Honor has officially launched its new Robot Phone, a device that stands out for one primary reason: a built-in motorized gimbal. Priced at roughly $1,480 and set for release on August 20 in China, this device challenges standard flagship capabilities by housing a 200MP camera on a three-axis gimbal mount.
Testing the hardware against the iPhone 17 Pro Max reveals both strengths and compromises. The gimbal provides superior stabilization for walking shots and allows for persistent subject tracking, a feature currently missing from the iPhone. This functionality makes the device useful for recording fitness sessions or outdoor activities without the need for external equipment.
However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max maintains an edge in specific areas. During testing, the iPhone performed better in low-light conditions, capturing images with less noise. Additionally, the Robot Phone's vertical video recording relies on cropping the horizontal sensor, which limits resolution to roughly 2.8K, unlike the iPhone's 4K capabilities.
Beyond the camera, Honor packed significant hardware into the device. It includes a 7,060mAh battery and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. While the Robot Phone offers capabilities the iPhone cannot physically replicate, the compromises in low-light performance and vertical video resolution create a complex trade-off for content creators.
Currently, there is no word on a global release for the Honor Robot Phone. It represents a shift in how smartphone manufacturers are integrating specialized hardware, but the ecosystem advantages and refined video processing of the iPhone remain significant factors for the average user.