HONOR is backed by Shenzhen government investment and state-owned enterprises and is aiming for a future public listing, though no timeline is set.

China’s startups are leading in AI-infused hardware, with Unitree among the examples highlighted as part of a domestic push into AI-enabled physical products.

HONOR will unveil its first humanoid robot, the Honor Robot, at MWC 2026 in Barcelona, signaling a strategic shift from smartphones to AI-powered consumer hardware.

Investor enthusiasm is rising around AI-focused Chinese entrants like Zhipu, seen as domestic rivals to OpenAI and Anthropic.

An AI engine enables real-time language translation, gesture recognition, and emotion detection to respond to emotional cues and distressed individuals.

The Robot Phone’s AI is designed to track environments, follow scenes automatically, and shift focus to subjects for filming on command.

Alongside the robot, HONOR will showcase other AI-enabled devices—Magic V6, MagicPad4, and MagicBook Pro 14—forming a cohesive AI-driven ecosystem with ultra-slim designs.

Security and privacy are central: local data processing, user-consent-driven facial and voice recognition, and safeguards to enable personalization.

Initial deployments are expected in semi-structured settings (hotels, showrooms, tours) and elder care across Asia and parts of Europe, with China-first emphasis and regulatory considerations guiding safe operation and data privacy.

HONOR faces a competitive landscape with players like Agility Robotics Digit, Tesla Optimus, Figure, Xiaomi CyberOne, and UBTech Walker, while Nvidia supports standardized perception-to-control stacks for professional service robots.

Chinese humanoid robots are typically priced lower than Western rivals, with examples around $6,000 to $14,000, versus higher costs for alternatives like Tesla Optimus.

Entry-level prices for Chinese models remain notably cheaper than Western competitors, exemplified by Unitree at roughly $6,000 and AgiBot around $14,000, contrasting with Musk’s $20,000–$30,000 target for Optimus.