Honor launches mobile phone with robot camera, teases humanoid robot

Honor unveiled the capabilities of its robot phone on Sunday as the Chinese electronics company aims to stand out from larger rivals such as Samsung and Samsung. apple.

The company, which spun off from Huawei in 2020, also launched its latest foldable smartphone, the Magic V6, as part of an event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Sunday. Additionally, Honor teased a humanoid robot, but there were few details.

These releases come against a backdrop of continued memory chip shortages and unprecedented price increases, which are expected to force device makers to raise prices in 2026, straining demand for smartphones.

Honor first teased the robophone in October. The device is characterized by a camera mounted on a robot arm that pops out from the device itself. For those interested in video work, inspiration seems to come from Chinese drone maker DJI’s Osmo product line.

The camera is powered by a small motor and can lock onto objects or people and track their movements. Users can talk to Honor’s AI assistant, and the camera can respond with a “yes” or “no” answer by nodding.

Honor said it aims to commercially launch the phone in China in the second half of this year.

The robot phone shows how companies like Honor are trying to stand out in a sea of ​​similar-looking smartphones and give users a compelling enough reason to upgrade or switch from their current device.

The device is expected to be expensive, with Honor continuing to challenge the likes of Samsung and Samsung in the high-end market. appleEspecially in overseas markets such as Europe.

Honor ended the year as the sixth-largest smartphone player in China with just over 13% market share, according to Counterpoint Research. However, it is a much smaller company overseas and is trying to establish a brand presence there. According to Omdia research, the company’s market share in Europe in 2025 was 3%.

Honor entered the list of the region’s top five companies for the first time at the end of the year, and its growth was mainly driven by the sale of low-cost devices.

Francisco Geronimo, IDC’s vice president of data and analytics, told CNBC that the launch is more of a “marketing push” to generate buzz for the brand as it looks to expand market share outside of China.

“There’s some novelty there and they need that kind of innovation to show what they’re capable of,” Geronimo said. “It’s going to get everyone’s attention. Whether it translates into sales at launch or not, it’s going to be hard to sell, especially if it’s an expensive and bulky phone.”

While Samsung dominates the foldable smartphone category with its Galaxy Z Fold series of devices, Honor is moving into the premium segment with its foldable V series of devices equipped with ultra-thin batteries.

According to the company, the Honor Magic V6 launched on Sunday has a thickness of 8.75mm when closed, which is smaller than the previous model’s 8.8-9mm. This is the same thickness as the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Honor Magic V6 has one of the largest batteries of any smartphone on the market. QualcommThe Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 mobile platform is one of the American company’s newest processors.

Magic V6 will be launched in China in March, followed by international markets later this year. The company has not yet disclosed the price.

Meanwhile, Honor teased its first humanoid robot on stage at its MWC launch event. Few details have been provided about the device, but it is indicative of how Chinese companies in particular are moving into the robotics field. Chinese home appliance major xiaomiFor example, we have developed our own humanoid robot called CyberOne. Meanwhile, electric car maker Xpeng is also developing its own humanoid robot model.

A number of Chinese companies are developing humanoid robots, and analysts expect the country to ramp up production of the devices this year.

Honor’s robots will focus on assisting with shopping, inspecting workplaces and providing supportive companionship, the company announced on Sunday.