July 20, 2026, 11:03 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Even before Honor officially unveiled the new Robot Phone, it appeared on the world’s biggest soccer stage. A newly crowned world champion made the unusual smartphone visible to millions of viewers.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is decided: Spain won the final against Argentina 1-0 after extra time. While the players celebrated their title win on the field of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, it wasn’t just the World Cup trophy that drew attention.
A Smartphone Amid the World Cup Celebrations
In numerous videos and photos of the subsequent celebration scenes, Spain’s center-back Eric García is seen with a smartphone not yet available on the market. Tech observers immediately noticed the device: it appears to be the new Honor Robot Phone. Although the model has been seen at trade shows in recent months, it is still before its official market launch.
It’s remarkable that a player appears with a yet-to-be-released smartphone right after the greatest success of his career. The images quickly spread on social networks, sparking discussions there.
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Honor Achieves a PR Success with Global Reach
Honor has not officially commented on the appearance yet. However, it seems likely that the company strategically used the opportunity to present its upcoming flagship to a global audience.
The strategy apparently worked. While traditional advertising campaigns often require large budgets, the Robot Phone’s surprising appearance on the World Cup field garnered enormous attention in a short time. Numerous images of the device are now circulating on social media. Thus, Honor has achieved a level of visibility even before the actual market launch that many manufacturers only reach after an extensive marketing campaign.
The smartphone can already be reserved in China. The official unveiling is expected in August.
Also of interest: Will Honor soon show ads on its smartphones?
What’s Inside the Honor Robot Phone
The device’s camera technology is particularly interesting. A 200-megapixel main camera with a movable three-axis gimbal has been confirmed. This system is designed to reduce shake and elevate image stabilization to a new level.
Additionally, current information mentions another 200-megapixel periscope camera for zoom shots and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. The processor is likely to be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Initial hands-on videos also show a relatively thick casing–a hint that Honor is clearly focusing on camera technology with this model.