Honor Magic 9 Pro Max brings ARRI cinema tools to a smartphone

Honor is partnering with German cinema camera maker ARRI on the upcoming Magic 9 Pro Max, a flagship Android phone with tools designed to bring parts of a professional film workflow to smartphone users. TechRadar’s Dashiell Wood tried the phone in Hollywood, California.

The rear camera module has three lenses and carries the ARRI logo. Honor says the setup includes two 200-megapixel cameras and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens. The company also claims its stabilization can deliver performance equivalent to a gimbal, including in low light.

The phone’s ARRI Cinema mode can record video at up to 4K 60fps using ARRI LogC3 and Wide Gamut 3. The resulting footage has a flat appearance intended to retain image data for color grading. Users can work with clips in DaVinci Resolve or choose from 14 built-in color grading profiles, including options from the ARRI Look Library.

Honor says users can also download and import additional ARRI LUTs, as well as use third-party LUTs. The profiles can be previewed while filming. Wood writes that the tools make the collaboration interesting, while noting that their appeal may be niche. Honor has not announced a release date in the source report.