HONOR’s Robotic Phone Concept Redefines the Smartphone

• Chinese consumer electronics company HONOR teased a new smartphone form factor, the HONOR ROBOT PHONE, at its recent launch event in China.
• The concept features a robotic, gimbal-mounted camera that unfolds from the device to see and understand the world around the user.

Chinese consumer electronics company HONOR teased a brand-new form factor for smartphones at the end of its recent launch event this week in China. Dubbed the Robot Phone, the smartphone's camera comes alive as an AI-enabled robotic arm that sits at the top of the device to see and analyze the world around it.

The company’s teaser video begins with the question “AIPhone?” — a nod to clues in the video description and press release about the device being reimagined for the era of embodied intelligence and physical AI. From the video description on YouTube:

“Introducing the HONOR ROBOT PHONE — a revolutionary AI device that fuses multi-modal intelligence, advanced robotics, and next-generation imaging.”

According to the company’s press release:

“Positioned as a new species of AI device, the HONOR ROBOT PHONE is set to redefine future human-machine interaction and coexistence, firmly placing HONOR at the forefront of AI device innovation.”

The video begins by revealing a new smartphone with an AI assistant and a powerful camera. At first glance, it looks like a regular smartphone until the camera area on the back opens, revealing a robotic arm, similar to a gimbal-mounted camera, that unfolds and rises to the top of the device. The “face” of the tiny robot is the camera itself, which allows it to see the world and use multimodal AI to understand what it’s seeing, making it even more helpful. The gimbal lets it move around and view the world from different angles depending on how the phone is positioned.

HONOR shows off a variety of potential use cases, including recognizing people and objects, helping to pick out clothing, and capturing better photographs. The teaser video gives the robot a personality, complete with playful reaction sounds. It may be a marketing touch, but when paired with the AI assistant shown at the start, it feels believable, especially with the robotic arm acting as the AI’s eyes.

The concept video feels like something out of a sci-fi film while still feeling grounded in near-future reality. It seems to nod to various futuristic stories, from the lady in the red dress in The Matrix, to the personality of WALL-E, the idea of an AI perceiving the world through a phone camera, as in Her.

The Robot Phone is part of HONOR’s Alpha Plan, the company’s long-term strategy to evolve from a smartphone manufacturer into a leader in intelligent devices and AI ecosystems. The Alpha Plan focuses on three key stages: building AI-native devices, creating an open ecosystem of connected AI products, and advancing toward general intelligence through embodied and multimodal systems. It represents HONOR’s vision for “AI in everything,” where devices are not just smart but perceptive, proactive, and capable of physical interaction with the world around them.

According to the press release:

“This represents a significant milestone in the HONOR ALPHA PLAN, announced earlier this year, as the company advances toward its goal of becoming a global AI device ecosystem leader. This innovative device will seamlessly integrate AI-powered multi-modal intelligence, robotic functionality, and advanced handheld imaging capabilities.”

Details remain scarce, but the teaser video, which appears to be mostly CGI, suggests that more will be revealed in Barcelona in 2026. This may hint at a full debut at Mobile World Congress, where HONOR could showcase the actual technology behind the concept.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

HONOR’s concept Robot Phone is one of the biggest departures from the smartphone form factor we’ve seen yet, and it makes complete sense for the era of AI. AI agents need context about the world, and they can only gain that through sensors that let them see and hear their surroundings. The Robot Phone delivers on this idea. Let’s hope it’s more than just a concept.

Source: HONOR