Honour Magic9 Pro Max Official: Two 200-Megapixel Cameras and ARRI Film Look
First in China, Europe to follow later
Honour announced the Magic9 Pro Max in China, along with the standard Magic9 and Magic9 Super Edition models. The top-of-the-line model focuses entirely on video and photography. Honour collaborated with the German film camera manufacturer ARRI on the camera system, equipping it with two 200-megapixel rear cameras. Altho a European launch has been confirmed, Honour has not yet disclosed the release date or pricing.
ARRI cinematic look
ARRI has been building cameras for feature films since 1917, and that expertise is now incorporated into Honour’s image processing. In the new ARRI CINEMA mode, you shoot in 4K at 60 frames per second, in 10-bit colour with the LogC3 curve and the ARRI Wide Gamut 3 colour space. These are terms from the professional film industry: the image comes flat out of the camera, allowing you to apply your own colour look during post-production. If that seems like too much work, you can choose from fourteen preset ARRI looks, selected from a library of 87.
Honour is clearly targeting video creators with this approach. The separate accessories fit right in: a video kit from SmallRig and two telephoto lenses that clip onto the camera (the Teleconverter G200 and G500).
With the Honour Magic9 Pro Max, Honour AI helps turn inspiration into action, supporting creators from the initial idea and script all the way thru to editing. Thru our partnership with ARRI, we combine the Honour AIMAGE engine with a century of filmmaking expertise from ARRI, so that everyone can become the director of their own life.
Two 200-megapixel cameras
The sensors in the main and telephoto cameras are large for a phone. According to Honour, all three cameras achieve a CIPA 8.0 rating for image stabilisation, and the dynamic range is 14 stops.
| Camera | Resolution | Sensor | Aperture | Optical stabilisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 200 megapixels | 1/1.28 inch | f/1.57 | Yes |
| Telephoto camera | 200 megapixels | 1/1.4 inch | f/2.6 | Yes |
| Wide-angle camera | 50 megapixels | - | f/2.0 | - |
| Front | 55 megapixels, square (1:1), plus 3D depth camera | - | - | - |
For video audio, there are four microphones capable of directional recording. Honour also uses its own image processing chip, the H1, which assists with image processing alongside the processor.
Display, chip, and battery
The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display reaches a peak brightness of 10,000 nits and features an anti-reflective coating that reduces reflection to 1.5 percent. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, alongside Honour’s own C3 chip for improved signal reception.
The battery in the Chinese version has a capacity of 8,800 mAh. Don’t count on getting that same capacity in Europe: for the Magic8 Pro, the battery capacity for the European version was reduced from 7,200 to 6,270 mAh. Charging is 100 watts via cable and 80 watts wirelessly.
Metal body and MagicOS 11
The body is made from a single piece of metal and meets IP68, IP69, and IP69K standards, so the device can withstand submersion and even a hot high-pressure water jet. It comes in three colours (Shadow Black, Glacier Silver, and Moss Green) and, in China, with 12 or 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB to 1 TB of storage.
The software is MagicOS 11, based on Android 17. In China, it includes YOYO, Honour’s AI assistant that can also carry out multi-step commands for you. Whether it will come to Europe remains to be seen: the European Magic8 Pro came with Google Gemini instead. Convenient for anyone who also uses an iPhone, Mack, or Windows PC: transferring files to those devices works directly.
Also the Magic9 and Magic9 Super Edition
In addition to the Pro Max, Honour unveiled two more devices in China. Both feature the H1 image chip, use the G200 telephoto lens, and offer the same level of protection against water and dust (IP68, IP69, and IP69K). They both run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, last year’s chip that is also found in the Magic8 Pro.
The standard Magic9 is a compact camera phone with a 6.37-inch screen and, in the Chinese version, an 8,000 mAh battery. Just like the Pro Max, the back features two 200-megapixel cameras (a main camera and a periscope telephoto camera), complemented by a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera. Charging is supported at 80 watts via cable and 50 watts wirelessly.
The Magic9 Super Edition is all about endurance. The 6.81-inch device features a massive 11,000 mAh battery in China and, at 8.1 millimetres, is still thinner than the Magic9. A notable feature is the built-in fan, which, together with a large cooling plate, is designed to keep the chip cool under heavy load. The battery is particularly impressive: the chip is the same as in last year’s Magic8 Pro, and the camera setup is simpler, featuring a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera.
Both devices will be available in black, olive green, yellow, and white. Honour has not yet announced whether they will also be released in Europe.
When will the Magic9 Pro Max be released in the Netherlands?
Honour has only stated that the launch in Europe and other regions will be announced “soon.” The Magic8 Pro arrived in Europe about three months after its Chinese launch. A European price hasn’t been set yet; the Chinese price doesn’t provide much insight, as it can never be converted directly into euros.
If you’re already looking for a phone that focuses just as heavily on video (and looks a little less like an iPhone), cheque out the Sony Xperia 1 VIII. That, too, is a niche device for creators, and it’s now available for purchase starting at 1,599 euros.
