Honor's Robot Phone with built-in gimbal goes on sale in China
Honor has begun selling its experimental Robot Phone in China, featuring a tiny built-in three-axis gimbal for its 200-megapixel main camera. The device, first shown at MWC 2026, will not officially launch outside China for now.
Honor has started a limited sale of its Robot Phone in China, an experimental device that integrates gimbal stabilization technology directly into the phone body rather than relying on an external accessory. The phone was first unveiled at MWC 2026 in Barcelona, where it drew significant attention as one of the show's standout devices.
Despite the international debut, Honor has chosen to launch the Robot Phone only in China for now, releasing a limited production run in a manner similar to Samsung's approach with the Galaxy Z TriFold. Rising component costs are likely a factor behind the cautious rollout.
A gimbal hidden inside the phone
The phone's standout feature is its folding gimbal arm, nicknamed the 'robot,' which tucks away into a small compartment on the back of the device. Honor says it engineered the world's smallest gimbal motor, weighing just 2.6 grams, to make this possible. As a result, the phone measures 9.6mm thick, not including the camera housing.
The gimbal provides three-axis stabilization for the 200-megapixel primary camera, which also functions as a standard smartphone camera with an f/1.6 lens and optical image stabilization. The phone additionally includes a 200-megapixel telephoto camera offering up to 2.7x optical zoom, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 50-megapixel front camera.
To activate the gimbal, users must manually slide open a rear cover and launch the function through the camera or AI assistant app. Honor partnered with cinema camera company ARRI to build video tools into the interface, including support for ARRI's LogC3 recording format and the ability to preview LUTs while filming.
High price and durability concerns
The Robot Phone retails in China for 9,999 yuan, roughly $1,500, though Honor devices typically cost more when sold in other markets. The company has indicated it is exploring future devices that could eventually launch outside China. Durability remains a concern given the added mechanical components, and the phone's IP54 dust and water resistance only applies when the gimbal is folded away.
