The Sharp factory in Japan was visited by former Japan PM Junichiro Koizumi. (Photo : Getty Images/Koichi Kamoshida)
Sharp just launched RoboHon, a small robot and an Android smartphone in one, priced 198,000 Japanese yen or about $1,814, which is twice the price of the most premium Android flagships. The device was first previewed at Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies 2015 and was officially press launched on April 12, Tuesday.
As a smartphone that runs Google's Android, it can place telephone calls, as well as send emails, videos and photos.
RoboHon is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz chipset, runs last year's Android Lollipop and sports a 2-inch QVGA display on its back while its head is embedded with a 720p projector. The smart robot has 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP camera and 1700mAh battery. It is only available in Japan as Sharp is still exploring foreign launches. It aims to rival other devices not on specs but on its distinctive features not found in other smartphones that are not small automatons.
Hideki Yasuda, an analyst from Ace Research Institute describes RoboHon as too big to carry as a smartphone though robot fans would buy it during launch. Tomotaka Takahashi, one of the creators of the device said there was no consumer product as challenging as the RoboHon.
The Japanese manufacturer's device can be controlled by voice commands, can dance and walk while there are upcoming features like recipe assistance and taxi hailing. It has certain voice recognition features tied to a subscription fee of $6 per month, reported VentureBeat. It talks to the user based on cloud language conversation learning.
RoboHon is compatible with NTT DoCoMo LTE bands, but is not sold by the carrier. Activating the smart robot requires a special cloud-based connection that will only work in Japan. To buy the Sharp smartphone, one should sign up for a SIM-card based data plan as well as other commitments.
Only 5,000 units of the 8-inch automaton are being produced monthly so it is somewhat a limited thing, Android Authority has learned. It will be available in the market on May 26 at select retailers as well as on Sharp's website.
Sharp RoboHon smart robot was demoed in the video below by ARMdevices.net.
