Text and photos by Irene Karlsson
BARCELONA — Robots and artificial intelligence (AI) simplify tasks, and smartphones power daily life. Add a gimbal system, and one gets a “robot phone” designed to capture daily moments, create professional videos, and entertain its owner by “dancing” and doing “backflips.”
Recently launched at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) at the Fira Barcelona exhibition hall, smart devices brand HONOR introduced its Robot Phone, a device topped with a camera “head” that nods, sways, and bops to the tune.
James Li, CEO of HONOR, described it as “a new species of smartphone,” and up close, the device certainly looks the part, with a futuristic edge, featuring a micro motor which is 70 percent smaller than industry standard.
The Robot Phone’s standout feature is the 3-axis Gimbal Stabilization, which keeps videos and photos crisp and steady even while shooting on the move, as demonstrated at the Experience System by a woman brisk-walking on a treadmill while filming.
It is a promising device for those who love both doing content and are fascinated with robots. As shown in the demo, the Robot Phone can respond by nodding and shaking its “head.” It also includes AI Object Tracking, which allows the user to double-tap a subject so the phone can predict its movement and adjust in real time, even if the subject moves or is briefly hidden.
AI Spinshot, on the other hand, enables the user to shoot cinematic movements with one hand, supporting 90° and 180° modes for smooth, dynamic footage on the go.
For storytellers and content creators, the HONOR Robot Phone can create high-quality content, even movies, on a mobile phone. Through a collaboration with ARRI, a global leader in professional cinematic cameras founded in Munich, HONOR integrates core ARRI Image Science principles, bringing cinema-grade expertise to mobile imaging.
The Robot Phone is set to launch later this year, and future users can look forward to the convenience of a smartphone and the coolness of a robot in one device. How about naming it Robert?
At MWC 2026, we also had a first look at the HONOR Magic V6, a slim, lightweight foldable phone that combines long-lasting battery power, smart displays, and AI tools to make daily use even easier. Built with HONOR’s foldable expertise, it has an 8.75mm ultra-thin body, strong structure, a durable hinge, and is water- and dust-resistant (IP68/IP69).
Holding the gold phone with velvet-like red backing, it felt elegant in the hand. Its silicon-carbon battery is said to be as thin as a playing card, in spite of packing a powerful 6,660mAh. The Magic V6 also offers quite an impressive dual screen experience: a 6.52-inch outer screen and a 7.95-inch inner screen that unfolds smoothly. The inner screen is flatter, reduces the crease, and is easier on the eyes with anti-reflection technology.
Completing the lineup of HONOR devices are the MagicPad 4 tablet and MagicBook Pro 14 laptop.
HONOR’s Augmented Human Intelligence, or human-centric AI, was a core message in the HONOR product presentations. Fei Fang, president Products at HONOR, is one of the panelists in the discussion “Break the Walls: The Convergence of AI, Devices & Connectivity.”
“Our goal at HONOR is to combine technology with humanity, and we think that tomorrow is not just smart, but alive,” she said.
Seeing HONOR’s presence in Barcelona, from the wall-sized airport ads to prominent displays across the city, reinforced its global impact at MWC 2026.
