Honor used the stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to showcase a concept smartphone with a motorized robotic camera arm, as the Chinese brand looks to carve out space against rivals like Apple and Samsung. The company also introduced its latest foldable device and briefly teased a humanoid robot, signaling broader ambitions beyond smartphones.
The Robot Phone features a camera module mounted on a small mechanical arm that pops out from the device’s body and physically moves to track subjects. Powered by a miniature motor and integrated with Honor’s AI assistant, the camera can lock onto a person or object and follow movement automatically. In demonstrations, the camera even responded to voice prompts by nodding yes or no.
Honor said it aims to commercialize the Robot Phone in China in the second half of the year. The concept appears designed to appeal to video creators, resembling stabilized camera systems seen in action cameras and drones. The camera arm folds back into the handset when not in use, preserving a standard smartphone profile.
The launch comes as smartphone makers face rising memory chip prices and softer demand, forcing brands to differentiate their products more aggressively. Analysts view the Robot Phone as a marketing push to generate attention as Honor works to grow its presence outside China, particularly in Europe where its market share remains relatively small.
Alongside the concept device, Honor launched the Magic V6 foldable smartphone. The new model measures 8.75 millimeters thick when closed, slightly slimmer than its predecessor, and matches the thickness of many flagship slab phones. It features one of the largest batteries available in a foldable device and runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 mobile platform. The Magic V6 will go on sale in China in March, with international expansion planned for later in the year.
Honor also teased its first humanoid robot, though details were limited. The company said the robot would focus on tasks such as shopping assistance, workplace inspections, and companionship. The move places Honor among a growing list of Chinese technology firms expanding into robotics as part of broader diversification strategies.
