Honor Unveils Robot Phone with Motorised Gimbal Camera in China
The China-exclusive device features a 200-megapixel pop-out lens, a 7,060-mAh battery, and AI-driven subject tracking, marking a distinct departure from standard smartphone design.
Honor has officially launched the Robot Phone in China, introducing a smartphone that integrates a motorised, gimbal-powered camera mechanism into its chassis. Designed specifically for mobile content creators, the device features a 200-megapixel gimbal camera with four degrees of freedom that emerges from the top of the unit. The phone also includes a 200-megapixel telephoto lens, a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 50-megapixel selfie shooter.
To accommodate the mechanical components, Honor developed a custom micro-motor using titanium alloy, which the company states weighs just 2.6 grams and reduces volume by 65 per cent compared to traditional gimbals. The gimbal can rotate 300 degrees and is activated via a sliding glass cover, the camera app, palm motion, or voice commands. The mechanism is protected by a glass cover that slides to the right to reveal the lens, with the company noting that the device is not water-resistant when the gimbal is deployed.
The device weighs 248 grams and measures 9.59 mm in thickness, housing a 7,060-mAh silicon-carbon battery. Despite the heavy camera hardware at the top, Honor claims the phone is well-balanced. It is rated IP54 for water and dust resistance only when the camera is stowed. The phone runs on Android and includes a case and magnetic stand in the box to assist with setup for stationary recording.
Honor has partnered with cinema camera manufacturer Arri to support LogC3 and Arri Looks workflows, aiming to provide precise video controls for mobile filmmakers. The phone features subject-tracking capabilities for both video recording and video calls, allowing the camera to follow a user around a room when propped up. The gimbal can also stitch three photos together for wide group shots.
While the Robot Phone is currently exclusive to the Chinese market, the launch highlights a shift in smartphone innovation as global sales face headwinds from memory shortages. Unlike competitors such as OnePlus, which rates its mechanical pop-up cameras for 300,000 cycles, Honor has not disclosed specific durability cycle counts, stating only that the mechanism has undergone rigorous reliability testing. Pricing for the device has not yet been confirmed.
