Honor has launched its experimental Robot Phone in China, a flagship handset that builds a miniature three-axis gimbal directly into the device rather than requiring a separate accessory. First shown at MWC 2026 in Barcelona, the phone will not officially launch outside China for now, with Honor apparently testing demand through a limited production run rather than a full global release, likely reflecting rising component costs. Engadget's hands-on found the gimbal genuinely useful for smartphone photography and video, delivering stabilisation that rivalled dedicated gimbal cameras while keeping the familiar convenience of a phone screen for adjusting settings.

The gimbal, which Honor says is the world's smallest at 2.6 grams, folds into a compartment on the back of the 9.6mm-thick phone and provides stabilisation for a 200-megapixel main camera; the same sensor also functions as a standard camera when the gimbal is stowed. Other specs include a 200MP telephoto camera offering up to 2.7x optical zoom, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP front camera, and a 6.31-inch display. Video is a particular focus, with Honor partnering with cinema camera firm ARRI on the interface, LUTs and support for ARRI's LogC3 footage format, while AI-guided shooting modes and a "super-steady" tracking mode impressed in early testing, though subject-tracking still needs refinement.