Honor launches phone with robotic camera, teases humanoid robot

Honor on Sunday confirmed off the capabilities of its Robotic Cellphone because the Chinese language electronics agency seems to be to face out from a few of its larger rivals like Samsung and Apple.

The corporate, which spun off from Huawei in 2020, additionally launched the Magic V6, its newest foldable smartphone, as a part of its occasion on the Cellular World Congress in Barcelona on Sunday. As well as, Honor teased a humanoid robotic, however with only a few particulars.

The releases come in opposition to the backdrop of the continuing scarcity and unprecedented price surge of memory chips, which is predicted to see system makers improve costs and pressure demand for smartphones in 2026.

Honor first teased the Robotic Cellphone in October. It encompasses a digicam on a robotic arm that pops out of the principle physique of the system. For these into video work, it seems to be prefer it’s impressed by the Osmo product line from Chinese language dronemaker DJI.

The digicam, which is powered by a small motor, can lock onto an object or particular person and monitor it because it strikes. A consumer can speak to Honor’s AI assistant, and the digicam can then reply with a sure or no reply by nodding.

Honor mentioned it goals to make the telephone commercially accessible in China within the second half of the 12 months.

The Robotic Cellphone exhibits how corporations like Honor need to stand out in a sea of similar-looking smartphones and provides customers a compelling sufficient purpose to improve or swap from their present system.

The system is predicted to be costly and continues Honor’s push into the high-end space of the market the place it’s trying to problem the likes of Samsung and Apple, notably in abroad markets like Europe.

In China, Honor ended the 12 months because the sixth-biggest smartphone participant with a market share of simply over 13%, in accordance with Counterpoint Analysis. But it surely’s a a lot smaller participant abroad, the place it’s attempting to determine a model presence. Its market share in Europe in 2025 was 3%, in accordance with Omdia analysis.

Honor entered the checklist of the highest 5 largest gamers within the area for the primary time on the finish of the 12 months, although its positive factors have been fueled largely by gross sales of its lower-priced units.

Francisco Jeronimo, a vp for knowledge and analytics at IDC, informed CNBC the launch was extra of a “advertising push” to create a buzz across the model because it seems to be to construct market share outdoors of China.

“There may be some novelty to it they usually want that type of innovation to point out their capabilities,” Jeronimo mentioned. “It should drive everybody’s consideration. Whether or not it interprets to gross sales once they launch it, it is going to be a tough promote, particularly if it’s a excessive worth or cumbersome telephone.”

Whereas Samsung dominates the foldable smartphone class with its Galaxy Z Fold line of units, Honor is attempting to make inroads into the premium section with its foldable V series of devices, that includes ultra-thin batteries.

The Honor Magic V6 launched on Sunday is 8.75 mm thick when closed, the corporate mentioned, which is smaller than the 8.8 mm to 9 mm measurement of its predecessor. That’s the similar thickness as an iPhone 17 Professional Max.

The Honor Magic V6 options one of many largest batteries in a smartphone in the marketplace and is supplied with Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Cellular Platform, one of many U.S. agency’s newest processors.

The Magic V6 will go on sale in China in March, adopted by worldwide markets within the second half of the 12 months. The corporate has not but disclosed pricing.

In the meantime, Honor teased its first humanoid robotic on stage at its MWC launch occasion. Whereas few particulars have been supplied in regards to the system, it exhibits how Chinese language corporations particularly, are increasing into the sphere of robotics. Chinese language electronics big Xiaomi, for instance, has developed its personal humanoid robotic known as CyberOne. In the meantime, electrical carmaker Xpeng additionally has its personal humanoid robotic mannequin.

A plethora of Chinese language corporations have developed humanoid robots with analysts expecting the nation to ramp up manufacturing of the units this 12 months.

Honor’s robotic will deal with offering purchasing help, office inspections, and supportive companionship, the corporate mentioned Sunday.