We’ve already seen plenty of Android flip phones and foldable phones arriving in UK stores, but soon there will be something totally new trying to grab consumers’ attention. It’s called the Robot Phone, and it’s just been unveiled by Chinese brand HONOR at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This eye-catching call maker is like nothing we’ve seen before with it featuring a small pop-up camera, which magically appears out of the rear case.

This smart lens isn’t just about snapping photos and videos. Instead, HONOR is promising it will become more like a digital companion than just another piece of boring hardware. For example, when you speak, it moves to look right at you, and it will also interact as you go about your day.

Clever AI comes baked in to offer a more human-like experience, and it can even show expressions through its motions. For example, ask the phone what it thinks of your outfit, and the robot will shake or nod its head. Pop on some music, and it will dance to the beat or swivel around if it gets excited.

“Robot Phone is a new species of smartphone, combining embodied AI interaction with robot-grade motion and cinematic imaging capabilities,” HONOR explained.

“Rather than reacting solely through screens and voice commands, HONOR is, figuratively, giving its next generation of devices not only a brain, but also hands and feet, combining AI with more physical, expressive interaction through motion and camera movement.”

Even if the concept leaves you a bit baffled, the design and engineering is impressive.

HONOR explains that integrating a robot into a smartphone meant completely reimagining space, durability, and weight at a microscopic scale. Drawing on the advanced materials expertise and reliability standards developed for its foldable devices, the company engineered a proprietary micro motor built for extreme compactness without sacrificing strength.

By dramatically shrinking the motor, HONOR was able to incorporate an ultra-compact 4DoF gimbal system directly into the phone — establishing the hardware backbone for robot-level embodied motion control.

This mechanical design enables a three-axis gimbal stabilisation system that ensures smooth, precise movement even in fast-paced environments. Super Steady Video mode improves stability during high-motion shooting, while AI Object Tracking allows the Robot Phone to intelligently follow subjects in real time. AI SpinShot expands creative possibilities further, enabling intelligent 90° and 180° rotations for seamless, cinematic transitions — even when filming one-handed.

“Together, these capabilities demonstrate how embodied AI can unlock new forms of capture and interaction, positioning Robot Phone as a defining step in HONOR’s evolution toward more intelligent and adaptive devices,” the company added.

As HONOR continues to advance its ALPHA PLAN, Robot Phone offers a glimpse into how embodied intelligence may shape the next generation of mobile technology.”

There’s no word on a release date or price just yet, but watch this space.

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