Honor Unveils the Concept "Robot Phone" with AI-Enabled Gimbal Camera
January 5, 2026
Honor has introduced an innovative concept device dubbed the "Robot Phone," featuring an AI-powered, gimbal-mounted camera capable of capturing photos and videos in any direction. Currently showcased only through CGI in a teaser video, the device hints at a future where smartphones transcend traditional capabilities.
The phone's design appears similar to a standard, somewhat thick smartphone. Instead of the usual Honor logo, it displays an alpha symbol, representing the company's "Alpha Plan" vision. The most distinctive feature is a large camera module split into two parts, which unfolds into a camera arm with an almost cartoonish giggle (the video suggests the camera "giggles" when activated). This arm reveals that the main camera can flip upward for selfies or reposition itself to shoot from various angles, seemingly with autonomous motion.
This concept mirrors the functionality of earlier phones like the Asus Zenfone 6 from 2019, which also flipped its main cameras for selfies. However, Honor’s approach elevates this idea with a smart, potentially autonomous gimbal system reminiscent of DJI's Osmo Pocket’s mini gimbal camera. The device aims to combine advanced stabilization with AI capabilities such as intelligent framing, baby soothing, and even star-gazing.
In a statement, Honor described the Robot Phone as more than a mere tool—it aspires to be an emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves independently. The company envisions it bringing "love, joy, and wisdom" into users' lives by integrating advanced AI and robotics into the smartphone form factor.
Honor plans to unveil more details at the Mobile World Congress next spring, with hopes of showing the actual hardware beyond the CGI concept. The Robot Phone was teased as a "One more thing…" reveal during a typical launch event for Honor’s latest Magic 8 flagship phones, which are set to launch in China this month and internationally before year-end.
Stay tuned for further updates on this futuristic device and how it might redefine the smartphone experience.
Topics: Honor, Robot Phone, AI camera, smartphone concept, gimbal stabilization, innovation
Authors: Dominic Preston