I’ve had a little look into what HONOR is calling its Robot Phone, and it’s certainly a different take on what a smartphone can be! Instead of relying purely on touch and voice, this device introduces physical movement – the camera module can tilt, swivel, and reposition itself in real time. The idea is to make interaction feel more expressive and less static, blending AI with robotic motion.
The phone uses multimodal sensing, so it can recognise sounds, track motion, and maintain spatial awareness. In theory, that should make the interaction feel more intuitive, though how natural it feels in everyday use will depend on how people actually respond to a device that moves on its own.
One of its headline features is AI-assisted video calling that physically follows you around. The “robot” can nod or shake its “head” and even perform little movements to music.
To make all this possible, HONOR had to redesign the internal mechanics. It’s used high-strength, compact components – drawing on the material and durability work from its foldable devices – to develop a tiny custom motor and fit a 4DoF gimbal inside the phone. That’s what enables the physical movement.
The motion system supports three-axis stabilisation, which should help with smooth video capture. There’s a Super Steady mode for high-movement situations, AI Object Tracking to follow a subject, and SpinShot for 90 or 180° rotations. These tools aim to make mobile video a bit more cinematic.
The camera hardware includes a 200MP sensor paired with the gimbal, letting the phone capture more dynamic shots without external accessories. The goal seems to be reducing the gap between casual smartphone footage and more polished, professional-looking video.
HONOR Magic V6
While the Robot Phone is HONOR’s attempt at embodied intelligence, the Magic V6 is meant to show off HONOR’s foldable engineering.
It has an 8.75mm profile when closed, which is impressively slim. HONOR says the hinge and structure have been reinforced, and the phone is rated IP68 and IP69 for water and dust resistance. On paper that makes it one of the more rugged foldables out there.
Inside that thin frame is where things get a bit more experimental. HONOR has partnered with ATL to use its latest silicon-carbon battery materials. The Magic V6 includes the company’s fifth-generation version of this tech, reaching 25% silicon content – something they claim boosts energy density without thickening the phone. In practice, that means a 6,660mAh battery packed into a design slimmer than most other foldables.
HONOR also previewed an upcoming “Silicon-carbon Blade Battery” with even higher silicon content and over 900Wh/L, aimed at eventually pushing foldables past 7,000mAh.
The displays are another major focus. Both the outer 6.52” screen and the 7.95” inner screen use LTPO 2.0 panels with adaptive 1–120Hz refresh rates. The brightness numbers – up to 6,000 nits outside and 5,000 inside – are extremely high, but actual readability in intense sunlight may still depend on how well the anti-reflection layer performs. HONOR says the crease is 44% shallower than before, backed by an SGS certification, and the flexible glass should give it a smoother, less distracting feel. They’ve also added comfort features like 4320Hz PWM dimming and an AI-driven defocus mode, which could be helpful for longer work sessions.
The larger display is designed around multitasking, content creation, and communication, with AI-assisted tools meant to streamline split-screen use, note-taking, and app interactions. There’s also an emphasis on cross-ecosystem support, including compatibility aimed at making it work alongside devices from Apple.
Underneath, it’s the first foldable running the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s latest high-end chipset, paired with upgraded vapor-chamber cooling. On paper, that should give the Magic V6 enough headroom for heavier workloads like gaming and video editing without thermal throttling too quickly.
Humanoid robot
HONOR also unveiled its first humanoid robot, signalling a broader strategic move to leverage its expertise in mobile technology to create consumer-grade robots.
HONOR’s robots will focus on three core scenarios: shopping assistance, workplace inspections, and especially supportive companionship.
