Tech Explained: Here’s a simplified explanation of the latest technology update around Tech Explained: Robot Phone is here: Honor unveils prototype with AI features at Mobile World Congress in Simple Termsand what it means for users..
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong confirmed the development on microblogging site X.
Founded in 2013 as a brand spun out from Chinese technology company Huawei, Honor has increasingly focussed on AI-driven features in its devices.
The robot phone is currently in the test phase, with commercial launch in China expected in the second half of the year, according to the company.
Alongside the concept phone, Honor also showcased a humanoid robot designed for tasks such as shopping assistance, workplace inspections, and companionship during the MWC event.
Robot Phone features
Robot Phone, previewed this week, introduced what the company describes as a concept that combines AI-driven interaction with a motorised camera system.
The prototype includes a small robotic arm mounted on the back of the phone, topped with a gimbal-based 200-megapixel camera.
According to the company, the motorised gimbal allows the camera to stabilise footage and track subjects automatically, enabling smoother video capture even while the device moves.
Honor said the system is designed to support AI-assisted video calls and content creation, allowing the camera to reposition itself autonomously to maintain framing and visual awareness.
Honor Robot Phone with embodied AI
Demonstrations on the company’s website show the device performing gestures such as gazing, nodding, dancing, and shaking its head, suggesting a more human-like interaction style powered by AI.
The AI system is designed to recognise sound, track motion, and maintain visual awareness of its surroundings, according to information provided by the company.
Honor first teased the concept in October, when it showed a prototype responding to voice interaction with the company’s AI assistant. In the demonstration, the phone’s camera module appeared to respond by nodding during conversation.
In China, Honor ended last year as the sixth-largest smartphone vendor, with a market share of just over 13%, according to Counterpoint Research. Its European market share was about 3% in 2025, according to research from Omdia.
Honor vs Apple in China
In 2025, shipments from China, where Apple still makes the bulk of iPhones, faced headwinds as a result of US tariffs related to the two economic powers’ trade war.
The levies pushed Apple and its suppliers to move a greater share of devices meant for the American market to alternative manufacturing destinations, with India emerging as a major bright spot.
In January, Apple retook the top spot in China after iPhone shipments jumped 28% during the holiday quarter despite a worsening shortage of vital memory chips, according to Counterpoint Research.
Apple finished just behind market leader Huawei in China’s smartphone shipments ranking for the full year, with both companies holding around a 17% market share.
Apple’s shipments in China rose 7.5% in 2025, reflecting steady demand for its flagship lineup.
However, the company saw a weaker response for the iPhone Air, which launched later in China than in other markets and struggled to gain significant traction with consumers.