A recent leak from Digital Chat Station, a well-known Chinese tech leaker, suggests that the upcoming Honor Magic 9 series of smartphones will feature an external 500 mm lens, which is capable of an optical zoom of about 20.8x. This would make it more powerful than the 16.6x zoom of the vivo X300 Ultra and the 300 mm lens of the Oppo Find X9 Ultra. An external lens like this is typically attached to the phone’s camera module and uses a teleconverter, a type of lens that increases the focal length without relying on digital zoom, which can reduce image quality. The 500 mm lens is expected to work with a 200-megapixel periscope sensor, allowing for a maximum zoom of approximately 41x without losing image clarity, effectively reaching a focal length of 1,000 mm. However, such a powerful lens is likely to be quite large and cumbersome, requiring users to store it in a bag when not in use. Additionally, the minimum focusing distance is expected to be several meters, meaning it would be better suited for capturing distant subjects rather than close-up photography like portraits. Other leaked details about the Honor Magic 9 series include the use of double 200-megapixel sensors signed by ARRI, a renowned name in cinema cameras, a square-shaped front camera sensor, and an 8,000 mAh battery, which would provide long-lasting power. These features suggest the Magic 9 series is aimed at photography enthusiasts and professionals who demand high-quality imaging capabilities. The Honor Magic 9 series is expected to be officially unveiled on September 28 in China. It may then be released in other regions approximately three months later, following the same timeline as the previous Magic 8 Pro model. This release schedule indicates that Honor is aiming for a consistent and predictable product launch strategy across different markets.