The statement: a photo mode based on LogC and 35mm film
Honor is preparing a new photography mode developed with Arri: the announcement was made by Luo Wei, the company's chief camera engineer, in a post reported by IT之家. According to his description, it will not involve extracting a frame from video mode. The project is based on the principles of the LogC curve and on collaboration with Arri Film Lab: the RAW signal would be used to reconstruct the entire spectrum, then the sensitivity curve of Arri 35mm film and the darkroom printing process would be simulated, in order to reproduce the image of motion-picture film. Luo Wei describes the application as a break from current digital imaging, but the material contains no technical specifications, samples, or launch dates: the announcement remains a company statement, not a feature already available.
The context: from the partnership to the first device
The strategic agreement between Honor and Germany's Arri, a manufacturer of cinematography equipment founded in 1917 and awarded 20 scientific and technical awards by the Academy, was announced at MWC 2026 on March 1. The first product born from the collaboration is the Robot Phone, unveiled on August 12, 2026, starting at 9,999 yuan. The device integrates a four-degree-of-freedom titanium mechanical gimbal system on top, described as the smallest in the industry and with 70% less volume than prevailing solutions. On the photography side, it carries three rear sensors (a 200-megapixel main sensor with F1.6 aperture and 23mm equivalent, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto) and Honor's proprietary Yuguang H1 imaging chip, along with a fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a 6.31-inch 1.5K screen, and the YOYO language model on the device.
On the software side, the Robot Phone introduced ARRI Log-C encoding and LUT files on mobile for the first time, with professional functions such as focus lock, white balance, auto exposure, and camera motion data. In photo mode, the shutter button has been turned into a joystick to orient the gimbal, and there is a "Master Cinema" mode developed with Arri. The collaboration then extended to the Magic 9 series, announced on September 8, 2026, with native support for the ARRI LogC3 logarithmic curve, the AWG3 color gamut, and an internal ARRI Look. The new photo mode announced by Luo Wei would therefore be positioned as a further step in this roadmap, after the integration of professional formats and before products not yet presented.
What is announced and what remains to be verified
Luo Wei also indicated that the second generation of the Robot Phone is on the way, nicknamed "萝卜手机" (radish phone), which he says will solve the first generation's problems and aim for "effortless" cinematic rendering. He added that other products with innovative forms are in development with Arri, perhaps two, never seen or imagined, without providing names, timing, or characteristics. The tone is competitive: according to the engineer, in the coming year many teams will not be able to sleep and no one will see the competitors' taillights. The team's stated vision is to "democratize" shooting, reconstructing still cameras and cinema cameras with AI and creating new imaging products, so that everyone can be the director of their own life.
Several elements remain to be verified: when the new photo mode will be available and on which models, how it will behave compared with the already-present "Master Cinema" mode, and what the first generation's problems really are that the Robot Phone 2 promises to solve. The claims about the impact on competitors and the scope of the technology are company statements, not measured results. The news therefore has informational value above all as an indication of Honor's strategic direction in the imaging segment with Arri, while the product promises remain to be confirmed with data and demonstrations.
