed the launch of Honor's Magic 8, the successor to the Magic 7, the company's flagship series. Engadget notes that Honor has previously experimented with unconventional designs, including a foldable smartphone and a laptop with a detachable webcam. While the concept of a camera mounted on a mechanical arm could open new possibilities for photography and video, it also raises questions about durability and production costs.

Forget the DJI Pocket 4 - Honor's 'Robot Phone' concept builds a gimbal-mounted camera into your smartphone

Suggested to feature advanced AI tools and gimbal-mounted fold-up camera Honor has just released details of its new concept smartphone, dubbed the 'Robot Phone', and it's all kinds of strange. In an announcement video that has all the makings of a teaser trailer for a Disney animated movie, complete with a sweeping score, the Chinese manufacturer revealed a CGI rendering of its new phone concept. The so-called Robot Phone features a gimbal-mounted camera assembly that folds out from the back of the device and swings through 180 degrees, to enable selfie capture and photography from a range of other angles. This arm has a striking resemblance to the rumored DJI Osmo Pocket 4, but with the convenience of being integrated into the body of a smartphone. In the video, Honor sells the AI element as a curious and child-like camera lens that almost seems to have a mind of its own. The camera pivots up and down, sweeping across a variety of scenes, while the unit gives off cute noises of awe, possibly in an effort to reassure us there isn't a malevolent AI entity hiding behind the attractive facade. From this short cinematic introduction, it seems the Robot Phone is more interested in watching fireworks, skydiving, and stargazing than fighting Tom Cruise. While details are a little scarce at this stage, it seems that Honor has attempted to evolve the idea of an AI assistant by giving it more of a personality, perhaps in the hope of encouraging greater willingness to interact with it on the part of the user. Not everyone enjoys the idea of talking to a piece of software, not least photographers who like the idea of being in control of their own creative process. The irony is, the demo itself appears to be AI generated, but if the Robot Phone tickles your interest, this is unlikely to bother you. The gimbal is certainly an interesting idea for a smartphone camera, which could prove popular in this video-centric world of content creation. Being able to smoothly capture footage as well as stills, using a compact device that fits in your pocket, opens up tremendous possibilities for filmmakers. Pro smartphone users need only the best phone gimbals, which usually require additional investment. While we've seen pop-out cameras on phones before, such as the Honor 9X and the OPPO Reno series, this motorized design gives a much wider range of motion. There is, of course, the matter of how robust the arm is in the final production device, but for that we'll have to wait and see. "Honor envisions the future phone as more than just a tool" says the company. With its striking resemblance to the DJI Osmo Pocket 4, it seems that Honor is hoping to appeal as much to the vlogger as to the smartphone user. Of course, the genuine usefulness to serious photographers and videographers will depend on the actual specs of the sensor and lenses; stabilized images and AI features will mean nothing if the phone can't output crisp, low-noise files. I'm also curious to find out how the gimbal camera impacts battery life. If the corporate hyperbole is to be believed, the Robot Phone could prove to be among the best smartphones for photography, but charging it three times per day is a regressive step I wouldn't personally be willing to compromise with as a photographer. So far, all we have is a snazzy AI-rendered model, but let's hope the Mobile World Congress, to be held in Barcelona in 2026, will give Honor the chance to properly flesh out its plans for the Robot phone. Will it be a truely revolutionary device or merely a hyped-up re-work of existing ideas? Watch this space.

The Robot Phone is here and it's part Wall-E, part Grogu, and all kinds of silly

At the end of an epic, two-hour-plus presentation for the Magic8 Pro smartphone, Honor showed what it believes is the future of smartphones, AI, and robotics. It's called the Robot Phone, and it's one of the most bizarre things we've seen this year. Wall-E in a phone? Here's how Honor describes the Robot Phone: This innovative device will integrate AI-powered multi-modal intelligence, robotic functionality, and advanced handheld imaging capabilities. As a new species of AI device, the Honor Robot Phone will redefine future human-machine interaction and coexistence, positioning Honor at the forefront of AI device innovation. Yes, you read that right. The Robot Phone isn't a new model or a new range, but a new species. Like Honor has abandoned its manufacturing plant in China and moved to Jurassic Park. The promotional video is suitably out-there too, and it paints a picture of a future where Honor blends Wall-E with BB-8, then puts the result inside a phone that looks a bit like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, where the "robot" views the world through a gimbal-mounted camera that pops out the back of the phone. Not a robot overlord Honor continues to say: With the Robot Phone, Honor envisions the future phone as more than just a tool. It becomes an emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users' lives with love, joy, and wisdom. To call the Robot Phone a robot is a bit of a stretch, but it does promise to give AI more of a personality, something that's clear from all the wheee, ohhhh, bleep, and coooo sound effects that accompany the video. It's like R2-D2 swallowed Grogu. Honor shows the Robot Phone entertaining kids (nothing new there), watching you walk around the house, checking out women who've just wandered off the set of The Matrix, critiquing outfits, providing selfie duties, and skydiving. Beats folding clothes, I suppose. It sees the world through an evolution of those old pop-up cameras we've seen on phones like the Asus Zenfone 6 and Honor 9X, but this time, rather than being in a fixed position, a motorized gimbal gives it a far wider view, including where the phone is face down on a table and the all-seeing eye can still survey its domain. But what's it for? We've marveled at the ingenuity, squealed at the cuteness, and clapped with glee as the camera emerges from the back of the phone to greet us. Then reality hits. Why would we want such a thing, and what will it actually do? Looked at (somewhat) sensibly, the Robot Phone is an evolution of the visual search features we've seen in the Ray-Ban Meta, along with the few helpful AI features that have been released, like Google's Circle to Search. It sees what you see, and will almost certainly have a web search at its robotic fingertips to keep you informed. It's also an interesting way to make us less self-conscious talking to AI. Voice is the most intuitive way to interact with the software, but it's also the weirdest, and not everyone wants to talk to an inanimate object. By building a phone with a personality right out of the box, the Robot Phone may encourage us to feel more comfortable talking to and using AI. It's also impossible to ignore the massive, growing popularity of AI chatbots. This does point to people being willing to entertain an AI friend, so why not create one with a few helpful hardware-based features? If people are falling in love with ChatGPT, what's to stop future Honor phone owners wanting to give the Robot Phone a name, and ask for its hand in marriage? Is it real? Whatever you think of the Robot Phone, you've got to give Honor credit for thinking differently about the future of smartphones and AI. However, we probably shouldn't think too deeply about how the hardware will eventually work, what the battery life will be like, how the gimbal will affect durability, or the many privacy concerns that come with having the Eye of Sauron on the back of our phones. Does this mean it's a concept and nothing more? It appears Honor sees it as more than just a concept, and it intends to tell us more about the Robot Phone at Mobile World Congress 2026, which takes place in Barcelona, Spain in March. Will the trade show be where we see a real Robot Phone for the first time? It's exactly the type of thing we like to see there, and manufacturers always do plenty to ensure they stand out in the crowd. If it's there, winking and cooing at crowds, 2026 may just become the year of the Robot Phone. If you're keen, you can sign up for information about the phone here.

Honor's concept phone includes an AI-powered camera arm that's tailormade for vlogging

Honor's Robot Phone reimagines your camera as a curious little robot -- with feelings, movement, and a mind of its own. What's happened? Honor's latest concept is here to shake up the smartphone game with even more AI and robotics (yes, you read that right). It's called "Honor Robot Phone," and its main highlight is an in-built gimbal-mounted camera that does more than capture pictures and videos. The video teaser (which is all we have at the moment) shows that the concept phone features a robotic arm with a gimbal camera that unfolds from the back of the phone. Although we've seen pop-up and flipping cameras on smartphones (as seen on the Asus ZenFone 6), the camera arm on Honor's Robot Phone appears to move independently, allowing it to shoot photos and videos from multiple angles, even when the phone is lying flat on a table. The use of CGI in the teaser is obvious, but the way the camera arm pivots to track subjects and flips up for selfies looks truly fascinating. Why is this important? At first glance, it appears that Honor is aiming to integrate a gimbal-mounted camera into a smartphone's chassis, but there's more to it. The concept phone is a part of the company's Alpha ecosystem of AI-based devices. In the teaser, the camera seems to respond to its surroundings, as if it can scan and see the environment, analyze what's happening, and then react accordingly; that's possible via multimodal intelligence. Whether intentional or simply for dramatic effect, the camera's movements resemble head nods, accompanied by sounds of giggling and gasps. At one point in the teaser, the robotic camera arm is even shown playing peekaboo with a baby. It's clear that Honor wants to add personality to the camera arm, as it is already promoting it as an "emotional companion." Why should I care? Imagine a phone capable of intelligently following, framing, and tracking your gestures; it could unlock new creative possibilities for selfies and vlogging. While videography enthusiasts might want to keep an eye on the smartphone with a built-in gimbal-mounted camera, which could result in ultra-stable videos and dynamic framing, the concept could also confuse regular users, as it appears to be a far-fetched dream at this point. It's exciting that Honor is rethinking the smartphone experience by incorporating AI and robotics, but this also poses a couple of issues. We don't know how the camera arm's movement will affect the smartphone's durability, how long the phone's battery will last (it already appears to be thicker than most phones on the market), or whether having a high-definition camera with AI that recognizes stuff around it will pose a privacy concern for users. OK, what's next? Honor plans to unveil more details about the Robot Phone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona next March. It's worth mentioning that the concept phone isn't the only AI-driven device in the pipeline, as the company has committed $10 billion toward creating an AI-driven ecosystem of devices over the next five years.

HONOR Robot Phone Puts AI-Powered Camera on a Moving Robotic Arm - Phandroid

HONOR is bringing something wild to Mobile World Congress 2026. The company's Robot Phone concept features a fold-out robotic camera arm that moves on its own. This allows it to capture shots with gimbal-like precision and AI being its driving force. The robotic arm unfolds from the back of the device, rotating a full 360 degrees. It can even tilt and flip to frame shots independently. HONOR integrated advanced AI that perceives the environment, assists with content creation, and even responds to user queries with what the company describes as emotional intelligence. The system can stabilize footage, make creative decisions about composition, and interact naturally with users. This concept is part of HONOR's Alpha Plan. This is a $10 billion investment strategy aimed at becoming an AI device ecosystem company. The initiative positions the company to lead in multi-modal intelligence and next-generation imaging technology, building on innovations like the Magic8 Pro's 200MP telephoto system. While pop-up cameras have existed before, the Robot Phone takes a different approach. Previous designs simply slid or flipped out to eliminate notches. HONOR's concept combines robotic mechanics with AI autonomy, resulting in a camera that actively participates in photography rather than passively sitting in place. The design draws inspiration from the Magic 8 series and professional camera systems, with styling cues reminiscent of Sony Alpha cameras. HONOR plans to reveal more details at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. Whether this becomes a purchasable device or remains concept territory remains to be seen. However, it does signal where smartphones might be heading, toward intelligent companions rather than simple communication tools.

Honor's Robot Phone With a Pop-Up Camera Will Debut at MWC 2026

* Honor Robot Phone's AI camera could feature a USB Type-C port * Honor Robot Phone carries a triple-rear camera setup * The company will launch the handset next year Honor Magic 8 Pro and Magic 8 were unveiled on Wednesday during the tech firm's October 2025 launch event. Hours after the launch, the company introduced a new concept phone, which will be part of its artificial intelligence (AI) device ecosystem. It's called the Honor Robot Phone, and the Chinese firm revealed that the phone will integrate robotics, photography, and multi-modal AI capabilities. Scheduled to be unveiled during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, the handset will feature a pop-up AI camera with a gimbal and a rotatable motor. Honor Robot Phone Launch Date, Design (Expected) In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Chinese smartphone maker teased the upcoming Honor Robot Phone with an AI camera assistant that pops up from its rear camera unit. The handset will launch during the MWC 2026 event in Spain's Barcelona. Its robot camera is shown with a gimbal and a rotating motor. The company said that it will feature an "AI brain", while offering "mobility of a robot" (translated from Chinese). Introducing the Honor Robot Phone, the company said that it is a "revolutionary AI device" that combines multi-modal intelligence, advanced robotics, and "next-generation imaging". While the company has yet to reveal the technical specifications of the upcoming handset, the video shows the Honor Robot Phone's robot camera providing information about a user's dress, their surroundings, and entertaining an infant. The movable AI camera appears to have a USB Type-C port, which could be present for attaching other accessories. The phone is shown with a hole-punch display, which might house the selfie camera. The rear panel resembles Apple's newly launched iPhone 17 series, with a glass cutout in the middle and an unspecified metal surrounding it. The handset might carry a triple-rear camera module, including the pop-up AI camera. The Alpha symbol appears in the middle of the back panel, which could be used on other products in Honor's AI ecosystem. While the left side of the phone seems to have been left clean, the power button and volume controls might be placed on the right side. The Honor Robot Phone's robot camera will be hidden inside a glass cover to provide protection.

Honor's AI Robot Phone looks like Wall-E in smartphone form | Stuff

Honor has teased a smartphone with an AI-powered robotic camera arm with more details promised in early 2025. Honor has announced it developing a phone with a cute-looking robotic camera arm that'll peak out of a shirt pocket and act like an AI companion for a range of other purposes. During the launch of the Magic 8 series in China on Wednesday, the company teased what's currently being referred to as the 'Robot Phone', with more details promised in early 2026 at MWC in Barcelona. The device, which is quite reminiscent of the sentient robot Johnny 5 from the Short Circuit movies (how long before we hear 'no disassemble! from this little guy?) or Pixar's Wall-E in a 21st century context, will rely on artificial intelligence for elements of its operation, Honor says. It sounds as ifthe Robot Phone will enable users to capture their environment in a similar way to how users of smart specs like the Meta Ray-Ban's are currently able. However, the device will also use AI to follow scenes automatically, or can be commanded to follow something in particular by the user. The video teaser Honor posted shows the AI robot arm helping its owner choose an outfit, film a sky dive from different perspectives, soothe a crying baby with a game of peek-a-boo, and capture the entire sky while stargazing. The robot also seems like a bit of a ladies robot too, judging by the video where it is depicted following a woman in a red dress that smiled in its direction. Sci-fans might notice nods to The Matrix and Battlestar Galactica. Alluding to unreality perhaps? Everything else seems fun, playful and harmless, but we're not too sure about an autonomous camera designed that likes to follow the movements of passing women, Honor! The press release certainly talks a good game as it pitches the device as the dawn of a new era of human and machine co-existence. The company writes: "This innovative device will integrate AI-powered multi-modal intelligence, robotic functionality, and advanced handheld imaging capabilities. As a new type of AI device, the Honor 'Robot Phone' will redefine future human-machine interaction and coexistence, positioning Honor at the forefront of AI device innovation. Overall, Honor's goal is to take the smartphone beyond the current tool for multi-faceted every day use, but to ensure it becomes an "emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot." The Robot Phone appears to be another step on that path. Mobile World Congress takes place in Barcelona, from March 2-5 2026. Stuff will be in attendance at the Fira Gran Via and will certainly be stopping by the Honor booth to see what all this is about.

HONOR ROBOT PHONE AI device with multi-modal intelligence, advanced robotics teased

At the China launch event, HONOR introduced HONOR Magic8's AI concept version HONOR ROBOT PHONE, positioned as part of its AI product ecosystem. According to the HONOR, the device is designed to fuse multi-modal intelligence, advanced robotics, and next-generation imaging. It is equipped with an AI system for environmental perception and features robotic mobility, allowing it to move. One of the key functions highlighted is its ability to act as a personal camera for its users, capturing moments such as celebrations or everyday life. The video posted by the company also shows the device potentially assisting with tasks like outfit selection and capturing dynamic shots, like during skydiving. This new product is part of the company's "HONOR ALPHA PLAN," which was announced earlier this year. HONOR positions the Robot Phone as the next step in the evolution of intelligent devices, following the transition from standard smartphones to AI-centric phones. The initiative is aligned with the company's goal of becoming a global leader in the AI device ecosystem. The company plans to officially debut the product at the MWC 2026 in Barcelona.

Honor's new AI Robot phone can't be real, it just can't

Honor has designed an exciting new type of smartphone, and all I can say is wow. I've been so impressed by Honor's deeply creative approach to tech this year, especially with some of the best camera phones, and I think it may have just invented the smartphone of my dreams (although it's also reminiscent of a Black Mirror hellscape). Let me catch you up. As part of the company's AI-focused Alpha Plan, it debuted what it's calling the 'Honor Robot Phone' yesterday at the Magic8 series launch in Beijing. Picture a robot phone in your mind, and it's actually pretty close to what Honor has whipped up. From the promotional video that Honor has released (you can watch it using the link above), it looks like the robot-camera hybrid actually pops out from the phone, and sticks out on a sort of gimbal-slash-tripod that can fold itself away into the phone's camera unit (can any of the best iPhones for Photography do THAT!?). Sure, you could argue that the video has been edited to look like a Pixar movie, given that the concept of a robot phone is still pretty outlandish. But as a photographer and someone who LOVES robots, I can't help but feel that this is everything I've ever wanted in a camera phone. Right now, Honor's Robot Phone is just a concept, but the company has big plans to share more details and unveil the Robot Phone at MWC (the Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona next year. Could this mean that we'd get to see a prototype? Honor has shared: "This innovative device will integrate AI-powered multi-modal intelligence, robotic functionality, and advanced handheld imaging capabilities. [The phone] will redefine future human-machine interaction and coexistence, positioning HONOR at the forefront of AI device innovation. "We are now witnessing a transformation from smartphone to AI phone, and now to Robot Phone. Starting from the new Magic8 series, and with the new Robot Phone, Honor envisions the future phone as more than just a tool; it becomes an emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users' day-to-day lives." So...you're telling me that the AI Robot Phone will be somewhat sentient? That's both incredible and terrifying. I'm not sure if this is something I'd want to carry around in my pocket exactly, but the idea of having a camera with an independent mind of its own is so exciting to me. Though I can't imagine this device will be as affordable as some of Honor's budget camera phones. I cannot wait to find out more about this Robot Phone in 2026. What do you think? Cool or creepy? Let me know below.

Honor reveals Robot Phone with AI-driven fold-out camera

The concept is part of Honor's Alpha Plan and will be showcased at Mobile World Congress next spring. Honor has announced a futuristic concept smartphone, the Robot Phone, offering an AI-powered gimbal-mounted camera that can shoot photos and videos in virtually any direction. The device was shown only through the CGI teaser videos and seems to be a conventional smartphone with a thick form factor. However, the standout feature is a bulky dual-part rear camera module that unfolds into a robotic arm capable of autonomous movement. The fold-out cameras can be flipped for the users to take selfies, can rotate to capture unique angles, or even operate independently to frame a shot, much like a mini gimbal functions. Honor's teaser adds a playful touch, with the camera arm producing a cartoonish giggle as it deploys. Many social media users compared it to the Asus Zenfone 6 from 2019, which featured a flipping camera, while also resembling small gimbal devices like DJI's Osmo Pocket. The Robot Phone's AI integration reportedly allows it to sense environments, adjust for optimal photography, and even interact in creative ways, making it more than just a tool; it's pitched as a personal companion. Also read: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold price drops by Rs 83,000 during Flipkart Big Bang Diwali sale As per the company, the Robot phone is part of the Alpha plan, reflecting a vision of devices that adapt and evolve alongside their users. The company stated it as an emotional companion designed to enrich lives, offering "love, joy, and wisdom" through intelligent interactions. While details remain limited, the concept hints at potential use cases beyond photography, including monitoring, automation, and other AI-driven functions. The company talked about the concept during the Magic 8 flagship series launch event. The device is also said to be showcased at the Mobile World Congress next spring. However, nothing is confirmed at the moment.