At the Mobile World Congress 2025, Honor announced a series of new hardware, but that was arguably the least important thing. Instead, the focus on software, especially AI applications that may just strike a chord with users, stole the show.
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At the event, 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.
A closer collaboration with Google and Qualcomm
With Alpha Plan, Honor says it’ll invest $10 billion over the next five years for a “renewed focus on open collaboration.” The company says it’ll work closely with Google and Qualcomm to co-create an “intelligent ecosystem,” a series of devices that can seamlessly communicate and interact with each other — like what Apple has arguably achieved, but better.
This collaboration will also help Honor deliver seven years of Android OS and security updates to its flagship smartphones, joining the likes of Samsung and Google in terms of software longevity.
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The Honor Magic 7 Pro and Magic 7 RSR will be the first two devices to be included in the new update standard. 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.
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.” 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.
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.
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.
Weighing 7.9 grams per earbud, they 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.
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The company is also launching the Watch 5 Ultra, a premium smartwatch with a 1.5-inch AMOLED display that supports an always-on mode. Its design resembles the OnePlus Watch 3, and it weighs 51.8 grams. The watch is built with a titanium alloy case and a ceramic-like back cover, available in Black with a fluoroelastomer strap and Brown with a leather strap.
With an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and 5ATM water submersion support, the Watch 5 Ultra is built for durability. It runs Honor’s custom software instead of Wear OS and is powered by a 480mAh battery, delivering up to 15 days of battery life. The smartwatch is priced at 279 euros.
Last but not least, Honor has also announced a new tablet called the Pad V9. It sports an 11.5-inch LCD with support for a 144Hz refresh rate and a sharp 1,840 x 2,800-pixel resolution. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Elite chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
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The Honor Pad V9 packs a 10,100mAh battery, which can be expected to last you a couple of days. At 475 grams, the Pad V9 should be comfortable to use. On the front, you get an 8MP camera for video calls, and a 13MP rear camera takes care of the scanning needs. It is priced at 250 euros.
Unlike previous years, Honor hasn’t announced a new smartphone at MWC. Instead, it’s focusing on AI and delivering a better software experience. Seven years of software support is promising, and it’s safe to say the Google Cloud and Qualcomm collaborations are only just getting started.
