Global technology brand Honor made major announcements during its IFA keynote presentation.
During the event, the brand announced a new dual flagship strategy to bring the next foldable and all-round flagship smartphones to Europe and other international markets. It also previewed MagicOS 7.0, an upcoming all-scenario smart collaboration OS based on Android as well as PC and internet-of-things (IoT) operating systems, embracing open standards to facilitate seamless collaboration among smartphones, tablets, PC and other IoT products.
It also introduced three new products: Honor 70, Honor MagicBook 14 and Honor Pad 8. All three products are set to arrive in select European markets in the coming weeks.
The brand further unveiled Gateway to the Future, a global initiative piloting in Hamburg, Germany with the aim of inspiring creative talent from all around the world to use the power of technology to connect people with culture in the era of the metaverse.
“Since our inception, Honor has always aspired to make great contributions to the industry to enable a better future for all. To achieve that goal, we’ve stayed laser-focused on our commitment to innovation,” said George Zhao, CEO of Honor Device Co. “With the introduction of our dual flagship strategy, MagicOS 7.0, fitness and health solution, we look forward to providing compelling options to European and international consumers who are seeking the best foldable smartphones and the most premium user experiences on the market.”
Embracing the connected future with MagicOS
During the event, Honor unveiled MagicOS 7.0, a new OS designed to provide seamless experience across the cross-platform, cross-device experiences. It is based on Android as well as PC and IoT operating systems, so devices running different OS can connect to MagicOS devices at a system level. Alongside new user interface changes, MagicOS 7.0 will let users control an Honor laptop, smartphone and tablet using a single keyboard and mouse. Through the feature, users can drag files across devices seamlessly, as well as type text into the smartphone or tablet with their laptop keyboard. MagicOS 7.0 will be officially announced in Q4 2022.
Furthermore, Honor is expanding its partnership with Microsoft to bring Phone Link to international users. Previously only available to Honor device users in China, Phone Link lets users connect select its smartphones to Windows PCs to unlock new cross-device capabilities, including the ability to view notifications, make and receive calls on their PC and use mobile apps on Windows. The Honor Magic4 Pro is among its first international smartphone models to support Phone Link , while the Honor 70 will also support Phone Link following an OTA update.
Read: Here’s how Honor Magic4 Pro is transforming user experience
Introducing spatial audio
Honor’s spatial audio solution is designed to enable headphones to produce wide, cinematic 3D sound effects that create the sense of immersion required for next-generation augmented reality and virtual reality experiences. The solution is the first to support sound externalisation distance adjustment, providing users to dynamically adjust the distance of virtual sound sources from 0.15 to 10 metres to suit a more personalised listening experience.
Honor Pad 8
The Honor Pad 8 is an affordable all-round smart device catering to the productivity and entertainments needs of students and young professionals. The new tablet combines a 12-inch 2K Honor FullView display featuring a screen-to-body ratio of 87 per cent and support a resolution of 2000×1200 pixels and one billion colours with eight built-in loudspeakers to deliver immersive multimedia experiences on the go. Running Honor Magic UI 6.1 with Google Play Services, the device packs a high capacity 7250 mAh battery for all-day connectivity. Arriving in UAE with pre-orders starting from September 20, until September 23, the Honor Pad 8 customers will also get its magnetic keyboard for free.
Honor 70
Designed for vlogging enthusiasts, the Honor 70 is the latest addition to its high-end N Series smartphone line up. The stylish device debuts with solo cut mode, which lets users easily produce vlogs that spotlight a specific person in a group through built-in person re-identification technology. With dual video streaming, the smartphone can record two videos simultaneously, with one featuring a single subject and the other capturing the full group.
Read: Hands-on review: Honor 70 smartphone
The device features a dual main camera that comprises a 54MP IMX800 super sensing main camera with a large 1/1.49-inch IMX800 sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide and macro camera. The new smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G and supports GPU Turbo X and OS Turbo X.
Step into the Gateway to the Future
Gateway to the Future is a new Honor Talents initiative designed to enrich cultural heritage through the power of technology. In collaboration with Arloopa, Honor challenged two artists – Yunuene and Timo Helgert – to creatively reimagine the iconic Wasserschloss building located in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The AR experience is now live on-location in Speicherstadt, and is also available for users to view at home via the Arloopa app.