When HONOR first showed off the HONOR Robot, most assumed it was just a concept. It turns out the device is real. The HONOR Robot Phone includes a mechanical 4-Degree-of-Freedom (4-DoF) robotic arm built into the phone. This setup combines a regular smartphone with an automated camera operator, targeting users who want more advanced mobile videography and interactive AI features.
And it’s available for pre-order.
What Makes It a Robot Phone?
The HONOR Robot Phone uses what it calls the Titanium Agile Gimbal, a small robotic arm built into the phone’s chassis. Unlike typical optical image stabilization (OIS) in most flagship phones, this is a 3-axis mechanical gimbal. The motor can rotate the lens at up to 360 degrees per second, allowing the camera to physically pan, tilt, and track subjects smoothly.
HONOR’s new YOYO Robot Mode lets users control the gimbal by voice or text. The phone can move in response to music, chat inputs, or user gestures, making the hardware more interactive than a standard smartphone.
Advanced AI Tracking and Camera Agent
For media production and live streaming, the mechanical gimbal works with AI Live-Tracking. The camera can identify and follow the main subject during broadcasts or video calls. Users can double-tap to lock focus, and the robotic arm keeps the subject centered without manual adjustment. The pre-framing feature can also align shots using the golden ratio.
HONOR also includes a Camera Agent that can manage shooting, editing, and sharing footage with a voice command. For advanced users, YOYO Pro Mode automates more complex camera routines and supports custom behaviors.
ARRI Image Science and Hardware Engineering
HONOR partnered with ARRI to bring ARRI Image Science to the Robot Phone, aiming for improved color and image quality for professional use. The mechanical gimbal supports six movement modes, including 90-degree and 180-degree rotations that would usually need dedicated camera gear.
To fit the 4-DoF mechanical gimbal into a compact device, HONOR used a titanium alloy frame with machining precision down to 0.005 mm. The gimbal motor is 34% smaller and has 44% higher torque density than previous designs. The Super Steel Flip Motor uses 2100 MPa shield steel and fits 43 components into a 0.5 cm³ space.
HONOR Robot Phone could be the future
By physically moving the camera lens with a robotic arm, the HONOR Robot Phone takes a different approach to mobile hardware. Instead of relying only on software stabilization, it uses mechanical engineering to enable new features for automated and AI-driven smartphones.
To learn more. check out the HONOR site here.
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