Gimmick or game changer? Chinese smart device maker Honor launches ‘robot phone’
The launch comes as Chinese tech firms race to bring AI into everyday devices, while smartphone makers search for new features to differentiate themselves from rivals.
Chinese smartphone maker Honor unveiled a "robot phone" with a motorized, robotic camera on August 12, 2023. The device, priced at 9,999 yuan (US$1,480) starting, features a retractable gimbal camera that can track users' movements and maintain them in the frame. It also offers a 180-degree rotation for capturing shots from different angles and a "super steady" mode powered by AI for stabilizing subjects during large movements like livestreaming and sports.
Honor claims it to be the world's first "robot phone" and emphasizes that this is just the first generation of the technology, with plans to improve its stability and power. The launch comes as Chinese tech firms rapidly integrate AI into everyday devices and seek new features to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
However, consumer reactions to the concept have been mixed, with some questioning the desirability of AI controlling photography and concerns about the durability and repair costs of the moving camera mechanism. Industry analysts suggest that while rivals may wait for the concept's commercial viability, major brands might internally explore similar research due to the challenges in adopting such an unconventional design.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
