Honor is clearly thinking beyond the usual smartphone rivals with its upcoming Robot Phone. The idea alone shows just how far the company is willing to stretch what a phone can be.
We already know the Honor Robot Phone is real. The company showed a working prototype at the Honor User Carnival in China last month. And at first glance, the device looks like a regular phone.
However, the rear camera module hides an unusual piece of hardware. It has a whole mechanical camera arm that can move on its own. Never seen anything like this, but it’s coming next year.
Now it seems like Honor wants to target more than just other smartphone brands with the Robot Phone. The company has its sights set on DJI, which is best known for stabilized video and precise camera movement.
The official gave us a hint
This recently became clearer after a post from Honor’s Chief Imaging Engineer, Luo Wei.
In what he described as an “official announcement,” Luo said he had wrapped up an extremely important project that had been in development for nearly a year. According to him, Honor’s video technology next year should be strong enough to leave competitors far behind.
When some commenters pointed out that Apple’s video performance is often considered the industry benchmark, Luo pushed back directly. “The benchmark for mobile video is DJI, right?” he replied. “Let’s compete with them next year.” It’s a blunt statement, and an unusual one for a smartphone brand to make so openly.
Based on online reactions and speculation, many believe Luo’s comments are tied to the Robot Phone. If that’s the case, the built-in camera arm may be more than a visual gimmick. It could be Honor’s attempt to bring gimbal-like movement, tracking, and stabilization directly into a phone body—territory where DJI has built its reputation.
English translation from Google Images. Via: Weibo
Honor is planning to launch the Robot Phone next year, with an official unveiling expected in Barcelona in 2026. The device is said to combine AI, intelligent systems, and high-definition imaging, powered by what Honor describes as a powerful “AI brain.” It’s also positioned as a personal camera that can move and adapt, rather than a static slab of glass.
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