Meet Huawei’s Smart Hanhan, The Emotional AI Plush

Huawei has introduced the Smart Hanhan, its first “virtual pet” featuring what the company calls emotional artificial intelligence. Launched in China during the Mate 80 series event, the device quickly sold out in all three color options on the Huawei Mall. Priced at 399 yuan (~$55), the Smart Hanhan combines soft toy design with digital companionship, positioning itself as a blend of technology, comfort, and emotional support.

Unlike conventional electronic toys, the Smart Hanhan is designed as a small emotional companion. It is compact, measuring 80 × 68 × 82 mm, and weighs 140 grams. Its construction mixes plush and silicone materials with internal components that control its facial expressions. Aimed at fans of collectible characters like Labubu, the device focuses on delivering a tactile and expressive user experience.

A key highlight is the Xiaoyi AI system, Huawei’s large-scale model capable of interpreting emotions, tone changes, and conversational context. According to Gizmochina, this is the feature that most distinguishes the Smart Hanhan from ordinary interactive toys. It allows the virtual pet to respond in personalized and natural ways, reducing the sense of mechanical interaction. The Smart Hanhan reacts to voice, touch, and movement: stroking its head alters its expressions, while gently shaking it produces enthusiastic reactions. Huawei’s goal is to create a companion that conveys presence and emotional engagement.

The device works with smartphones running HarmonyOS 5.0 or later, including models like the Mate 80 and Mate X7. When paired, it can generate an interaction diary, recording emotions, conversations, and specific shared moments, effectively creating digital memories between the user and the virtual pet.

Its 1800 mAh battery supports six to eight hours of continuous interaction, or up to 48 hours of intermittent use. A full recharge takes approximately six hours.

With the Smart Hanhan, Huawei introduces a new category of emotion-focused AI devices, shifting from productivity to digital companionship. The device’s rapid sell-out indicates strong demand in the Chinese market for gadgets that can provide emotional presence, even in virtual form. This launch highlights a growing trend toward technologies designed to offer comfort, interaction, and personalized engagement.

Are we looking at a possible new big niche for tech products? Only time will tell!

Filed in Robots. Read more about AI (Artificial Intelligence), harmonyOS, Huawei, Pet and Toy.