After some teasing, HONOR has officially unveiled the Magic9 series on its home turf. The new flagship smartphone lineup comprises three models, namely the base Magic9, the Magic9 Pro Max, and the Magic9 Super Edition. The trio runs on Android 17 via the brand’s MagicOS 11 skin, which brings more glass-like visual elements and AI tools.
Both the regular model and the Pro Max variant focus on cinematography features, while the Super Edition prioritises performance and endurance. The first two feature imaging systems powered by the phone maker’s partnership with ARRI. As such, they support ARRI’s LogC3 format for flexible colour grading. Other highlights include 87 ARRI Looks and ARRI Movie Live. This mode shoots in a 2.39:1 cinematic widescreen format and can keep recording for three seconds after the shutter is pressed.
Magic9 Pro Max
As the top-of-the-line version, the Magic9 Pro Max boasts premium features, including an all-metal body and a 6.8-inch OLED display with a 1,320 x 2,868 pixel resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 10,000 nits. This panel, which the brand is calling the Black Diamond screen, also comes with a 5,600-layer silicon nitride coating for added scratch resistance and durability. Furthermore, the phone comes with IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings.
Under the hood, the phone is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 SoC. This gets paired with up to 16GB of RAM and a maximum of 1TB of storage. Keeping the lights on is an 8,800mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 80W wireless charging.
Of course, the highlight is the camera system. On the rear, the phone sports a 23mm equivalent 200MP primary shooter with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/1.6 aperture. This is accompanied by an 85mm equivalent 200MP periscope telephoto lens with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and up to 3.7x optical zoom. Completing the setup is a 12mm equivalent 50MP ultrawide lens. Meanwhile, the front is equipped with a 55MP square sensor that allows users to snap selfies in portrait and landscape mode without rotating the phone.
Alongside the phone, HONOR has introduced two teleconverter accessories: the G500, which offers a 500mm equivalent focal length, and the G200 with a 200mm equivalent. Additionally, there is a SmallRig camera cage that allows for additional attachments like grips and lights for a more conventional video setup.
Magic9
The vanilla Magic9 offers a modest 6.37-inch OLED display with a 1,236 x 2,664 pixel resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 10,000 nits of peak brightness. It also comes with the same IP ratings as its Pro Max counterpart.
Now, the internals are where the phones begin to differ. This model comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, which is the same processor found on the last generation. Similarly, memory options go up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Additionally, the device packs an 8,000mAh battery with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging support.
On the imaging end, the handset comes with a 200MP main camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and an f/1.9 aperture. This is joined by a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with a 1/1.56-inch sensor, as well as a 50MP ultrawide lens. The phone also features a 55MP square sensor on the front.
Magic9 Super Edition
This particular model is a bit of an oddball, even if its design doesn’t make it immediately apparent. The smartphone sports a 6.81-inch OLED display, which comes with a 1,280 x 2,788 pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, peak brightness is rated at 10,000 nits.
Like the regular Magic9, the Super Edition comes with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Furthermore, the phone boasts a huge 11,000mAh battery. To ensure sustained performance, the company has equipped the device with a large vapour chamber and an active cooling fan that spins at 30,000 RPM.
Of course, the trade-off here is the camera system, which misses out on the ARRI features. In any case, the phone comes with a 200MP 1/1.55-inch primary camera, paired with a 50MP 3x telephoto lens and a 12MP ultrawide snapper. The 50MP selfie shooter also uses a rectangular sensor.
Pricing And Availability
The HONOR Magic9 series is currently available for pre-order in China. The base model comes in Black, Olive Green, Yellow, and White finishes, and has a starting price of CNY4,999 (~RM3,040). The Super Edition is offered in the same colours, but is slightly cheaper than its sibling. Pricing for this version starts at CNY4,499 (~RM2,736).
Finally, the Pro Max model comes in Shadow Black, Glacier Silver, and Moss Green colourways. It has a starting price of CNY6,499 (~RM3,952), which makes it the priciest of the bunch.
As of yet, the brand has yet to disclose details on global availability. But given its track record, we can probably expect a local launch within the next few months, and it’s unlikely that we’ll get all models in the lineup.
