Chinese technology giant Honor announced its strategic entry into the robotics market with its first-ever AI-powered humanoid robot.
The company released a teaser video titled “Believers in AI Future,” confirming that the robot will make its global debut at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona on March 1, 2026. This move makes Honor the first major global smartphone brand to venture directly into the consumer-facing humanoid robotics space.
Key Features and Design
While full technical specifications are being saved for the March 1st keynote, the official teaser and reports from Bloomberg have provided several key details:
- Futuristic Aesthetic: The robot features a sleek matte black body with a glossy glass face.
- Visual Sensors: It includes a singular camera module on its forehead and a horizontal blue LED light bar where eyes would typically be.
- Smart “Alpha” Branding: The robot carries the “Alpha” logo on its back, a brand name Honor is using for its advanced robotics lab products.
- Service Orientation: Unlike industrial robots designed for heavy lifting, Honor is positioning this as a “service robot” optimized for tasks such as shopping assistance, product delivery, and household companionship.
The “Robot Phone” Ecosystem
The humanoid robot is not a standalone project; it is part of Honor’s broader “Embodied AI” strategy.
At MWC 2026, the humanoid will be showcased alongside the Honor Robot Phone—a concept device featuring a built-in mechanical arm and a gimbal-mounted camera. Honor suggests that the humanoid and the phone will work in tandem, allowing the robot to act as a physical extension of the user’s mobile AI “brain.”
Context: The Robotics Arms Race
Honor’s entry comes at a time of explosive growth in the sector. In 2025, global humanoid robot revenue grew by over 500%, with Chinese manufacturers like Agibot and Unitree leading in shipments.
| Company | Strategy | Pricing / Status |
| Honor | Consumer & Retail Service | Launch: March 1, 2026 |
| Tesla (Optimus) | Industrial & Multi-purpose | Estimated $20,000 – $30,000 |
| Unitree (G1) | Research & General Purpose | Entry models from ~$6,000 |
| Xiaomi (CyberOne) | Research Concept | Not for commercial sale yet |
Other MWC 2026 Launches
The March 1st event, titled the “AI Device Ecosystem Era” showcase, will also see the global launch of several other Honor products:
- Honor Magic V6: A next-generation flagship foldable with a massive 7,000 mAh battery.
- Honor MagicPad 4: An AI-integrated professional tablet.
- Honor MagicBook Pro 14: A high-performance laptop designed for AI-driven productivity.
