Honor Doesn’t Want to be Known as a Smartphone Company Anymore

Chinese tech company Honor has unveiled ambitious plans to diversify beyond smartphones, a move that may seem surprising at first glance but is grounded in a strategic vision.

For most people, Honor is synonymous with smartphones. Even before its separation from former parent company Huawei, smartphones were its flagship product, a reputation that still holds true today.

Despite appearances, the decision to pivot from this core strategy is not arbitrary. Under the leadership of new CEO James Li, Honor aims to transition from being a mere smartphone manufacturer to becoming a global leader in AI device ecosystems within the next few years.

However, smartphones will continue to play a pivotal role in this transformation. In fact, the development of an “intelligent phone” that redefines human-device interaction and connects consumers with the AI ecosystem is the initial focus of its ‘Alpha Plan’.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

However, Honor recognizes that its vision extends beyond smartphones. It plans to enhance user experiences across various hardware categories such as PCs, tablets, and wearables by leveraging AI technology. The specifics of this transformation are yet to be revealed.

Of particular note is Honor’s AI Connect feature, which facilitates seamless file-sharing between iOS and Android devices. This technology, touted as “the world’s first all-ecosystem file-sharing technology,” aims to streamline data transfer processes that are often cumbersome.

Collaboration plays a crucial role in Honor’s strategy. In addition to partnerships with Apple and Google, the company is collaborating with Qualcomm to develop core technologies. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipsets already power many Honor devices.

Looking at the present, Honor has announced three key features that will be introduced to existing devices. These include AI Deepfake detection on its latest flagship phones and ‘AIMAGE’ AI upscaling for photos on the Magic 7 Pro.

Furthermore, starting with the Magic 7 Pro, all Honor flagships and foldables will receive seven years of OS and security updates, aligning with industry leaders like Samsung and Google.