Honor showcased a concept smartphone with an AI-powered robotic camera and launched its flagship Magic8 series Tuesday, positioning the Chinese manufacturer at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation in mobile devices. The “Robot Phone” features a gimbal-mounted camera that extends from the device’s back, while the newly released Magic 8 and Magic 8 Pro smartphones demonstrate advanced AI capabilities running on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.

What Makes the Robot Phone Different

The Robot Phone represents Honor’s vision of smartphones evolving beyond traditional tools into “emotional companions that sense, adapt, and evolve autonomously.” The concept device, currently shown only through computer-generated imagery, features a camera arm that extends from the phone’s back with robotic sounds and head-tilting movements, capable of capturing photos and videos from different angles without user intervention.

Honor’s concept falls under its five-year, $10 billion “Alpha Plan” investment initiative aimed at establishing the company as an AI device ecosystem leader. The robotic camera can autonomously track subjects, perform astronomical photography by following star movement, and provide stabilization that exceeds traditional gimbal systems.

Honor plans to reveal additional Robot Phone details at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, where the company intends to demonstrate the device’s full capabilities. The concept represents a substantial departure from traditional smartphone design, combining physical robotics with AI processing to create what Honor calls “a new kind of AI device.”

Magic8 Series: Practical AI Implementation

Honor officially introduced the Magic 8 and Magic 8 Pro in China on Tuesday, marking the debut of what the company labels its “first self-learning AI smartphone.” Both devices feature dedicated AI buttons providing instant access to Honor’s upgraded YOYO assistant, which can now automatically handle tasks like organizing screenshots or drafting business emails.

The Magic8 Pro sports a 6.71-inch OLED display with 6,000 nits peak brightness and houses a massive 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery in China, though European models will carry a smaller 6,270mAh capacity due to shipping regulations. The device supports 100W wired charging and 80W wireless charging, with Honor claiming multi-day battery life thanks to superior optimization.

Camera Specifications Worth Noting

Camera specs include a 200-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3.7x optical zoom and optical image stabilization, complemented by 50-megapixel main and ultra-wide cameras. Honor introduced its “Magic Color” AI engine, described as the industry’s first AI-powered color processing system for enhanced photography.

Pricing and Availability

The Magic8 series will arrive on international markets later this year, with the base Magic8 priced from CNY 4,499 ($630) and the Pro model starting at CNY 5,699 ($800) in China. Honor hasn’t announced specific pricing for global markets but confirmed European availability before year’s end.