HONOR has made it onto the prestigious TIME Best Inventions 2025 list twice. The globally renowned manufacturer of AI devices and smartphones secured two places in the “Manufacturing & Materials” and “Privacy & Security” categories – the only provider with multiple awards for mobile technologies. This confirms the company’s position as a pioneer in the development of future-oriented hardware and AI systems.
- Awarded in “Manufacturing & Materials” for the innovative silicon-carbon battery
- Awarded in “Privacy & Security” for the AI-supported deepfake detection on the device
- Recognized by TIME for technical breakthroughs in battery density, folding technology and data protection
- Confirmation of HONOR’s strategic focus on a connected, AI-based device ecosystem
Revolutionary battery technology with silicon-carbon design
One of the two awards went to HONOR’s silicon-carbon battery, which was recognized in the “Manufacturing & Materials” category. The innovation breaks a technological barrier that has existed for years: conventional lithium-ion batteries reach their physical limits in terms of energy density and thickness. HONOR’s new solution combines 25% silicon content with a structure that is only 2.3 mm thick and achieves a capacity of 6,100 mAh.
This advancement enables thinner, lighter, yet enduring foldable devices – such as the recently launched HONOR Magic V5, which is considered the world’s thinnest foldable. TIME particularly emphasized that HONOR has significantly improved both runtime and stability by compressing the material layers – an important step for the next generation of mobile energy supply. With this technology, HONOR shows that sustainable performance enhancement and design optimization can go hand in hand – a clear signal to the entire smartphone industry.
AI against deepfakes: security directly in the device
The second award went to the new on-device AI for deepfake detection, which focuses on data protection and security. HONOR integrates the system directly into its smartphones, where it checks video calls in real time for possible manipulation – such as artificial facial movements or inconsistent frames. The decisive advantage lies in the processing on the device itself: sensitive data is not transmitted externally, which reduces latency and protects privacy.
TIME praised this function as a “groundbreaking protective measure” that protects users from AI manipulation regardless of cloud services. Jianfa Sun, President of MagicOS at HONOR, emphasized that this technology “shifts the burden of detection from the user to the device, building trust in an increasingly AI-driven world”.
With this solution, HONOR is responding specifically to the growing risk of disinformation and digital deception – and proving that mobile AI implementations can be not only convenient but also secure.
HONOR’s path as a global innovation leader
The double honor at the TIME Best Inventions 2025 reflects HONOR’s long-term innovation course: high investments in research, sustainable development and the consistent combination of AI and design. Following the success of the Magic series and new folding models, the company is strengthening its role as a technological spearhead in international competition.
TIME mentioned that no other smartphone manufacturer has received multiple awards this year – a clear sign that HONOR’s developments set it apart from the industry. By combining intelligent security, efficient energy use and user-oriented design, the brand has succeeded in actively shaping future trends and redefining standards.
Conclusion
With the silicon-carbon battery and AI deepfake detection, HONOR is setting two clear innovation benchmarks in 2025. Both technologies show how strongly the brand combines research and user-oriented AI development. The TIME awards not only confirm HONOR’s technological expertise, but also the company’s importance as a global driver for smart, secure and sustainable device concepts.
The full list of TIME Best Inventions 2025 is available on the TIME website.
