HONOR’s Cannes phone pairs a robotic camera with ARRI color

At Cannes, HONOR showed a phone with a 200MP camera mounted on a robotic arm, but the device is set to reach China first, with no confirmed US or UK launch date.

The Robot Phone’s standout feature is a 4DoF gimbal that extends from the camera module and moves on its own to keep subjects framed. HONOR says the micro motor inside is 70% smaller than the industry standard, which would make the mechanism unusually compact if the claim holds.

The camera system also includes AI Object Tracking for autonomous subject following and AI SpinShot, which can carry out smooth 90- or 180-degree rotational moves without a separate rig. HONOR says the phone is aimed at people who care about mobile filmmaking, and the hardware is designed to mimic gear that would otherwise require a gimbal, a camera operator and a tripod head.

The other major selling point is the ARRI link-up. The German company, known for Alexa cinema cameras and 20 Scientific and Technical Academy Awards, has brought its ARRI Image Science color processing to a consumer phone for the first time.

HONOR unveiled the device at a China Night event at the Cannes Film Festival, where the presentation focused on AI and the future of cinema. Industry professionals at Cannes also got a hands-on look at the Robot Phone and its ARRI-backed camera system.

HONOR has set a Q3 2026 launch window, covering July through September, but only for China. Global availability remains unconfirmed, and there is no official price for any market.

An unconfirmed UAE retailer listing has suggested a price of around $2,233 for the 16GB/512GB version, though HONOR has not verified that figure. The phone’s moving parts also raise durability questions, especially given the mixed history of mechanisms such as pop-up cameras, and Engadget notes that the gimbal has not yet been tested by independent reviewers.

The ARRI partnership is new for a consumer handset, but buyers in the UK and US will have to wait for more detail on pricing, availability and durability before they can judge it for themselves.

HONOR Robot Phone's motorized camera arm extends to track subjects autonomously.

Industry professionals at Cannes got a hands-on look at the Robot Phone and its ARRI-backed camera system.