The HONOR Magic9 Series is expected to hit the market in China on September 28, 2026. Just before the debut, HONOR has begun posting some features of its new flagship smartphones. The new announcement only concerns connectivity and imaging, as the series is planned to include a third generation self-developed C3 RF enhancement chip as well as new features from ARRI.

HONOR Magic9 Series gets third generation of C3 RF chip

The HONOR Magic9 Series will have the company’s third generation self-developed C3 RF enhancement chip. HONOR has teamed the chip up with a seven-core RF AI scheduling architecture to manage connectivity in a more intelligent way. The system offers intelligent switching on 356 combinations of frequency bands and is optimized for 38 different usage scenarios, according to the company.

The new RF system will enhance the phone’s ability to deal with various network conditions. The architecture of scheduling is based on AI, and the frequency band combination is automatically selected according to the scenario. HONOR has integrated this tech as one of the most important connectivity enhancements for the Magic9 Series.

New ARRI Cinema Live Streaming Feature

The HONOR Magic9 Series also features camera capabilities. The smartphones will also feature a new live recording mode that users will be able to use to take three-second movie clips. HONOR says this is the first ARRI Cinema Live Streaming feature in the industry, featuring cinematic imaging technology and a 2.39:1 aspect ratio.

Also Read: iPhone 18 Pro Max vs 17 Pro Max: Key Differences

The feature will provide the ARRI-inspired look to smartphone footage. Users can make a live movie lasting for three seconds in just a single click! The system has also been optimized for delivering the cinematic look of ARRI imaging technology with its colour range and gamut.

The HONOR and ARRI Partnership has been announced for the Magic9 Series

HONOR and ARRI announced their collaboration earlier this year in 2026 as they continue developing their product line to incorporate some of the features found in professional cinema imaging devices. ARRI’s image science is dedicated to topics like colour reproduction, highlight and shadow rendering, as well as professional post production workflows.

The collaboration will be used to help power up some of the upcoming product releases, including the HONOR Magic9 Series. Previous HONOR announcements have emphasized the company’s other mobile imaging solutions, such as ARRI LogC3 recording, ARRI Looks, and the company’s 2.39:1 cinematic aspect ratio. The collaboration aims to introduce some of the processes followed in professional filmmaking to the smartphone community.

The 200MP ARRI Camera 

Previously, there were some sneak peaks of the camera improvements on the upcoming HONOR Magic9. The series is supposed to have a 200MP ARRI gimbal-level main camera featuring a 1/1.28” sensor and f/1.57 aperture. The 1/1.4-inch sensor, f/2.6 lens aperture 200MP ARRI ultra-night telephoto camera has also been announced.

It is likely that the dual 200MP camera setup will be available on the HONOR Magic9 and Magic9 Pro Max. The company has also released a Photography Master Kit in the series, which includes a 500mm telephoto extender and a compact 200mm telephoto extender. The smaller 200mm extender is said to be 81mm long and 88g in weight.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Sale Starts in India at Rs 79,999

ARRI LogC3 Support to a mobile video

Selected models of the HONOR Magic9 Series will also be able to use ARRI LogC3 industrial-grade Log encoding. Log recording to maintain a greater amount of image information for colour grading and post-production. When used in combination with ARRI’s cinematic imaging technology, it can provide the creator with more control of the final appearance of the footage.

HONOR claims its ARRI cinematic imaging system offers softer colour output in brightness as well as cleaner shadow details and film-like colour grades. These features are designed for users who desire greater control of their smartphone videos than what they would receive from the standard automatic processing.

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max is equipped with Advanced Biometric Security

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max will also feature an enhanced biometric security system. Based on the latest report, the device will offer dual 3D biometric identification, which will be a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint recognition plus a 3D face recognition system.

The combination could provide users with two different biometric authentication methods. The technical details and specifications of the biometric system, however, will be revealed by HONOR around the launching event.

HONOR Magic9 Series Launch Date

Now, HONOR has officially revealed that the Magic9 Series will be available in China on September 28, 2026. The company will be elaborating more details about this lineup before and at the launch event. Fully specs, pricing and availability in other markets will be announced separately.

HONOR Magic9 Series Expected Features

HONOR Magic9 Series: What to expect?

The HONOR Magic9 Series seems to be centred on mobile photography, cinematic video and connectivity to a high degree. The third-generation C3 RF enhancement chip will help facilitate intelligent network management, and the ARRI partnership will add professional cinema-inspired imaging features to the smartphone lineup. The series will also include a new three-second live movie mode and ARRI’s cinematic imaging features on certain models.

As the launch date for China has been announced as September 28, HONOR will be announcing the rest of the specifications, pricing and market availability soon. Until that time the features that have not been officially described should be considered reported or expected and not final features.

FAQ: