Honor teases “Robot Phone” with fold-out robotic camera

Chinese smartphone maker Honor has unveiled a concept for a “Robot Phone”: a handset whose camera module folds out and can move to interact with users. The company showcased the idea in an animated demo video and teased a formal announcement at an upcoming mobile event.

The teaser shows a camera unit that extends and appears to rotate or reposition itself to face users — suggesting new form-factor experiments beyond standard pop-up or rotating lenses. Honor’s demo is still conceptual, presented through animation rather than a finished hardware prototype.

• Fold-out robotic camera that can move and engage with users
• Demo presented as animation — hardware status unclear
• Teased ahead of an upcoming mobile industry event

Why this matters: smartphone makers have been experimenting with mechanical camera solutions (pop-up modules, swivels, periscopes) to maximize screen space and add new capabilities. A robotic, interactive camera could open fresh possibilities for selfies, video calls, and creative shooting angles — but also raises questions about durability, battery cost, and real-world usefulness.

For reference, you can read the original report (in German) here and view concept teasers when Honor posts them.

Discussion: Would a moving, robotic camera be useful or just a gimmick? Share your thoughts below.