Honor leads global Android growth in H1 2026

Honor has emerged as the fastest-growing major Android vendor globally in the first half of 2026, according to the latest data from US market research company International Data Corp.

Honor CEO Li Jian said in an interview on Wednesday that the company was also the only Chinese Android manufacturer to achieve positive shipment growth during the period, with a 9 percent increase that outpaced every major Android player worldwide.

The company's overall performance exceeded expectations in the first half, with its domestic market stabilizing and overseas operations delivering steady growth alongside improved structural quality, Li said.

He noted significant traction in the premium segment, with shipments priced above $400 continuing to rise and a substantial increase in the $400-$800 price bracket.

Li acknowledged that while the first quarter performed well, the second quarter presented considerable challenges in China, including rising prices of memory chips and intensified competition. However, he expressed overall satisfaction with the domestic market's performance, noting that Honor is in a steady recovery and was the only manufacturer to achieve growth in the Chinese market in July.

Overseas, Honor's momentum was even more pronounced, with sales volume growing 20 percent and revenue surging 26 percent year-on-year in the first half — a performance Li described as "far ahead" among peers.

The interview came on the heels of Honor's global launch of the Robot Phone, the world's first commercially available robotic smartphone. Priced from 9,999 yuan ($1,400), the device features a four-degree-of-freedom titanium alloy gimbal, marking Honor's boldest exploration into AI-powered hardware innovation. "We will never be just an ordinary consumer electronics assembler," Li said, emphasizing the company's commitment to becoming a true innovator.