Honor Magic9: New video mode promises cinematic looks with a single tap

Honor has revealed more details about the video features of its upcoming ARRI camera flagships in the Magic9 series, which have already appeared in initial press images. The focus is on eleven so-called ARRI Looks. These are designed to give videos a warmer, cooler or particularly high-contrast cinematic look while they are being recorded. The controls are deliberately kept simple: Users can select the desired Look before recording and preview it directly on the display. After that, a single tap is all it takes to record the video with the selected color grading.

On its AiMAGE website (in Chinese), Honor lists ARRI-5210 “Vibrant,” ARRI-5121 “Clear” and ARRI-3411 “Teal Orange,” among others. They are intended for different subjects such as people, landscapes, cities or travel videos. However, this does not automatically produce a perfect cinematic video. Based on what is known so far, the feature primarily changes colors, contrast and the overall visual mood. There is no confirmation that the smartphone also optimizes exposure, focus and all other camera settings with a single tap.

Additional tools for experienced videographers

In addition to the straightforward color Looks, the Magic9 series is also expected to offer features for experienced videographers. These include a recording option called ARRI LogC3, which initially saves videos with flat, washed-out colors. This may not look particularly impressive at first glance, but it preserves more image information. During subsequent editing, colors, highlights and shadows can then be adjusted more precisely.

Honor is also integrating Focus Peaking. This feature highlights the areas of the image that are currently in focus on the display. A false-color display, meanwhile, is designed to help identify areas that are too bright or too dark. Tools like these are typically used with professional cinema cameras.

For the Magic9 Pro Max, which is said to be the first smartphone with a square 55 MP sensor and feature an 11,000 mAh battery, Honor is also promoting a directional microphone designed to capture voices and other sounds more selectively. An optional video accessory kit is also intended to make the smartphone easier to hold steadily and move more smoothly. How much this accessory will cost is not yet known.

Unveiling scheduled for late September

Honor has officially been working with German camera manufacturer ARRI since March 2026. The full unveiling of the Magic9 series is scheduled for September 28, 2026 in Beijing. This should also reveal which video features will be available on the individual models. Honor has not yet confirmed whether or when the smartphones will launch outside of China.