Honor has confirmed that its upcoming Magic 9 series will feature a 55MP "Agile Eye" front camera with a square-shaped design.
According to the company, this is the first Android phone to use a square front-facing camera, a shape that gives the sensor more room to capture a wider frame than the circular and pill-shaped cameras commonly used on phones.
Honor's teaser also shows the camera switching between vertical and horizontal shots while keeping a wide field of view.
However, the square front camera will not be available across the entire Magic 9 lineup.
In the teaser footnote, Honor confirmed the square selfie camera will be exclusive to the Magic 9 Pro Max and the standard Magic 9.
More details about the other models should arrive with the full launch.
A Camera-Focused Approach
The front camera is just one part of Honor's camera-focused approach to the Magic 9 series.
The company has worked with ARRI on the lineup, while the rear camera module houses a triple-camera system with two 200-megapixel ARRI sensors.
Honor is also introducing a 500mm teleconverter with the series.
For video, the phones will also get a new ARRI Cinema Mode.
Honor is positioning the Magic 9 series as a more complete camera system rather than simply another phone with high-resolution sensors.
The Magic 9 Pro Max gets most of the camera hardware and keeps the clean design language seen on previous Magic phones.
Honor has reworked the edges, rear panel, and overall shape, while the rear camera module gets a new "Guide's Eye" design.
According to Honor, that design takes inspiration from the ARRIFLEX 35, one of the cameras that helped establish ARRI's cinema camera lineup.
