If you’ve always dreamed of having a dog for their loving companionship, but don’t enjoy the prospect of having to clean up after them (or their sometimes-pungent smell), you’re going to want to keep an eye on TECNO’s new AI-powered robot dog. Ambitiously named the ‘Dynamic 1’ (suggesting that more versions of this canine android will be on the horizon in coming years), TECNO has debuted the robotic pup at 2024’s Mobile World Conference (MWC) in Barcelona, where our lead hardware and tech journalist Connor Christie is in attendance.
Inspired by the (gorgeous) German Shepherd dog breed, Dynamic 1 integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence with a recognizable and surprisingly cute four-legged design and can be controlled via an app – you don’t need the best gaming phone to be compatible with this. With a torque output of 45 N.m/kg, TECNO has designed Dynamic 1 to mimic natural dog movements such as climbing stairs, jumping, bowing, and handshaking. You won’t have to worry about any obstacles either, because its AI HyperSense Fusion System integrates Intel RealSense D430 depth camera and dual optical sensors to enable stable navigation and obstacle detection, alongside exceptional command responsiveness.
Connor had the chance to see the dog live in action in Barcelona at MWC, and explains that “TECNO’s robot dog, the Dynamic 1, is something a little different from the company. It can hold out a paw, stomp its feet, and even leap through the air, and better still, it’s never going to make a mess on the rug. While we didn’t see the Dynamic 1 fetch or rollover, it has seemingly mastered the handshake.”
Okay, tricks are cool. But how does it actually work? Well, there are several ways you can control Dynamic 1, and you don’t even have to get out the treat jar. With 64GB onboard storage, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2, you can command Dynamic 1 via a smartphone app, remote control, or voice command, making it a potentially more obedient (and flexible) pet than a flesh-and-bone furry friend.
Reflecting on this, Connor says, “The biggest difference between this dog and the one you have at home is that TECNO’s is remote-controlled. I’m honestly not sure what you might use it for in a domestic setting, but the tech is pretty impressive nonetheless.” And that’s the big question, isn’t it: what’s the point of the mechanical dog? Even seeing it at MWC in person, we’re not quite sure. Though, maybe if you also have a Tesla and a Vision Pro, you might simply want the Dynamic 1 to complete the vibe. And it’s a self-evidently impressive demonstration of TECNO’s tech, too.
Connor concludes, “It’s not quite as loveable as the real thing, though the ears are pretty cute.” Connor will be at MWC all week, and we’ll have all the latest coverage right here.
You can read more of our hardware coverage with our recent Poco X6 Pro review, as well as speculation on the Switch 2 and Steam Deck 2.