A ‘robot’ handset powered by an ‘AI super brain’ is pushing the idea of a ‘smartphone’ into a whole new territory.
Marketed as a “new species of smartphone,” the Robot Phone was introduced by Chinese tech firm HONOR over the weekend.
The device was shown off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday (March 1) — just one day before Apple revealed its newest model, the iPhone 17e.
HONOR, which began life as a Huawei sub-brand in 2013 and later became independent in 2020, also used the event to unveil its latest foldable, the Magic V6.
Still, it was the Robot Phone — resembling a pint-sized version of Disney Pixar’s Wall-E — that drew the most attention from people on the show floor.
Video of the demo shows the phone’s gimbal camera swiveling by itself, almost as if it’s scanning the room and reacting to what’s happening.
HONOR says the combination of flexible gimbals and a fast-responding system “break through the screen limitations to stay focused on the user, delivering a smooth, real-time communication experience.”
It’s not just a camera trick, either. The handset can also “nod” at its owner and move in time to music, giving it a playful — if slightly eerie — personality.
Because the camera can follow subjects while recording, users don’t need another person to keep the shot framed, whether they’re in a work call, filming content, or capturing moments while out and about.
“Three-axis mechanical stabilization paired with an AI stabilization engine ensures that the camera remains stable even during complex and dynamic camera movements,” the company’s website explains.
“The system responds to small movements in real time, compensating rapidly.”
The gimbal mechanism also retracts neatly into the body of the phone, making it easier to carry without adding extra bulk.
HONOR first teased the concept in October, and says it’s aiming for a commercial release in China in the second half of 2026, according to CNBC. Whether it will roll out internationally hasn’t been confirmed.
Over in Apple’s camp, the company launched the iPhone 17e on Monday (March 2), presenting it as a more budget-friendly entry within its flagship range.
Set to open for pre-order on Thursday (March 4), Apple says the handset offers “incredible value,” combining faster performance, an upgraded camera experience, improved durability, MagSafe wireless charging, and “double the starting storage at 256GB.”
The lineup comes in black, white, and soft pink, starting at $599 for 256GB, with a 512GB variant also offered.
“iPhone 17e is designed with a durable aluminium frame and has Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, providing 3x better scratch resistance than iPhone 16e,” Apple adds.
“Tougher than any smartphone glass, it protects your iPhone so you don’t have to sweat the drops, dings and d’ohs.”
The iPhone 17e also switches to USB‑C for charging.
Elsewhere, Samsung released its newest handset last week: the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which includes a privacy screen feature that can be turned on and off when needed.
But can either of those groove along to music on their own? Didn’t think so…