China’s Honor Unveils Moonwalking Humanoid Robot, Sparks Awe at MWC 2026

At this year’s Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Chinese tech brand Honor unveiled its first-ever humanoid robot, marking a bold expansion beyond smartphones and laptops into full-scale robotics.

The unnamed humanoid robot walked on stage alongside human dancers and performed a choreographed routine to “Believer” by Imagine Dragons. In a moment that caught the crowd by surprise, it executed a moonwalk and even attempted a backflip.

While the robot doesn’t have a formal name yet, Honor’s vision for it is clear. The company isn’t aiming for industrial factory work. Instead, they want these machines in our homes and offices. According to Honor, the robot is being developed for three specific roles: shopping assistance, workplace inspections, and “supportive companionship.”

Speaking on the shift from digital to physical AI, James Li, CEO of Honor, told the audience at the event: “If the smartphone is an extension of our minds, the robot would be an extension of our hands. It connects us to a whole new world of services.”

The robot phone: A ‘new species’ of smartphone

The humanoid wasn’t alone on stage. It appeared alongside Honor’s much-talked-about Robot Phone, a concept device first previewed earlier this year.

Described by the company as “a new species of smartphone,” the Robot Phone features a motorized 4DoF gimbal camera system designed to introduce what Honor calls embodied AI interaction. The phone can track motion, maintain visual awareness, and physically adjust its camera position.

Demonstrations showed the camera module moving in sync with music and following subjects during video capture. Features include AI Object Tracking and AI SpinShot, which enable 90-degree and 180-degree rotational movement.

Image: Honor

The device is built around a 200MP sensor and a stabilized gimbal system intended to narrow the gap between smartphone video and professional-style storytelling. While earlier demonstrations were non-functional previews, Honor confirmed at MWC that a working version is now on display. The company has indicated a release window in the second half of 2026 for the Robot Phone.

Magic V6 and a broader AI ecosystem

Alongside its robotics push, Honor also introduced the Magic V6 foldable smartphone. The device measures 8.75mm when closed and features a 6,660mAh silicon-carbon battery. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance.

Honor’s Magic V6 foldable smartphone. Image: Honor

The Magic V6 sports dual LTPO displays, 6.52 inches on the outside and 7.95 inches when unfolded, with refresh rates ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. Honor also expanded its lineup with the MagicPad 4 tablet and the MagicBook Pro 14 laptop, reinforcing what it describes as an AI-driven ecosystem that stretches beyond smartphones.

Last year, Honor announced a $10 billion investment in AI. At the time, much of the focus appeared to be on software. This week’s unveiling makes it clear the company’s ambitions extend further, into robotics and embodied AI. 

For now, pricing and commercial availability details for the humanoid robot have not been announced. Specifications also remain limited. 

For more on how humanoid robots are moving from stage performances to potential battlefield roles, read our coverage of the US military’s interest in robot weaponization.