The HONOR Robot Phone is scheduled to launch in China on August 12, 2026, following its earlier appearance as a concept at MWC 2026. The device has since evolved into a production smartphone built around one standout feature: a physically moving robotic camera.
A smartphone with a robotic camera
The Robot Phone’s defining feature is its 4DoF robotic gimbal camera. Instead of keeping the camera fixed inside the handset, HONOR has developed a compact motorised mechanism that allows the camera to move and adjust its position.
The system is designed to provide gimbal-style stabilisation while also supporting AI-powered subject tracking. That could allow the camera to follow a person during video calls or while recording without requiring the user to constantly reposition the phone.
HONOR has also demonstrated the camera physically moving in response to commands and even appearing to nod, shake its head and dance to music. The idea is to make the phone’s hardware part of its AI interaction rather than simply using AI through the screen.
Camera and ARRI partnership
Pre-launch leaks point to a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera. Reports also suggest the main sensor could measure 1/1.28 inches and use an f/1.6 aperture, although some specifications remain unofficial.
HONOR has also partnered with ARRI, the German cinema technology company known for professional film cameras. The collaboration is expected to bring ARRI’s colour science and professional video technology to the Robot Phone.
The company has teased features including ARRI LogC3 encoding, ARRI Wide Gamut 3 and ARRI Look colour profiles. HONOR has also developed its H1 imaging chip for real-time RAW processing, making the phone particularly interesting for mobile video creators.
Hardware and battery
Leaks point to a 6.3-inch to 6.4-inch 1.5K flat OLED display and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. A peak brightness of up to 6,800 nits has also been reported, although this figure has yet to be confirmed by HONOR.
HONOR Robot Phone is also expected to feature dedicated chips for areas such as radio connectivity, power management and imaging.
Battery capacity has varied between leaks but the latest reports point to a sizeable 7,060mAh battery. The phone is also expected to support 120W wired charging.
Price and availability
Pricing remains one of the biggest unanswered questions. Pre-launch reports have suggested a starting price of around 7,999 yuan ($1185), although HONOR has not officially confirmed this figure.
Reports said pre-orders had exceeded 200,000 before the launch, suggesting that the unusual design has already generated considerable curiosity.
The August 12 event should reveal the final price, storage configurations and availability. It should also clarify whether HONOR plans to bring the Robot Phone to international markets or initially keep it exclusive to China.
