A robot kicked off the 2026 edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor had teased the announcement of its first humanoid, arousing the curiosity of observers.
A few days after the highly publicized performance of the start-up Unitree’s machines at the Lunar New Year gala in China, the presentation of the Honor model was particularly anticipated.
But Honor’s robot won’t be the only one wandering the aisles of the show. This year, several start-ups specializing in humanoid robots are exhibiting at MWC, which is still unusual in an event historically focused on smartphones and telecoms. The presence of these machines confirms the emergence of an industry that is still young, but rapidly accelerating.
The Honor robot, tip of the iceberg
The presentation of Honor’s humanoid robot was part of the launch of the new “Robot Phone”, a smartphone with advanced artificial intelligence features and a motorized photo module integrated into the rear of the chassis.
This concept combines cameras, motors and AI to enable physical interaction: follow a subject, automatically adjust the shooting angle or perform certain automated movements. It serves as a showcase for Honor’s vision of so-called “embodied” AI. On stage, the robot performed a choreography alongside human dancers before performing a “moonwalk”. Honor CEO James Li then exchanged a few words with the machine, which concluded the demonstration with a backflip before leaving the stage.
At this stage, Honor has not communicated a marketing schedule or detailed technical specifications. It remains difficult to determine whether this is a technological prototype, a marketing tool or the beginnings of strategic diversification beyond smartphones, tablets and laptops. The robot, which does not yet have a name, however seems to require improvements before considering commercialization. Although it reacts to certain voice commands, its capabilities remain limited. When approaching him and trying to interact with him, his movements still appear not very fluid and his autonomy remains uncertain, especially since he was closely supervised by employees of the manufacturer during his travels.
Beyond the Honor case, the demonstration illustrates a broader dynamic: humanoid robots are gradually leaving laboratories to take over trade fairs, showrooms and commercial events. A first milestone in the structuring of a still embryonic market.
China in force, Europe in retreat
Among the players in this booming sector present in Barcelona is AgiBot, a Chinese start-up founded in 2023. Already positioned as one of the world leaders in the sector, the company claims to have generated $142 million in turnover in 2025 and sold nearly 5,000 units of its various models, including the A2, its flagship product.
Its presence at MWC is part of an international expansion strategy, with a particular emphasis on Europe. The company recently presented its range at an event in Munich and announced a partnership with a French haute couture house, the identity of which has not yet been revealed.
Alongside AgiBot, MagicLab, another Chinese start-up founded in January 2024, is also making the trip. In the space of a year, it has established itself among the most visible players in the sector, with more than 300 employees, around 70% of whom are dedicated to research and development.
At MWC, MagicLab is notably presenting the MagicBot Gen1, a humanoid robot positioned as “generalist”. It targets various uses: reception robot in showrooms, technological demonstrations, event presence (tech fairs, television, festivals), commercial services in shopping centers or hotels, even industrial assistance in semi-structured environments.
Also present in Barcelona are the Chengdu Robot Innovation Center and the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robots, Chinese research and development centers specializing in humanoid robotics.
The only non-Chinese representative in the sector is a local at the stage, the Spanish start-up PAL Robotics. It presents a humanoid robot model called Kangaroo, designed for research and development in dynamic locomotion. It has recently moved from prototype stage to commercialization for research institutions and businesses.
This 2026 edition of the Mobile World Congress therefore constitutes a window into the future. We should indeed see more and more humanoid robots in the exhibition halls over the coming years. The overall market, valued at USD 4.89 billion in 2025, could reach USD 165.13 billion by 2034, according to Fortune Business.
