HONOR has given Malaysians their first unexpected look at the upcoming HONOR X9e Pro during the National Day Parade in Putrajaya, with the yet-to-be-launched smartphone appearing alongside the company’s D1 humanoid robot.
The appearance took place in front of more than 100,000 spectators, where HONOR also became the first smartphone brand to participate as an official contingent in Malaysia’s National Day celebration.
HONOR X9e Pro Spotted in Dark Purple
While HONOR has yet to officially launch the X9e Pro or reveal its full specifications, the phone made a rather conspicuous appearance in the hands of HONOR Robotics D1 as the robot led a contingent of nearly 50 HONOR representatives through the parade.
The device was shown in a rich dark purple finish, offering our first look at what appears to be the next addition to HONOR’s popular X Series in Malaysia.
HONOR says the X9e Pro will receive comprehensive upgrades while continuing the durability-focused approach that has become a defining characteristic of the X Series. The company isn’t revealing exactly what those upgrades are just yet, so we’ll have to wait for the official launch to find out what has changed.
Considering how aggressively HONOR has positioned its recent X Series devices around durability, battery life and everyday practicality, the X9e Pro could be an interesting device to watch when it eventually arrives in Malaysia.
D1 Humanoid Robot Earns Asia Records Recognition
The smartphone wasn’t the only piece of HONOR technology attracting attention during the celebrations.
HONOR Robotics D1 received an Asia Records recognition for becoming the “First Humanoid Robot to Complete a 10KM Public Road Run and March in a National Day Parade.”
The achievement came after D1 completed a 10KM run during the Malaysia Marathon 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on August 30. Starting from Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the humanoid robot travelled along a public-road route passing landmarks including KL Tower, Menara Maybank, Dataran Merdeka and the Petronas Twin Towers.
The recognition was presented by ASEAN Records Managing Director Eldrick Koh to HONOR Malaysia CEO Ethan Chen.
Interestingly, Malaysia also represents D1’s first public appearance outside China. The robot previously participated in the Beijing Yizhuang Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, where it completed the race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds and reached a claimed peak speed of 14.5 metres per second.
Beyond being a pretty impressive demonstration of endurance, D1 also offers a glimpse at HONOR’s ambitions outside its traditional smartphone business as the company expands its research into robotics and AI-powered hardware.
HONOR Brings Magic V6 Strongman Challenge to Putrajaya
HONOR also set up an experiential booth at Dataran Putrajaya during the National Day celebrations, allowing visitors to try its latest devices.
One of the activities was the HONOR Magic V6 Strongman Challenge, where participants attempted to hang from a pull-up bar for 60 seconds while the company demonstrated the durability of the foldable phone’s hinge.
HONOR hasn’t confirmed the Malaysian launch date, specifications or pricing of the X9e Pro yet. However, with the phone now making such a public appearance during Merdeka celebrations, we probably won’t have to wait too long before HONOR reveals the full details.
