Honor teases ‘robot phone’ with fold-out mechanical camera
Honor has revealed plans for an unconventional smartphone design: a phone with a pop-out mechanical arm that carries the main camera. Billed as a “robot phone,” the concept is meant to showcase the companys AI ambitions as part of a reported $10 billion investment in artificial intelligence over the next five years. Honor says it will share more details at the next Mobile World Congress.
Honor has experimented with unusual form factors before, including ultra-thin foldables and laptops with detachable webcams. The fold-out camera idea recalls earlier pop-up cameras (for example, the OnePlus 7 Pro) but takes that concept further by mounting the camera on a mechanical arm that can swing out from the chassis.
- Potential benefits: Unique shooting angles, creative framing for photos and video, and possible integration with advanced AI image processing.
- Main concerns: Added mechanical complexity that could raise manufacturing costs and risk of failures or durability issues over time.
- What to watch: How Honor pairs the hardware with software AI features, pricing, and real-world durability tests once more details arrive.
While Honor has been vague on exact specs and availability, the companys emphasis on AI investment suggests the mechanical camera is intended as a showcase for new imaging software and features. Expect official demos and more technical details at Mobile World Congress.
For more background, see the original coverage on Engadget, and visit Honor’s website for company info.
Discussion: Would you be excited to try a phone with a fold-out camera, or do the durability concerns outweigh the novelty?