MANILA, Philippines – Smartphone maker HONOR at the Mobile World Congress 2025 (MWC 2025) announced that it would be providing seven years of Android OS updates and security updates for its flagship HONOR Magic series — a jump up from the five years typical to the line.
This brings HONOR’s flagship phones in line with flagship devices from Samsung and Google, which also receive seven years of updates. Outside Google, Samsung was the first to announce a seven-year update program when it did so for its flagship S24 back in January 2024, a move that was met with applause back then.
That means that for up to seven years, compatible devices will be receiving essential updates that keep them running safe while also receiving some new OS features.
The update program starts with the HONOR Magic7 Pro, available in the Philippines in 2025, with expansion to more HONOR flagship phones and foldable devices, the brand said.
MWC also sees the brand fully commit to AI this year, with what it calls the “HONOR ALPHA PLAN,” which is said to transform the company from a smartphone maker to an “AI device ecosystem company.”
The announcement bolsters the current smartphone trend of manufacturers leaning heavily on AI, including Samsung with its Galaxy AI push, Apple with its Apple Intelligence products, and just recently at MWC as well, OPPO with a proclamation for more AI features on its devices.
HONOR talked about the first step being to develop an “intelligent phone” together with partners in what it calls the “agentic era.”
Agentic AI is simply AI that can automatically do tasks for you such as put items in your calendar or book a ticket for you. In last month’s Samsung Unpacked launch, it was also among the buzzwords being used in its press materials.
Next, the company discusses a “physical AI era” where it hopes to create a “new paradigm for AI ecosystem.”
HONOR said, “The envisioned intelligent phone that is central to the first step will embed human-centric AI that is purpose-built to maximize human potential.”
Among the AI features it touted is its AiMAGE technology for photo enhancements that appear to use both on-device and cloud-based AI for improving photographic clarity, said to arrive in March on the Magic7 Pro.
HONOR also showcased what it called the “world’s first all-ecosystem file-sharing technology” that is being designed to transfer files to and from iOS and Android devices. The company will also be introducing an AI Deepfake detection technology in its latest flagship devices.
To back up its words, HONOR said it is pouring in more than $10 billion over the next five years for its commitment to developing AI-centric devices. – Rappler.com