Honor launches telephone with robotic digital camera, teases humanoid robotic

Honor on Sunday confirmed off the capabilities of its Robotic Cellphone because the Chinese language electronics agency appears to be like 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 worth surge of reminiscence chips, which is predicted to see system makers enhance costs and pressure demand for smartphones in 2026.

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

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

Honor mentioned it goals to make the telephone commercially obtainable in China within the second half of the yr.

The Robotic Cellphone exhibits how corporations like Honor wish to stand out in a sea of similar-looking smartphones and provides customers a compelling sufficient cause 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 seeking to problem the likes of Samsung and Apple, significantly in abroad markets like Europe.

In China, Honor ended the yr because the sixth-biggest smartphone participant with a market share of simply over 13%, in keeping with Counterpoint Analysis. However it’s a a lot smaller participant abroad, the place it’s making an attempt to ascertain a model presence. Its market share in Europe in 2025 was 3%, in keeping with Omdia analysis.

Honor entered the listing of the highest 5 greatest gamers within the area for the primary time on the finish of the yr, although its features have been fueled largely by gross sales of its lower-priced units.

Francisco Jeronimo, a vice chairman for knowledge and analytics at IDC, advised CNBC the launch was extra of a “advertising push” to create a buzz across the model because it appears to be like to construct market share exterior of China.

“There’s some novelty to it and so they want that sort of innovation to point out their capabilities,” Jeronimo mentioned. “It is going to drive everybody’s consideration. Whether or not it interprets to gross sales once they launch it, it will likely 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 making an attempt to make inroads into the premium phase with its foldable V collection of units, 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 greatest 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 yr. 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 had been offered concerning the system, it exhibits how Chinese language corporations particularly, are increasing into the sector of robotics. Chinese language electronics large 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 anticipating the nation to ramp up manufacturing of the units this yr.

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