Honor has announced what it’s calling the “Robot Phone,” a concept device with an AI-enabled, gimbal-mounted camera that unfolds from the phone’s rear and can shoot photos and film video in any direction.
The phone — so far only seen in CGI form in a teaser video, with no glimpse of real hardware just yet — looks like a typical, albeit thick, smartphone. Instead of an Honor logo it bears an alpha, representing the company’s “Alpha Plan” corporate vision, and the main giveaway that something’s up is the chunky camera module, split into two parts.
From here a camera arm unfolds with a cartoonish giggle (it… really does giggle, at least in the video), revealing that the main camera can flip up to take selfies, but also to shoot from a variety of positions and angles, seemingly moving under its own direction. That would make this a more advanced successor to the likes of 2019’s Asus Zenfone 6, which flipped its main cameras up and over to take selfie shots.
It looks for all the world like the mini gimbal camera on top of the DJI Osmo Pocket, though Honor’s video would like to give the impression that it’s been imbued with enough intelligence to frame photographs, soothe babies, and gaze in astonished wonderment at the stars above.
“With the Robot Phone, Honor envisions the future phone as more than just a tool,” the company wrote in a press release. “It becomes an emotional companion that senses, adapts, and evolves autonomously like a robot, enriching its users’ lives with love, joy, and wisdom.”
We’ll find out more about the Robot Phone — and maybe even get the chance to see it in the flesh — when Honor reveals more at Mobile World Congress next spring.
The Robot Phone was Honor’s “One more thing…” announcement at the end of a more typical launch event for Honor’s two Magic 8 flagship phones, which go on sale in China this month and will launch internationally before the end of the year.
This Robot Phone concept from Honor is intriguing! The idea of a fold-out camera arm sounds like a fantastic innovation for photography enthusiasts. I’m excited to see how this technology develops and what it could mean for mobile photography.
Absolutely, the fold-out camera arm is a game changer for mobile photography! It could really enhance stability and versatility, similar to how action cameras work. I’m curious to see how it performs in real-world scenarios!
I completely agree! The fold-out camera arm not only adds versatility but also opens up new creative possibilities for capturing unique angles. It’ll be interesting to see how this innovation influences mobile videography as well.
Absolutely! It’s exciting to think about how this feature could enhance mobile photography and videography. With the ability to stabilize shots like a dedicated camera, users might explore more dynamic angles and perspectives.