Honor’s MWC 2025 Keynote: From AI-Powered Smartphones to IoT Devices
A Closer Collaboration with Google and Qualcomm
At the Mobile World Congress 2025, Honor announced what it calls "Alpha Plan," an initiative to transition the smartphone brand into an AI device ecosystem company. This is accompanied by an extended software support promise, matching that of Samsung and Google, and three new IoT launches. Here’s the full rundown of the Sunday newsbreak.
Honor will invest $10 billion over the next five years for a "renewed focus on open collaboration" with Google and Qualcomm to co-create an "intelligent ecosystem," a series of devices that can seamlessly communicate and interact with each other.
New Wearables and a Tablet for the Global Market
Honor is expanding its product lineup in Europe with three new devices. Leading the charge are the Honor Earbuds Open, a pair of open-ear wireless earbuds designed with a built-in ear hook — similar in style to the recent Beats Powerbeats Pro.
The Honor Earbuds Open offer a secure fit while integrating AI-powered features such as Live Translation and an AI agent. The earbuds also include a three-microphone hybrid active noise cancellation system that should help minimize wind noise and enhance voice clarity. Battery life is rated at up to six hours on a single charge, with the case extending it to 22 hours. The Honor Earbuds Open are priced at 149 euros.
Other Key Announcements
- Honor Magic 7 Pro and Magic 7 RSR: The first two devices to be included in the new update standard will be the Honor Magic 7 Pro and Magic 7 RSR. Unfortunately, Honor won’t offer these many updates to its latest foldable, the Magic V3, but the company has assured that upcoming Magic series phones will receive the seven years of Android OS updates.
- AIMAGE Imaging Brand: Honor also announced a new AIMAGE imaging brand, which includes a new feature for restoring old portraits. It’ll roll out for the Magic 7 Pro later this month. AIMAGE is powered by the AI Kernel and is said to support a 1.3 billion parameter model to "generate a 50% uplift in image clarity."
- AI Deepfake Detection: The company will soon release its AI Deepfake detection feature to its flagship smartphones. We’ll surely want to test the accuracy and reliability of it, but it’s a practical tool nonetheless during a time of digital confusion.
- Honor Connect: Like Oppo’s O+ Connect, Honor has also announced a new way to transfer data between Android and Apple-owned platforms. For example, a new iOS app called Honor Connect will allow users to transfer data (files, images, and videos) between Honor devices and an iPhone seamlessly.
Conclusion
Honor’s focus on AI-powered devices and software is a significant step forward for the company. With its collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, Honor is set to offer a more seamless and integrated experience across its devices. The seven years of software support for its flagship smartphones is a major selling point, and the new IoT devices and wearables announced are promising additions to the Honor ecosystem.
FAQs
Q: What is Honor’s Alpha Plan?
A: Honor’s Alpha Plan is an initiative to transition the smartphone brand into an AI device ecosystem company, focusing on open collaboration with Google and Qualcomm.
Q: What is the Honor Earbuds Open?
A: The Honor Earbuds Open are a pair of open-ear wireless earbuds designed with a built-in ear hook, offering a secure fit, AI-powered features, and a three-microphone hybrid active noise cancellation system.
Q: What is the Honor Watch 5 Ultra?
A: The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is a premium smartwatch with a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and 5ATM water submersion support, running Honor’s custom software.
Q: What is the Honor Pad V9?
A: The Honor Pad V9 is an 11.5-inch tablet with a 144Hz refresh rate, 1,840 x 2,800-pixel resolution, and a 10,100mAh battery, priced at 250 euros.
