Korean Media: Robot Phones? China Leads the Trend in Smartphone Innovation!
On March 29, South Korean media outlet JoongAng Ilbo published an article stating that the rise of Chinese technology has left a profound mark on the smartphone market. At the time of the MWC26 World Mobile Communications Conference, Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Honor unveiled smartphones with powerful camera capabilities and robot phones, emphasizing device innovation and drawing widespread attention.
Shortly before, Honor held a global launch event in Barcelona, Spain, unveiling the world’s first robot smartphone—the Honor Robot Phone. Equipped with a four-axis gimbal camera resembling a robotic arm, this device maximally integrates artificial intelligence and robotics technologies.
The camera can automatically track subjects and respond to voice commands, supporting human-machine interaction. To achieve this functionality, Honor developed a miniature motor smaller than a coin. In collaboration with German video equipment company ARRI, the Honor Robot Phone enables stable, cinematic-grade shooting environments, including 180-degree rotating shots.
Although doubts lingered about its commercial viability after the concept was revealed late last year, Honor officially confirmed during this launch event that the product will be formally released in China's market this second half of the year. Honor CEO Li Jian explained: “This new product is not merely an AI phone—it represents the outcome of physical AI, combining intelligent functions with physical movements.”
Recently, Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and LEITZPHONE, both focusing on advanced photography features and competing directly with Samsung’s Galaxy S26. Both devices feature cutting-edge imaging technologies, such as a 1-inch LOFIC main sensor and a 200-megapixel optical zoom lens.
Once considered a rapid follower in the smartphone market, China now poses a significant threat to Samsung. Xiaomi ranked third globally in smartphone market share last year, behind only Apple and Samsung Electronics. By selecting South Korea as one of the first countries to launch its new products, Xiaomi is also targeting Samsung’s home market—South Korea.
Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1860983712609356/
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