Honor has been a regular presence at MWC, but 2026 felt different. This time, alongside the impressive Magic V6 foldable, the company turned its focus to robotics during its keynote presentation.
Honor’s upcoming robot phone concept took center stage. It’s a smartphone with a motorized robotic camera arm that pops out, physically tracks you, nods, dances, and interacts with the world. The presentation highlighted key use cases including companion-style interaction (e.g., commenting on outfits), AI-powered object tracking, automated photo and video capture, and enhanced video stabilization for hands-free shooting. The design is refreshingly bold, breaking away from the conventional rectangular form factor. However, it remains a prototype, with commercial availability targeted for the second half of 2026 in China. Pricing has not been announced, and we don’t expect it to target a mass market audience.
Beyond the robotic smartphone, Honor showcased a humanoid robot that performed a short dance on stage. The model is called Honor Robot, but detailed technical information remains absence.
Humanoid robotics has been a hot topic in China, Honor’s home market, with strong government support and significant funding flowing into the sector. SAG estimates that the humanoid robotics market in China reached $442 million in 2025 and will grow to $1,932 million by 2028, representing a 63% average annual growth rate.
Exhibit: China Humanoid Robotics Market Forecast by Revenue (2025-2028)
These robotics initiatives demonstrate Honor’s long-term ambition beyond smartphones, as the entire market faces strong headwinds in 2026 and intensified competition. They’re part of Honor’s broader Alpha Plan, which has been underway since last year. Honor is betting that its AI R&D and device ecosystem can create synergy as it explores the robotics space.
However, the robotics segment is still in its early stages, waiting for its iPhone moment. The real commercial impact of Honor’s efforts will depend on execution and the broader development of the robotics industry. Time will tell. With an IPO in the pipeline, Honor’s move into robotics isn’t just a product decision. It opens a new growth narrative, and a more valuable one for capital markets.
Left to right: Honor Robot Phone and Honor Robot demonstrated at the Barcelona launch event.