This Portrait Photo Was Taken With a Smartphone. It Shocked me

Although smartphone cameras have come a long way in 2024, there are still some areas where they struggle to compete with dedicated camera hardware.

One such area is portrait photography, where even the best camera phones often fall short compared to top-class mirrorless cameras.

When I was offered the opportunity to have my portrait taken with the new Honor 200 Pro, I was initially skeptical. After all, this phone is not a flagship device and is priced at £699.99 in the UK.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

However, Honor had a compelling reason to offer attendees at the 200 Series launch event in Paris a free portrait session. The company partnered with the iconic French photography studio Studio Harcourt on the 200 Pro to create what they describe as a “studio-level portrait camera.”

In addition to portraits taken with the 50MP main (1x zoom) or 50MP telephoto (2x or 2.5x zoom) lenses, the 200 Pro offers three distinct modes: Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Colour, or Harcourt Classic.

During the event, the Harcourt Classic mode was used for our portraits, producing black and white images reminiscent of the 1930s or 40s. The demand was high, with a queue forming shortly after the keynote ended, and it took over two hours to reach the front.

Despite initial concerns, the photos captured with the help of a skilled photographer and studio lighting were exceptionally good. As someone who isn’t particularly photogenic, I was impressed by the results and amazed that they were taken on a smartphone.

While all the photos were impressive, one stood out as my personal favorite. The quality of the image speaks for itself:

Honor / Studio Harcourt

Honor / Studio Harcourt

Honor / Studio Harcourt

While most people may not have access to a professional photographer or studio lighting regularly, the good news is that even casual street portraits retain that iconic look and exceptional detail, along with the option for a realistic background blur.

Despite not being the best all-around camera phone (the ultrawide lens could use some improvements), the Honor 200 Pro offers a feature that sets it apart from other smartphones. It has transformed the ordinary smartphone into an elite tool for portrait photography, a statement I never thought I’d make.

In addition to the photos showcased here, I took over 100 photos with the Honor 200 Pro and gained valuable insights along the way.