Cutting-Edge Technology: Honor Unveils Robot Phone Demo at MWC 2026

If you missed its debut at CES earlier this year, the Honor Robot Phone also made an appearance at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona.

The phone was exhibited alongside Honor’s new flagship foldable, the Honor Magic V6, as well as some tablets and laptops. During the main keynote, Honor not only showcased its upcoming Robot Phone but also conducted demos with the device on the show floor.

Initially resembling a conventional candy bar phone, the Robot Phone reveals a camera on a three-axis gimbal upon sliding a panel on the back.

To enhance its uniqueness, Honor has given this motorized camera a personality through the device’s built-in AI assistant.

While the units at the event were not final, Honor CEO Jian Li confirmed the company’s intention to launch the Robot Phone in the latter half of 2026, with details on timing, regions, and pricing yet to be determined.

Although not distributing Robot Phone samples for hands-on trials, Honor conducted demo sessions with its lively new AI-driven robotic companion, providing attendees with a glimpse of its capabilities.

Fit check

One of the most interactive features of the Robot Phone is engaging with its built-in AI assistant. Simply by holding your hand up in front of the screen, a chat session with the assistant commences, while the gimbal-mounted camera unfolds to ‘see’ you.

Once the camera is activated, a viewfinder appears on the screen, enabling you to see what the gimbal camera is capturing. Upon recognizing you, the camera starts tracking your movements, offering a personalized experience.

While the phone remains stationary, the gimbal head allows the deployable camera to track you with full mobility.

Connected to a Bluetooth microphone for better audio quality, you can interact with the AI assistant by asking simple questions, with the camera’s movements reflecting responses.

During a demonstration, the Robot Phone assessed an outfit, providing positive feedback on specific elements like color choices and clothing items.

Do the Robot

Alex Walker-Todd / Foundry

Watching the Robot Phone’s camera movements gives a glimpse of its flexibility, demonstrating its capabilities further.

Requesting the phone to play music initiates dynamic movements of the gimbal head, synchronizing with the music’s rhythm.

To conclude interactions with the Robot Phone, a simple “Bye” command prompts the gimbal to retract back into its housing.

The device is anticipated to be capable of dancing to various tunes, with the current model limited to a specific set of songs for choreographed performances.

New cinematic video tricks

Engaging with the Robot Phone and witnessing its unique features offer innovative ways to interact with the on-board AI, highlighting its advanced camera capabilities.

The device’s built-in three-axis gimbal, supporting a 200MP camera, provides unparalleled creative videography options not achievable with standard smartphones.

The stability offered by the gimbal is evident in comparative tests with traditional smartphones, showcasing the Robot Phone’s superior tracking abilities and smooth footage capture.

Features like face tracking and Spinshot mode enhance the camera’s functionality, enabling cinematic camera movements with ease.

So much more to come

During the MWC keynote, Honor announced a strategic collaboration with renowned cinematic camera manufacturer ARRI, with the Robot Phone serving as the platform to showcase their joint efforts.

Details on the partnership are forthcoming, promising exciting developments in the future of mobile photography and videography.