This portrait photo was taken with a smartphone. That really shocked me

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

This includes portrait photography, where even the best camera phones tend to be a poor imitation of a high-end mirrorless camera.

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

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

However, there was a reason why Honor was offering a free portrait to attendees of the 200 series launch event in Paris. The company collaborated with iconic French photography studio Studio Harcourt on the 200 Pro, to create what it calls a “studio-level portrait camera.”

Besides portraits using the main 50Mp (1x zoom) or the 50Mp telephoto (2x or 2.5x zoom), the 200 Pro lets you capture in three distinct modes: Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Color, or Harcourt Classic.

The latter is the one used for our portraits at the event, creating a black and white image that looks like it was taken in the 30s or 40s. And it was very popular: although I found myself in the queue for waiting just a few minutes after the opening speech ended, it took me over two full hours to get to the front.

At several points during this time, I feared it was a waste of time. But I shouldn’t have worried.

With the help of a very talented photographer and studio lighting, the photos captured were of phenomenal quality. As someone who is not very photogenic, I am blown away by the end results and can’t believe they were taken on a smartphone.

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

Honor / Studio Harcourt

Of course, you probably don’t have regular access to a top-notch photographer or studio with perfect lighting. But the good news is that even ordinary street portraits retain that iconic look and excellent detail, as well as the possibility of realistic background blur.

While it’s not the best all-around camera phone (the ultra-wide lens needs work), the Honor 200 Pro has functionality that no other smartphone can match. This has elevated the humble smartphone to an elite tool for portrait photography, which is something I never thought I would say.

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