Honor Magic 9 received an unusual function that is easy to overlook when examining a smartphone. All three models of the series – Magic 9, Magic 9 Super Edition and Magic 9 Pro Max – support infrared remote control of household appliances, although there is no usual IR window on the upper face of the case.
HONOR Research and Development Engineer Cao Gong confirmed this feature and explainedthat the company placed the relevant equipment directly in the camera unit.
How the infrared control of Honor Magic 9 works
In smartphones with an IR transmitter, it is usually installed on the upper face of the case. This allows you to use the phone as TV remote controlair conditioners and other compatible equipment. In Magic 9, the engineers used a different layout. The transmitter is integrated into the camera unit, so there is no separate visible element on the upper part of the case. For the user, this means that the function remains available, but the design of the smartphone does not require a traditional IR window. Support is provided in the entire series:
- Honor Magic 9;
- Honor Magic 9 Super Edition;
- Honor Magic 9 Pro Max.
Magic 9 Pro Max received 360° control
The most interesting implementation went to the flagship Magic 9 Pro Max. HONOR calls her 360° Infrared Remote Control Enhancement. According to Cao Gong, the technology provides full-angle coverage and allows you to control compatible devices without having to point the smartphone precisely. In a typical IR remote control scenario, you need to point the transmitter correctly at the TV or other equipment. If the phone is turned at the wrong angle, the command may not work. Magic 9 Pro Max should make this process easier. The user does not need to carefully control the direction in which the smartphone is turned. At the same time, HONOR has not yet disclosed the technical implementation of the 360-degree system. Therefore, it will be possible to evaluate its advantage over conventional infrared control only after practical tests.
Why did Honor change the location of the transmitter
Such a layout is primarily interesting from the point of view of design. The manufacturer does not need to leave a separate visible element on the upper face of the case, and the smartphone itself retains the ability to control household appliances. For a Magic 9 owner, this practically does not change the usage scenario. You only need to open the corresponding function on your smartphone and select the device you want to control. At the same time, the new location explains well why a traditional IR transmitter may not be found when inspecting the case.
Honor Magic 9 was presented in China
Series Honor Magic 9 officially debuted in China on September 28. It included Magic 9, Magic 9 Super Edition and Magic 9 Pro Max. Infrared control itself is not a new feature for smartphones. The method of its implementation and the additional possibility of a flagship model are of interest. This is especially true of the 360° Infrared Remote Control Enhancement in the Magic 9 Pro Max. If the technology really allows stable control of the equipment regardless of the position of the phone, it can become a noticeable practical advantage of the flagship. So far, HONOR has not announced all the technical details, so final conclusions about the system’s effectiveness should be made after the first real tests appear.
