Back in October 2025, Honor gave us a two-minute and forty-five-second video teaser of an upcoming phone it’s calling the “Robot Phone.”
This bizarre device features a built-in gimbal robotic arm that deploys from the back of the device and can track the movement of a specific target.
Even as a concept it seems pretty bold, but Honor is pushing ahead and at MWC 2026 in March we’ll be able to see the phone in fully functional condition. For now, I was able to get my first look (but not my hands) at the Robot Phone at CES 2026 – even though it wasn’t the finished product yet.
The device I was allowed to see was not a working device and the robotic arm did not work. It had to be manually unfolded from the notch on the back of the phone by an Honor employee.
And while I was able to view this early prototype of the device, very few other details were available. This has left me with a number of questions that I will have to wait until March to answer.
Will we actually get the Robot Phone?
What Honor representatives were able to tell me at the preview event was that we would see a working version of the Robot Phone at MWC.
That’s only two months away, though, and I’m wondering how much work Honor will have to do before then to have a fully functional phone for us.
I continue to hope that Honor’s vision becomes a reality, because if it does, it will be something very special – if not a little silly – among the sea of black, flat rectangles that pretty much all phones have become.
How sturdy will it be?
I’d like to reiterate that I’ve seen an early prototype of the device, so this isn’t an indication of the final build quality, but I’m still concerned about how robust a robotic arm on a smartphone can be.
It reminds me of the brief period between 2018 and 2020 when phone manufacturers started incorporating pop-up cameras into mobile phones to reduce bezels and maximize screen real estate on the front of phones.
It was a novel approach that led to some fun devices, but the addition of a moving mechanism to a phone raised questions about durability, longevity and repairability.
In this case, the feature was short-lived as manufacturers figured out how the pinhole cameras we’re familiar with today work.
When it comes to Honor’s Robot Phone, there are more moving parts and the delicate way the camera was folded in and out compared to the prototype makes me worried about how robust the final version will be.
Will it work as expected?
Honor’s teaser video suggests that it won’t just be a camera on a motorized gimbal, but that it will also be connected to the phone’s AI and provide motion and audio feedback to your questions, prompts, and…according to said video…a crying baby by “singing” a lullaby.
No further information has been provided about its functionality or AI capabilities, but if the camera has some sort of personality, it could add an interesting additional aspect to this already fascinating phone.
What happens if it breaks?
Even though Honor does a good job when it comes to durability, there is no doubt that the robot arm is a weak point and is prone to damage. And if it gets damaged, can it be easily repaired? And how much will a repair cost?
It’s probably about a lot more than just replacing your screen glass if it’s broken. Phone insurance will be a must.
What are the specifications of the Robot Phone?
At the moment we don’t have any specifications for the Honor Robot Phone, we will have to wait for the official launch at MWC 2026.
How much will it cost?
Again, this is not known – but considering the technology and engineering required, I expect the Robot Phone to have a high price when it actually goes on sale.
Will you actually be able to buy it?
And that’s the million dollar question. While Honor could certainly deliver a fully functional device at MWC, this is no guarantee that the device will go into mass production. Instead, it could remain a concept, an example of what is technically possible.
Even if the Robot Phone goes into general sale, I would be surprised if it was widely available worldwide. This could be a device that is limited to China. Even if there should be a wider launch, Honor isn’t currently selling its phone in the US, so it’s unlikely to make it to your doorstep.
While we wait for March to find out all the details, here’s October’s Robot Phone teaser video for you to watch again.
