This portrait photo was taken with a smartphone. It shocked me

As good as smartphone cameras are in 2024, there are some areas where they typically can’t compete with dedicated camera hardware.

That also applies to portrait photography, where even the best camera phones are often a poor imitation of a top-end mirrorless camera.

So when I was offered the chance to have my portrait taken with the new Honor 200 Pro, I was more than a little skeptical. After all, this phone isn’t even a real flagship and costs £699.99 in the UK.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

However, there was a reason why Honor offered attendees at the 200 Series launch event in Paris a free portrait. The company has collaborated with iconic French photography studio Studio Harcourt on the 200 Pro, to create what they call a “studio-level portrait camera.”

In addition to portraits with the 50 MP main photo (1x zoom) or 50 MP telephoto (2x or 2.5x zoom), the 200 Pro allows you to capture in three different modes: Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Color or Harcourt Classic.

The latter was used for our portraits at the event, creating a black and white photo that looks like it was taken in the 1930s or 1940s. And it was very popular: despite queuing just minutes after the keynote ended, it took me more than two full hours to get to the front.

At several points during that time I worried that it would all be a waste of time. But I didn’t have to worry.

With the help of a very talented photographer and studio lighting, the photos taken were phenomenally good. As someone who isn’t very photogenic, I’m impressed with the end results and can’t quite believe they were taken with a smartphone.

I really liked all the photos of me, but this was my personal favorite. The quality of the image speaks for itself:

Honor / Studio Harcourt

Of course, you probably don’t have access to a top photographer or studio with perfect lighting on a regular basis. But the good news is that even regular street portraits retain that iconic look and excellent detail, plus the option for realistic background blur.

While it’s not the best all-around camera phone (the ultra-wide lens needs work), the Honor 200 Pro has a feature that no other smartphone can match. It has elevated the humble smartphone into an elite tool for portrait photography, something I never could have imagined myself saying.

In addition to the photos you see here, I took more than 100 photos with the Honor 200 Pro, learning a lot along the way.