A closer look at Honor’s Robot Phone
Source: Engadget
While Honor has already announced tablets, foldables, and more, its most intriguing device at MWC 2026 is the Robot Phone—along with the humanoid robot that accompanied it. After a brief showcase at CES, the phone isn’t slated for launch yet, but Honor revealed additional specs, tech demos, and a closer look during its press event in Barcelona. The Robot Phone is expected to hit the market later this year.
Camera Gimbal and Pop‑up Mechanism
Image by Mat Smith for Engadget
Honor has engineered a highly mobile camera gimbal that doubles as a tiny personal robot. The pop‑up camera can:
- Cock its “head” and shake to say no
- Nod to agree
- Rotate a full 360° (referred to as a “flip”)
- Bop along to music (five songs were demonstrated)
A demo showed the device entering a “sleep” mode by covering its gimbal eye, though the camera remains exposed rather than folding away. Durability remains a concern, given the mechanical complexity and potential exposure to dust or rough handling.
Technical Specifications
- Micro motor: Described by CEO James Li as the industry’s smallest, “70 % smaller than existing micro motors” and smaller than a €1 coin.
- Gimbal: The smallest 4‑degrees‑of‑freedom system on the market, offering three‑axis stabilization.
- Primary sensor: 200‑megapixel camera.
- Fold‑away panel: Allows the primary camera to retract, revealing additional lenses for users who don’t need the gimbal.
Image by Mat Smith for Engadget
Software Features
- Super Steady Video – enhances stability while the phone is swung around.
- AI Object Tracking – automatically follows subjects.
- AI SpinShot – provides intelligent 90° and 180° rotations for cinematic transitions.
These capabilities mirror those found in larger phone gimbals and action cameras, but implemented in a much smaller form factor.
Collaboration with ARRI Image Science
Honor announced a partnership with ARRI Image Science to integrate cinematic standards into the Robot Phone’s camera system. According to a press release, ARRI’s “cinematic standards and professional workflows” will bring:
- Natural color reproduction
- Gentle highlight roll‑off
- A sense of depth typical of professional filmmaking
Dr. Benedikt von Lindeiner, VP at ARRI, highlighted that this is the first time ARRI Image Science technology is being embedded in a consumer device.
Image by Mat Smith
Humanoid Robot Companion
Honor also unveiled a humanoid robot that shared the stage with the Robot Phone. The robot:
- Danced alongside human performers
- Executed a backflip and shook hands with CEO James Li
- Engaged in on‑stage banter with the Robot Phone (the phone was notably chatty)
Dubbed Honor Robot, the companion is positioned for both industrial and domestic applications, forming part of Honor’s multi‑million‑dollar AI push.
Image by Mat Smith
Source: This article originally appeared on Engadget –