Honor’s Robot Phone is better than a gimbal in a phone has any right to be
The Robot Phone, which launches today in China, doesn't sound like a good idea - and not only because it's not actually a robot. Instead it's a regular Android smartphone with its main camera installed on a compact gimbal arm that unfolds from the phone's rear. Cramming the equivalent of a DJI Osmo Pocket inside […]
Honor, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has unveiled its latest innovative offering - the Robot Phone. Equipped with a motorized, robotic camera, this device aims to boost global appeal and address the cooling smartphone market. The Robot Phone's standout feature is its three-axis mechanical gimbal that allows for video stabilization and interaction through nodding and tilting motions.
Activated by a hand gesture, the gimbal camera extends from the back, a process requiring 60 manufacturing steps and 100 precise components.
Beyond AI capabilities, the Robot Phone leverages embodied AI to optimize physical video performance. It automatically adjusts the gimbal camera to keep users in the frame during calls or live streams, making it an attractive option for mobile filmmakers. Honor has collaborated with German cinema camera specialist Arri to enhance the handset's imaging technology.
The launch of the Robot Phone comes as hardware companies face significant challenges, including intense competition in AI integration, memory cost hikes, component shortages, and a projected 14% drop in global smartphone shipments. As Honor transitions from a traditional smartphone brand to an AI device ecosystem player, this launch marks its first step towards this transformation.
The company is also investing US$10 billion over five years into AI development and recently unveiled a humanoid robot that won a gold medal at a humanoid half-marathon in Beijing.
Written by urgent.news from SCMP Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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