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| The Honor Magic9 Pro Max and its more affordable Arri camera phone siblings can be imported from China. |
The latest Qualcomm-powered flagships from Honor are now available through international importers, with the Magic9 Pro Max leading the charge—complete with dual eSIM support and a massive 11,000 mAh battery option
The floodgates have opened. With the Vivo X500 series and Oppo Find X10 flagships already available to import from China for several weeks, more and more Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-powered devices are appearing at familiar retailers. Following the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max, Honor's latest Arri camera flagships have now joined the import party.
The lineup includes the impressive Honor Magic9 Pro Max, the standard Honor Magic9, and the intriguing Magic9 Super—a battery behemoth that trades Arri branding for an active cooling fan and a massive 11,000 mAh battery. All three run on Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.
We scoured the usual import channels and found at least some of the three Magic 9 models at Tradingshenzhen, Wondamobile (no Pro Max yet), Trinity Electronics (Pro Max only), AverageDad (Pro Max only), and Giztop. According to our price comparison, Tradingshenzhen is once again the cheapest, though the price differences are relatively small this time around.
Honor Magic9 Pro Max: The Star of the Show
The Pro Max is arguably the most compelling model in the lineup. Beyond its fully equipped Arri-tuned camera system and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, it introduces something unprecedented for a Chinese-market Honor device: dual eSIM support.
Here's the pricing breakdown from Tradingshenzhen:
- 12/256 GB: €1,037 (US$1,167)
- 12/512 GB: €1,127 (US$1,269)
- 16/512 GB: €1,217 (US$1,370)
- 16/1TB: €1,387 (US$1,562)
There's a notable discrepancy worth flagging. While Honor officially advertises dual eSIM and dual nano-SIM support, Tradingshenzhen's product specifications currently state "No eSIM." When we reached out, the retailer admitted they don't have personal experience with the eSIM functionality yet and don't want to deal with returns based on a false promise.
However, Reddit users report that the built-in eSIM appears to work normally outside China. Within China, it remains restricted to local providers—which makes sense given regulatory requirements. Another Reddit thread confirms similar findings. These claims haven't been independently verified, and we lack first-hand experience with Chinese models equipped with eSIMs. Still, it looks increasingly likely that a major limitation when importing Chinese smartphones could soon disappear—at least for some newer Honor and Huawei flagships.
The Honor Magic9 Pro Max is one of the first Chinese phones to feature two eSIMs.
Honor Magic9 and Magic9 Super: More Options
Tradingshenzhen also stocks the other two Magic 9 editions. The Magic9 Super—marketed as the "Power Edition"—starts at €697 (US$785), while the standard Magic9 with 12/256GB comes in at €807 (US$909).
The Super variant's headline feature is that enormous 11,000 mAh battery, paired with an active cooling fan for sustained performance. It's a niche device, but for power users who prioritize battery life above all else, it's an intriguing proposition.
Important Limitations and Shipping Delays
Before you hit that buy button, there are several caveats to consider.
Shipping delays: Due to China's National Day holiday, Tradingshenzhen won't begin shipping until October 7. Factor that into your timeline.
Network bands: All Magic9 models appear to support LTE band 20 according to the retailer, though official Honor spec sheets don't specify network bands. Do verify 4G/5G compatibility with your local carriers before ordering.
Software experience: The Chinese version of MagicOS 11 supports many language options beyond English and Chinese. Google apps, including Google Pay, should work without issues. However, Quick Share and using Gemini as the default AI assistant will require workarounds or alternatives.
Known import quirks: Based on past experience with imported Chinese phones, WearOS smartwatches won't work, and Android Auto can be problematic in some cases.
The Bottom Line
The Honor Magic9 series represents some of the most exciting hardware to come out of China this year. The Pro Max's combination of Arri camera technology, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, and potential dual eSIM support makes it particularly appealing for enthusiasts willing to navigate the import process.
Just go in with realistic expectations. The eSIM situation remains somewhat murky, shipping is delayed, and some software features will require tinkering. But for those who've been waiting for a Chinese flagship that might finally work seamlessly with international carriers, the Magic9 Pro Max could be worth the gamble.
We'll update this article once we receive clarification from Tradingshenzhen regarding the eSIM situation or get our hands on a unit for testing.