The tired old smartphone wars are officially over, according to HONOR. While the rest of the industry is content to play follow-the-leader with the iPhone’s design cues, the Chinese technology giant has thrown down a genuine concept gauntlet: the HONOR Robot Phone.
Teased ahead of its full unveiling at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, this device is less a phone and more a proof-of-concept for the future of mobile intelligence. HONOR’s message is clear: It’s time to “break the mold and refocus on what truly matters: creating real value for you.”
A DJI Osmo Pocket fell in love with a smartphone
The core of the robot concept lies in its imaging system. While the smartphone itself presents as a sleek, modern slab — think a large screen, thin bezels, and perhaps under-display front shooters — it’s the rear camera that earns its revolutionary name.
In a move straight out of a Pixar film, the main camera module, attached to a mechanical arm, literally springs up above the device’s top edge. This integrated, retractable gimbal camera instantly transforms the handset, lending it a charming, wide-eyed, Wall-E-like look that is genuinely different from the deluge of concepts we usually see.
Watch this teaser video to see what the HONOR Robot Phone looks like and how it works!
The hardware itself seems less like pure fantasy and more like a logical, if ambitious, evolution of existing tech. Publications have been quick to note its resemblance to the popular DJI Osmo Pocket 3, only this time, the stabilized camera is a core part of the phone, not a snap-on accessory. The arm promises full autonomous movement, allowing it to pan, tilt, and shoot video regardless of the device’s orientation — even if the unit is just lying face-down on a desk. AI is integral to its design, enabling the camera to move in a way that mimics a human (or robot) head while interacting with what it “sees.”
The HONOR Alpha Plan: AI, robotics, and the road to MWC 2026
Beyond the kinetic hardware, the Robot Phone is positioned as a critical pillar in the company’s ambitious HONOR Alpha Plan, a roadmap designed to elevate HONOR to a global AI device ecosystem leader. This one is described as a “revolutionary AI device that fuses multi-modal intelligence, advanced robotics, and next-generation imaging.”
The robotic camera is powered by an AI-enabled brain, meaning it won’t just move arbitrarily, but will autonomously frame shots, capturing moments that a user might have missed — a truly intelligent companion for content creators and passive users alike. The vision is for the HONOR Robot Phone to create real value by intelligently assisting users in their content creation, moving well past the tired feature-set comparisons with competitors.
SEE ALSO: New HONOR Magic8 Series goes all-in on AI, battery life
For now, the Robot Phone is officially billed as a concept, but the enthusiasm suggests a solid path forward. The brand is clearly hedging its bets, confirming that it will deliver more details about the teased handset at MWC 2026, hinting that this concept might just actually graduate to a tangible, purchasable device. Eager early adopters are even being encouraged to register on the HONOR website, where their feedback could help shape the final product, and give them a chance to be one of the world’s first to experience, touch, and test the unit.
HONOR believes the industry is moving “from iPhone, to AI Phone, to the Robot Phone.” Based on this audacious teaser, the future of intelligent devices might just involve a smartphone that can look back at you. We’ll find out if the vision holds up when HONOR takes the stage in Barcelona in March.
Share this Post
Learn About This Author
