Forget voice prompts: I just answered a phone call using only my eyes
Back in October, I reported on Honor’s Apple Vision Pro-like eye-tracking technology, which was just teased in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it segment at Qualcomm’s annual Snapdragon Summit. At the time, Honor used a series of animations to demonstrate how and why this eye-tracking technology could be used, but at MWC 2024 I was definitely able to get hands-on (or eyes-on?) with this. Blade Runner-like smartphone function.
Announced as an upcoming upgrade for the newly announced flagship Honor Magic 6 Pro, this eye-tracking technology is tucked away in the phone’s digital pop-up Magic Capsule, which is essentially Honor’s take on Apple’s Dynamic Island.
Using the Magic 6 Pro’s front camera technology and smart facial recognition, Magic Capsule can recognize the user’s eyes and extract navigation information from the direction of their gaze. I tried out the feature at MWC 2024, where I was able to answer a phone call using just my eyes. Check it out on the TikTok below:
@techradar
♬ missed calls (expedited) – Kudasaibeats and accelerated
Pretty neat, right? Honor says this eye-tracking technology has countless applications – it’s already used starting a car and physically moving itfor example – but functionality on the Magic 6 Pro will likely be limited to more mundane Magic Capsule apps like Timer, Alarm and Calling.
Certain app-based eye-tracking features have already started rolling out on Chinese versions of the Honor Magic 6 Pro, with international versions of the device – expected to ship from March 8 – confirmed that they will feature eye-tracking received “in the future.”
Of course, eye-based UI control isn’t a totally new technology. As previously mentioned, Apple has implemented an innovative eye and hand navigation system on its Vision Pro headset, which Ny Breaking’s Lance Ulanoff – in his Apple Vision Pro review – described as “a control experience unparalleled in the mixed-reality space.”
However, so far eye tracking has not been seen on a smartphone. And while you’ll still have to pay handsomely for the privilege of having this technology in your pocket – the Honor Magic 6 Pro retails in the UK for a hefty £1,099.99 (availability elsewhere seems unlikely) – it’s clear that you you don’t need to spend a whopping $3,499 to own a piece of the hands-free future.