Magic 9 Pro Max, the top model of the Magic 9 series, which Honor is expected to announce at the end of the month, was revealed with a detailed video before the official launch. The unboxing and first look video published on Weibo shows a close-up of the Moss Green colored model previously seen in promotional content. The images especially confirm the phone’s renewed rear camera design and some technical details about the camera hardware. It is estimated that the Magic 9 family will consist of three models: standard Magic 9, Magic 9 Pro and Magic 9 Pro Max. Pro Max, on the other hand, seems to be the most ambitious option of the series in terms of camera hardware and some design details.
The video first focuses on the external design of Magic 9 Pro Max. Honor has chosen a new layout that brings together different geometric elements instead of the circular camera island used in the Magic 8 series and defined as “Oreo”. The new camera section combines round lines with a rectangular area that extends across the width of the phone. This creates an appearance on the back that can be easily distinguished from the previous generation. The Moss Green color option also coincides with the promotional images shared by Honor before, and the matte-looking rear surface makes the camera section look more prominent.
Honor Magic 9 Pro Max comes with two 200 megapixel cameras
The markings on the camera module give remarkable details about the main camera of Magic 9 Pro Max. Accordingly, the phone has a 1/1.28 inch image sensor with a resolution of 200 megapixels. While this sensor is accompanied by a lens with f / 1.57 aperture, the optical image stabilization system can correct deviation up to 3 degrees. The collaboration of the wide aperture and the OIS system, especially during low-light shooting and video recording, will be one of the factors that determine the practical equivalent of the powerful camera hardware on paper. What setting Honor has chosen on the image processing side will become clear after the official introduction of the phone and more comprehensive camera tests.
The second 200 megapixel camera of Magic 9 Pro Max uses a 1/1.4 inch sensor. This sensor is located behind the periscope telephoto lens, so Honor does not limit the high resolution only to the main camera. A periscope camera with a large sensor has the potential to preserve the level of detail, especially when zooming out, and improve telephoto shooting performance in low light. In addition, the collaboration between Honor and cinema camera manufacturer ARRI will continue in the Magic 9 series. The first camera sample of the two companies’ collaboration was previously shown on the Honor Robot Phone; In the Magic 9 family, how this partnership will be reflected in the display character and video features will be visible to a wider user base.
On the front of the phone, a familiar approach from the previous generation is preserved. The large pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen houses the three-dimensional depth sensor as well as the selfie camera. It is also claimed that the Magic 9 series will be the first Android phones to use a square-shaped selfie camera sensor. Although the square structure of the sensor is not a factor that alone determines image quality, it can provide the manufacturer with more flexibility in terms of creating images in different aspect ratios and using the camera. It has not yet been announced at what resolution Honor will use this sensor and what advantages it will offer, especially in portrait and facial recognition features.
In the leaked video, it can be seen that the frames around the screen are approximately 1 mm thick. Honor has increased the area covered by the screen on the front surface by using frames of similar thickness on four sides. In addition, there are 1216 type symmetrical speakers and their grilles on the upper and lower edges of the phone. Symmetrical speaker placement can contribute to more balanced sound distribution, especially when watching videos or playing games with the phone in a horizontal position. However, the final production model will need to be tested in order to evaluate the actual sound level and frequency balance of the speakers.
The most current version of the physical button that Honor uses to access artificial intelligence features is also seen on the right edge of the Magic 9 Pro Max. The emergence of the video at this stage eliminates most of the uncertainty regarding the design of the phone, while leaving issues such as software features, processor, battery capacity and the detailed operation of the camera system to the official announcement. In particular, two 200 megapixel sensors, a large main camera sensor and ARRI collaboration show that Magic 9 Pro Max offers a strong technical package on the camera side. On the other hand, the optical system, image processing algorithms and software settings will determine the extent to which this hardware will reflect the image quality, rather than megapixel values. Honor’s promotion at the end of the month will also reveal how the hardware seen in the video is complemented by the remaining technical features.
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