It’s been over two weeks since the Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max hit the shelves. And after daily real-world testing, the hype around the new variable aperture camera is only half the story.

In this iPhone 18 Pro review, we go beyond the spec sheet to test the massive battery life upgrades. More so, the A20 Pro chip’s improved thermal cooling and the game-changing iOS 27 Pro camera controls.

While others are obsessing over the new black titanium and the mechanical six-blade aperture that creates real starbursts, the actual reason your photos will look better is much simpler.

We put the new lens to the test in low light, bright sun, and high-motion video using Cinematic Mode and the new Focus Lock.

Should you upgrade from the iPhone 17 Pro, wait for the rumored spring iPhone 18, or save up for the foldable iPhone Duo?

We’ll help you decide if the iPhone 18 Pro is your GadgetMatch.

HONOR has launched the Magic9 Pro Max in China. It’s the company’s latest flagship with an end-to-end professional cinema workflow co-engineered with ARRI.

The Magic9 Pro Max is positioned as a handheld cinema system, combining Dual 200MP cameras with selected elements of ARRI Image Science. The system includes ARRI LogC3, 10-bit color depth, ARRI Wide Gamut 3, and ARRI Looks.

Its 200MP Ultra Night Main Camera uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/1.57 aperture, OIS, and 3-degree gimbal-level stabilization. It is paired with a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto Camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, f/2.6 aperture, and OIS, alongside a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Both 200MP cameras achieve CIPA 8.0 stabilization performance.

The phone’s HONOR Imaging Chip H1 processes AI noise reduction in the RAW domain. HONOR says its testing showed an 8dB improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and support for up to 14 stops of cinematic dynamic range under defined test conditions.

ARRI CINEMA

For video, ARRI CINEMA Mode supports recording at up to 4K 60fps. The phone also includes 14 preset ARRI Looks, with the ARRI Look Library offering 87 predefined creative color gradings.

HONOR also adds Cinematic LiveVideo, which captures a three-second moving moment after the user presses and holds the record button. It supports up to 4K resolution. The phone also features a four-microphone Cinematic Directional Microphone system and Stereo Dual 1216 Speakers.

The cinematic workflow extends to optional accessories, including the HONOR SmallRig Mobile Video Kit and HONOR Teleconverter G200 and G500.

HONOR has also redesigned the Magic9 Pro Max around cinema-camera heritage. Its rear camera layout draws inspiration from ARRI’s three-lens turret ARRIFLEX cameras. The main, telephoto, and ultra-wide cameras arranged in a 1+2 configuration.

The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Mobile Platform and features an 8,800mAh battery with 100W wired and 80W wireless charging.

It also packs a 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display with up to 10,000 nits peak brightness, while MagicOS 11 introduces features such as YOYO Memory, Video Highlights, and YOYO Tasks.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR Magic9 Pro Max is available in China in Shadow Black, Glacier Silver, and Moss Green.

It comes in four memory and storage configurations, with prices starting at CNY 6499.

HONOR says regional launches across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Southeast Asia, and other markets will be announced soon.

A portrait can show what someone looks like, but what about the story behind the face?

TECNO and visual artist Angélica Dass are exploring that question through “100 Portraits of Becoming,” a two-year global portrait project featuring 100 people across Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.

The project begins with 20 portraits from Kenya, each paired with a personal story about identity, choices, change, and growth. Rather than having participants represent an entire culture or generation, the project focuses on their individual experiences.

Beyond inclusive imaging

The project builds on TECNO’s work with Universal Tone, its imaging technology designed to represent diverse skin tones more naturally and accurately.

But “100 Portraits of Becoming” takes that idea further. With AI increasingly involved in capturing, recognizing, and generating images of people, TECNO and Dass want to explore how technology can better represent the individual behind the image.

For Dass, meaningful portraiture starts with human connection.

“Meaningful portraits are never created by technology alone.”

She says her experience in Kenya reinforced the importance of trust, listening, and the willingness of people to share their stories.

The Philippines is next

Following Kenya, the project heads to the Philippines for a chapter called “Beyond Many Labels.”

It will feature 20 individuals, including working solo mothers and people whose lives are closely connected to solo parenthood.

Their stories will look beyond labels such as “single mother,” “breadwinner,” and “strong woman,” while exploring their ambitions, relationships, and personal growth.

The chapter will also explore “diskarte” — the ways Filipinos adapt, make choices, and find practical ways forward in everyday life.

After the Philippines, “100 Portraits of Becoming” will continue to Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.

By the end of the project, TECNO and Dass hope the 100 portraits will offer exactly what the title suggests: 100 different ways of seeing humanity.