Honor and Arri Bring Cinema-Grade LogC3 Capture to the Magic9 Pro Max
For years, phone manufacturers have paired mobile hardware with camera brands, from Nokia’s work with Zeiss to Huawei’s partnerships with Leica. Tom’s Guide reported that Honor is now pushing that trend further by collaborating with Arri to introduce professional filmmaking tools into the international Magic9 Pro Max smartphone.
PCMag describes Arri as one of the biggest international names in professional cinema, with its equipment used on Oscar-winning films including Oppenheimer and Dune. CineD noted that although an Arri Alexa 35 cinema camera costs $70,000, footage from the Magic9 Pro Max showed astonishingly similar color rendition and overall look. The camera relies on Honor’s dedicated H1 imaging chip when filming and records 10-bit 4:2:2 video, CineD reported.
Hardware Specifications and Stabilization Performance on the Magic9 Pro Max
The Magic9 Pro Max features a triple-lens rear camera array. According to Tom’s Guide, the setup includes a 200-megapixel main shooter with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and 3-degree gimbal-grade optical image stabilization, a 200-megapixel 3.5x telephoto lens, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera with autofocus. Up front, the device houses a 55-megapixel selfie camera with a square sensor.
CNET reported that the front camera allows vertical selfies whether the phone is held vertically or horizontally, functioning similarly to Apple’s Center Stage. Tom’s Guide also reported that the main and telephoto rear lenses earned a CIPA 8.0 image stabilization rating, permitting shutter speeds eight stops slower while maintaining handheld sharpness.
Arri Cinema Mode Color Grading and Studio Testing Comparisons
CineD compared the Magic9 Pro Max with an Arri Alexa Mini LF, while CNET reported that at a media demonstration at Arri’s Los Angeles facility, two film sets were recorded with an Alexa camera and the Magic9 Pro Max using similar Looks and LUT settings. Under ideal lighting, the footage showed similar color shading and detail.
PCMag noted that the Arri LogC3 recording format strips away aggressive digital processing, auto-sharpening, and color boosting to yield a flat, neutral video file for post-production. Filmmakers can use preinstalled Arri Looks from the Look Library or import their own LogC3 LUTs. Tom’s Guide reported that the Arri Cinema mode records video at resolutions up to 4K at 60 frames per second using AVC, HEVC, or 10-bit 4:2:2 APV codecs in standard 16:9 or 2.39:1 CinemaScope aspect ratios.
Honor Launches Magic9 Pro Max Globally Without US Sales
Honor introduced the Magic9 Pro Max internationally at a Los Angeles media event. CineD reported that official international pricing has not been announced, though its estimate places the flagship above $1,000. CNET reported that the phone will not be sold in the US. Media guests had their flights and accommodation paid by Honor, according to disclosures published by CineD and CNET.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Honor Magic9 Pro Max
Does the Arri Cinema mode work on all rear cameras?
No. CNET reported that the 50-megapixel ultrawide camera does not support the Arri Cinema mode, which uses the 200-megapixel main and telephoto cameras.
What processor powers the Magic9 Pro Max?
CNET stated that the handset runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, while video capture relies on Honor’s proprietary H1 imaging chip.
How many preinstalled Arri Looks are available on the device?
CNET reported that some Arri Looks are preloaded on the device, with additional profiles available for download from Honor and Arri’s websites.
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