When Honor announced its upcoming Robot Phone in October last year, it was a genuine surprise, promising a refreshing break from the predictable designs we see with most phone launches. But it turns out the Chinese phone-maker had something even more ambitious and impressive up its sleeve: an actual robot.
Honor will unveil its first humanoid service robot during its launch event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Sunday March 1, the company said on Monday. It’s set to display the robot alongside the first working prototype of its Robot Phone, as well as new phones and tablets.
The worldwide market for humanoid robots is currently experiencing a massive boom — with IDC noting a 508% year-on-year growth in revenue in 2025 — thanks to rapid advances in AI. Chinese companies are far ahead in this race, with leaders such as Agibot and Unitree already shipping out units, while US competitors trail behind.
Still, most of these humanoids are designed to be used in industrial or service settings. Very few are ready for deployment into people’s homes.
We don’t have many details about what to expect from Honor’s robot at this stage. An AI-generated video posted by the company shows a humanoid robot with a glowing neon blue lights interacting with its Robot Phone.
Last year at MWC, Honor announced a $10 billion investment into AI, with a range of devices promised. Honor is one of the first phone-makers to jump into the world of robotics, potentially giving it early-mover advantage in an increasingly crowded market.
What isn’t clear at this stage is how far along Honor is in its robot development. At MWC, it could unveil a full working prototype on stage, or it could show us another video of the robot. Either way, CNET will be in attendance at the company’s kenynote to bring you all the news as it happens.
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